Carl Hooper

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = West Indian
country = West Indies
country abbrev = WI
name = Carl Hooper
picture = cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm offbreak
balls = yes
tests = 102
test runs = 5762
test bat avg = 36.46
test 100s/50s = 13/27
test top score = 233
test overs = 13794
test wickets = 114
test bowl avg = 49.42
test 5s = 4
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 5/26
test catches/stumpings = 115/0
ODIs = 227
ODI runs = 5761
ODI bat avg = 35.34
ODI 100s/50s = 7/29
ODI top score = 113*
ODI overs = 9573
ODI wickets = 193
ODI bowl avg = 36.05
ODI 5s = 0
ODI best bowling = 4/34
ODI catches/stumpings = 120/0
date = 15 January
year = 2006
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/52066.html

Carl Llewellyn Hooper (born December 15, 1966 in Georgetown, Guyana) was a West Indian cricket player and captain, renowned for his exquisite batting style.

He was a right-handed batsman and off-spin bowler, who came to prominence in the late 1980s in a side that included such phenomenal talent as Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Malcolm Marshall and Courtney Walsh and represented the West Indies over a 21-year international career.

His highest innings score of 233 was made during a [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001-02/IND_IN_WI/SCORECARDS/IND_WI_T1_11-15APR2002.html Test series in India] in 2001. He has made 5762 runs in his Test cricket career. Hooper could be an erratic Test batsman, as his low average of 36.46 over 102 Tests shows. In ODI play, Hooper's aggressive style of batting fared better, he averaged a credible 35.34 off 227 matches.

Hooper represented Guyana at local first-class level, and played English county cricket for Kent and Lancashire. In 2003, Hooper became only the second player to have scored a century against all 18 county teams. [cite web | url=http://www.cricinfo.com/asksteven/content/story/261028.html|title=The fastest hundreds, and a Case history | date=2 October 2006 | publisher=Cricinfo | last=Lynch | first=Steven | accessdate=2007-04-27]

Despite his lower than perhaps expected average, Hooper holds the accolade of being the first cricketer in the world to have scored 5000 runs, taken 100 wickets, held 100 catches and received 100 caps in both ODIs and Tests, a feat only matched since by Jacques Kallis. [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/records/engine/records/individual/most_matches_career.html?id=1;type=class Cricinfo - Records - Test Matches - most matches] and [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/records/engine/records/fielding/most_catches_career.html?id=2;type=class Most catches - One-day Internationals] , retrieved 29 July 2007]

Talent versus Accomplishments

Carl Hooper personified the talented batsman who found ways to not get the runs on the board. Hooper had the timing to match the game's greatest, often scoring boundaries in a fashion that appeared effortless to spectators - a perfectly timed weight shift, or roll of the wrists. In his autobiography, Steve Waugh himself said that "quickness of feet and sweet yet brutually efficient stroke play were Hooper's trademarks."cite book | last=Waugh | first=Steve | authorlink=Steve Waugh | title=STEVE WAUGH: Out of my comfort zone - the autobiography | year=2005 | publisher=Penguin Group (Australia) | location=Victoria | id=ISBN 0-670-04198-X | pages=346] However, he was routinely prematurely dismissed after losses in concentration.

Hooper was also an excellent slip fielder, usually at second slip; Hooper took numerous catches from the likes of Ambrose and Walsh.

References