Today's birthday, May 3, 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2008
Today's birthday, May 3, 2008
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Today's birthday May 3: David Hookes (1955 - 2004) Former Test cricketer.



Outspoken former Australian batsman David Hookes is remembered for his flashy playing
style, frank opinions and shocking death before reaching the age of 50.

Born on May 3, 1955 in Adelaide, Hookes was a brash, vastly talented and confident
player from an early age.

He played for South Australia in the 1975/6 season. By his second season, the left-handed
batsman had gained national attention when he hit an astonishing 5 centuries from 6 innings.

At 21, he made his Test debut in Melbourne's Centenary Test against England in 1977,
where he hit five consecutive fours off Tony Greig - an effort that remains in cricket
anecdotes today.

Hookes' cavalier batting style saw him snapped up by Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket,
and he was a star of the new format.

However, his form deserted him on a tour to Pakistan in 1980 and he refused to control
his aggressive batting style. He was soon dropped from the national and South Australian
sides.

In 1982, he returned to first class cricket and was made captain of South Australia.

In one blistering innings, he made a century off just 34 deliveries - an Australian record
still unbroken.

Hookes made a comeback for the Australian Test side in the 1982/83 Ashes Series, and
followed on to a Test against Sri Lanka where he made his only Test century.

From then, he struggled to maintain his form and was dropped from the Australian side.

He finished his career in 1992 with more than 9,000 first class runs. He moved to Victoria
and pursued a career in radio, becoming famous for his blunt and honest opinions.

In 2002, Hookes was appointed coach of Victoria and quickly turned the team's fortunes around.

On January 18, 2004, Hookes was at a Melbourne hotel with members of the Victorian
and South Australian teams. As he left, he got into an altercation with the hotel's bouncer
and was punched in the head. He died on January 19.

More than 10,000 people attended his memorial service at the Adelaide Oval including
the South Australian and Victorian premiers.

AAP pbc/jmc

KEYWORD: TODAY'S BIRTHDAY 3/5

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