Obituaries Australia

Clem Hill, 1899

Mr Clement Hill, former international cricketer and Australia's most famous left-hand batsman, died last night in Royal Melbourne Hospital after a long illness following an injury. He was 68. Since his retirement from cricket many years ago he had been associated with racing, first as a stipendiary steward and then as a handicapper.

Clem Hill was one of the most, spectacular and one of the most popular of Australia's cricketers. He was born in Adelaide on March 18, 1877, and came of a cricketing family. His father, John Hill, represented South Australia in the early days, and three brothers also played for the state.

Clem was educated at Prince Alfred College, and in one match scored 360 runs for the school XI. He won his way into the South Australian XI soon after that, and on his 18th birthday made 150 not out in an interstate match.

He was soon playing in the Australian XI, and as 'first wicket down" batsman gave many clashing displays. In the 1902 Test season in Australia he suffered the disappointing experience of just missing the century in three successive innings, with scores of 99, 98, and 97 in that order.

He played in 68 Sheffield Shield matches and scored an aggregate of 6,247 runs, and in all matches with South Australia he scored 8,027 runs for an average of 53.15. His highest score was 365 not out against NSW at Adelaide in 1900.

He visited England three times with Australian Test teams, and was captain of the Australian XI. In 41 Test matches he made a total of 2,660 runs, which stood as a record until Bradman achieved his aggregate of 3,840. In first-class cricket he made 45 centuries.

After the outbreak of the 1914-18 war Clem Hill retired from big cricket, but after the war he again played a few games for South Australia.

On his retirement from cricket he devoted his attention to racing, and became a stipendiary steward to the SAJC and later handicapper. In 1937 he was appointed handicapper to the VATC and came to live in Melbourne. He resigned in 1943 because of ill-health, but subsequently became handicapper to the Geelong Racing Club. He is survived by two daughters.

The remains will be taken to Adelaide tomorrow for burial at the North rd cemetery. Funeral arrangements are being made by A. A. Gordon Sleight Pty Ltd. Mr Clem Hill