Harold Hale

Harold Hale (27 March 1867 – 2 August 1947) was an Australian cricketer.

Harold Hale

The Tasmanian cricket team that beat Victoria at the MCG in 1902-03. Harold Hale is standing fourth from left.
Personal information
Born	(1867-03-27)27 March 1867 Perth, Colony of Western Australia
Died	2 August 1947(1947-08-02) (aged 80) Melbourne, Victoria
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off-spin Right-arm medium
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1883/84–1910/11	Tasmania
1886–1887	Gloucestershire
1887–1890	Cambridge University
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 57 Runs scored 1,067 Batting average 12.12 100s/50s 0/1 Top score 53 Balls bowled 4,983 Wickets 99 Bowling average 23.18 5 wickets in innings 6 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 7/42 Catches/stumpings 24/–
Source: Cricinfo, 22 April 2020

Hale was born in Perth in the Colony of Western Australia, the son of Matthew Hale, then Bishop of Perth and later Bishop of Brisbane. He went to school at The Hutchins School in Hobart.[1] He toured New Zealand with the Tasmanian cricket team when he was 16, opening the bowling with Tom Kendall in the four first-class matches on the tour, taking 21 wickets at a bowling average of 9.47 runs per wicket.[2]

His father retired to England in 1885, and Hale attended Trinity College, Cambridge between 1886 and 1889. He played cricket for the University in 1887, 1889 and 1890, receiving his cricket blue.[3] He also played for Gloucestershire. He graduated with a degree in Theology and tutored in England for about 10 years before returning to Tasmania.[1] He again played for the state team, finishing his first-class career in 1911.[4] He conducted a small private school in New Norfolk and later farmed in the area.[1]

He married Georgina Officer in Melbourne in December 1901,[5] and they had three sons and two daughters. He died in 1947 in a Melbourne hospital aged 80; his wife predeceased him.[1]