Jack Hobbs's Pre-War Peak — 11 Centuries in 1914

Hobbs had averaged 82.75 on the 1911-12 Ashes tour and 53.50 on the 1913-14 tour of South Africa. He was already England's first-choice opener and the leading professional batsman in the world.

Surrey were a strong side under Tom Hayward. Hobbs and Hayward formed an opening partnership that was the equal of anything in county cricket.

By August 1914 Hobbs was being talked about, even by his own team-mates, as the finest English batsman since Grace. He had averaged over 50 in the 1911-12 Ashes; in 1914 he was making the County Championship look easy. Eleven centuries in a season that was abandoned six weeks early. Surrey, who would have been favourites for the championship, had to share the title with Yorkshire's earlier lead. Then Grace's letter ended the season, and Hobbs — like every other professional — packed his bag. He was eligible for service but Surrey CCC needed his earnings to support his family; he eventually worked at the Royal Flying Corps depot at Hampstead. By the time the war ended he had lost four full seasons of his prime, between the ages of 31 and 35. Many writers — Cardus most prominently — argue Hobbs would have ended with double his eventual 197 first-class centuries had the war not come. Even with the lost years he finished with 199.

“Had the war not come, his Test record would not be open to discussion. As it is, it is unique.”

Hobbs played first-class cricket until 1934 and remains, by total of first-class centuries (199), the most prolific century-maker in history. The lost years are the central counterfactual of his career.