John Hirsch (sportsman)

John Gauntlett Hirsch (20 February 1883 – 26 February 1958) was a South African rugby union international and first-class cricketer.

John Hirsch

Personal information
Full name	John Gauntlett Hirsch
Born	20 February 1883 Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, South Africa
Died	26 February 1958(1958-02-26) (aged 75) Wynberg, Cape Province, South Africa
Batting	Unknown
Bowling	Unknown
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1903–1904	Cambridge University
1903–1904	London County
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 6 Runs scored 166 Batting average 15.09 100s/50s –/1 Top score 56 Balls bowled 144 Wickets 1 Bowling average 93.00 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling 1/41 Catches/stumpings 4/–
Source: Cricinfo, 30 December 2021

Hirsch was born at Port Elizabeth in February 1883. He was educated in England at Shrewsbury School, where he played cricket, football and rugby union for the school. From Shrewsbury, he went up to Clare College at the University of Cambridge, where he studied history. While studying at Cambridge, he played first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club in 1903 and 1904, making four appearances. He also made two appearances during the same period for London County, captained by W. G. Grace. In six first-class matches, Hirsch scored 144 runs at an average of 15.09 and a high score of 56, which was his only first-class half century. He played rugby union for Cambridge University R.U.F.C., with marked success.

After graduating from Cambridge, Hirsch returned to South Africa where he played rugby for Eastern Province. He impressed enough to be selected for the South African team for their 1906–07 tour of Europe as a three-quarter back, playing one Test match on the tour against Ireland at Belfast. He later made a second Test match appearance against Great Britain at Johannesburg. Hirsch died at Wynberg in February 1958.

External links

• John Hirsch at ESPNcricinfo
• John Hirsch at ESPNscrum