Hugh Chilvers - a truly remarkable leg spin bowler

Northern District Cricket Club Sydney | May 12, 2023

Hugh Chilvers was a leg spin bowler who played for Northern District in the Sydney Grade competition from 1925 to 1952. Chilvers is Northern District Cricket Club first grade player number 17 having made his first grade debut on 21 November 1925 against Glebe at Jubilee Oval

Chilvers remains the leading wicket taker in the history of Sydney Grade Cricket taking 1,153 wickets at an incredible average of 15.99 and had best figures of 9 for 46.

In what is truly remarkable Hugh Chilvers took 5 or more wickets in an innings on 105 occasions, one more than the great Bill O’Reilly.

Hugh Chilvers and Ken Gulliver from Mosman Cricket Club are the only two bowlers who have taken more than 1,000 first grade wickets in Sydney First Grade Cricket, Gulliver took 1,029 wickets.

Born Hugh Cecil Chilvers in Hertfordshire England in 1902 Chilvers moved to Australia at a young age and made his first grade debut for Northern District at the age of 23.

In 1929 Chilvers made his first class debut for NSW and in 34 first class games he took 151 wickets at 26.39 and his best figures were 6 for 62. He took 5 or more wickets in 11 innings and also took 10 wickets or more in 3 matches.

With such bowling performances it would seem quite unfortunate that Hugh Chilvers was never selected to play for Australia. It’s believed Bill O’Reilly rated Chilvers as the best spin bowler never to play for Australia.

From “Australian Cricket: The Game and the Players” by Jack Pollard (1982)

He strongly challenged for a position in the 1934 and 1938 Australian teams that visited England. In 1935, when the Australian Board found itself unable to accept India's request to send a team, Frank Tarrant organised an unofficial team to play in India while Australia's Test side toured South Africa. Chilvers was among the players Tarrant invited, but the Board refused to allow Chilvers to tour India on the grounds that he might be wanted by his State. Famous cricket writer Ray Robinson commented, "The sight of Chilvers continuing to play for Northern Districts until he was 56 should have been an annual reproach to officials who denied this honest toiler his only chance for a trip abroad. In my opinion officialdom has shown no poorer spirit in the past 20 years".

Hugh Chilvers was elected Life Member of Northern District Cricket Club on 12 July 1939. He died 1 December 1994 aged 92