05/06/2026
🏏✨ Remembering Eric Hollies on His Birthday – June 5 ✨🏏
Today we celebrate the birthday of Eric Hollies (1912–1998) — one of England’s most skillful and enduring leg‑spin bowlers, whose name is forever etched in cricket history.
Born on June 5, 1912, in Birmingham, Hollies built a remarkable career with Warwickshire, becoming one of the county’s greatest-ever bowlers. Over a long and dedicated first-class career, he claimed 2,000+ wickets, showcasing exceptional control, sharp leg-breaks, and deceptive googlies that troubled even the finest batters of his era.
But what truly immortalized Eric Hollies in cricket folklore was a single, unforgettable moment at The Oval in 1948.
It was Sir Don Bradman’s final Test innings. The legendary Australian needed just four runs to finish his career with a perfect average of 100. Instead, Hollies bowled a beautifully flighted leg-break that slipped through Bradman’s defense and shattered the stumps — dismissing him for a duck.
That delivery didn’t just end an innings.
It ended an era.
To be the bowler who dismissed the greatest batsman in cricket history in his final Test — that is a legacy few can claim.
Hollies was known not only for that historic wicket but also for his consistency, resilience, and love for the game. Even in an era dominated by fast bowlers, he proved that craft, spin, and patience could change matches.
On his birthday, we remember Eric Hollies — a master of leg-spin and the man who bowled the ball that became part of cricketing legend.
🏏 A true craftsman of the game.
🏏 A name forever linked with Bradman’s final bow.
