TRUMBLE, Hugh (1867-1938)

cricketer

the son of William Trumble, was born at Melbourne on 12 May 1867. Educated at Hawthorn Grammar School, he entered the service of the National Bank of Australasia in 1887. He came into notice as a cricketer at the end of that year when on his first appearance for Victoria he took seven wickets for 52 runs against a strong New South Wales team. He continued to do great service as a bowler for his state until 1904 when he retired from representative cricket. His last performance was one of his greatest. In the final test match against Warner's team he took seven wickets for 28 runs including the hat trick. In test matches he took more wickets than any other bowler. In 31 matches 141 were captured for an average of 20.88. In interstate matches he took 211 wickets for an average of just over 20. He had five tours in England and took altogether 606 wickets for an average of 16.6.

After his retirement Trumble was able to attend more closely to his business and became branch manager of his bank at Kew in 1908. On 30 November 1911 he resigned this position to become secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club. He carried out his duties with conspicuous success. There had been friction between the club and the Victorian Cricket Association in the past, but Trumble realized that this was bad for the game and worked for peace. He never neglected the interests of his club, but his quiet tactfulness gradually wore down the ill-feeling that remained. He died at Melbourne on 14 August 1938. He married in 1902, Florence Christian, who survived him with six sons and two daughters. He was also survived by two brothers, the elder, J. W. Trumble, an excellent all-round international cricketer who retired early and became a well-known solicitor, and Thomas Trumble, C.M.G., C.B.E., born in 1872, who was secretary for defence 1918-27 and then official secretary to the high commissioner for Australia in London.

Trumble was six feet four in height and well-built. He was quiet in manner, with a keen sense of humour that never permitted him to become excited either on or off the field. As a cricketer he developed into a good bat with an excellent drive through the covers and he was very sure at first slip. He was a true medium-pace right-hand bowler with a good off break, an outward swing with the arm, and well concealed variation of pace. This enabled him to do some of his best performances on wickets which gave no help to the bowler, and made him one of the best bowlers in the history of the game.

The Argus and The Age, Melbourne, 15 August 1938; The Sporting Globe, Melbourne, 18 March 1939; E. E. Bean, Test Cricket in England and Australia; personal knowledge.