Greatest Cricket Moments

Patsy Hendren's 277 — Middlesex v Worcestershire, 1925

1925-07-21Middlesex v WorcestershireMiddlesex v Worcestershire, County Championship, Worcester, July 19252 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

On 21 July 1925 the 36-year-old Patsy Hendren made 277 for Middlesex against Worcestershire at New Road — at the time his career-best, in a 1925 season in which he scored 3,311 runs at 70.44 and was second in the English averages only to Jack Hobbs.

Background

Hendren had been promoted to Test cricket in 1920 against Australia and was a fixture in the England middle order through the 1920s. Worcestershire's New Road ground, with its small boundaries, was a happy hunting ground for him.

What Happened

Hendren had played for Middlesex since 1907 and for England since 1920. By the mid-1920s he was the most prolific middle-order batsman in English cricket, alongside Hobbs. The 1925 season was the most prolific of his career: 3,311 runs at 70.44, 13 hundreds, and the highest individual score of his career to that point — 277 against Worcestershire at New Road in late July.

Middlesex won the toss and chose to bat. Hendren came in at 22 for 2 and proceeded to take a three-day attack apart. He was 152 not out at stumps on day 1 and 277 by the close of the morning session on day 2, when he was finally caught at slip off the offspin of Charles Brookes. The innings included 35 fours and lasted 320 minutes. Middlesex declared at 511 and won by an innings.

Hendren's 277 was passed by his own 301 against Worcestershire in 1933 (and his all-time best 366 against Worcestershire in 1933 again — at Worcester. Hendren's career figures from Worcester are unmatched by any visiting batsman in county history). His 1925 season aggregate of 3,311 runs is the third-highest by any English batsman.

Key Moments

1

Middlesex 22/2 when Hendren walks in

2

Stumps day 1: Hendren 152*

3

Day 2 morning: passes 250

4

Out for 277 caught off Brookes

5

Middlesex declare 511 and win by an innings

Timeline

21 Jul 1925

Hendren begins innings

Stumps day 1

152*

Day 2 morning

Out for 277

End of season

3,311 runs at 70.44

Notable Quotes

“Patsy made the bowler smile as he was hitting him for four. He was the friendliest enemy a county pro ever had.”

— Charles Brookes, Worcestershire spinner, quoted in his 1948 memoir 'A Life of County Cricket'

Aftermath

Hendren finished the 1925 season with 3,311 runs — the third-highest by any English batsman in any season. He played 51 Tests for England and finished with 7 Test hundreds. His career first-class total of 170 hundreds is second only to Hobbs's 197.

⚖️ The Verdict

Hendren's 277 of 1925 is the highlight of the most prolific season of his career and a permanent reminder that the man Wisden once called 'the cheeriest professional in English cricket' was also among its most consistent.

Legacy & Impact

Hendren remained the most popular professional cricketer in England through the inter-war period. His career first-class aggregate of 57,611 runs is third in cricket history behind Hobbs and Frank Woolley.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many career hundreds did Hendren make?▾
170 first-class hundreds — second only to Jack Hobbs's 197 and ahead of Frank Woolley's 145.
Was 277 his career-best?▾
At the time, yes. He went on to make 301 v Worcestershire in 1933 and 366 v Worcestershire in 1933 — the latter the highest score of his career.

Tags

#patsy-hendren#middlesex#worcestershire#1925#double-century#county-championship#english-cricket#history#career-best

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