A Royal Crown Derby loving cup lettered on the base “R. Hamence, South Australia”. These were presented to the Australian Cricket Team that played in the match against Derbyshire County Cricket Club held at the county cricket ground over three days, 28th, 29th and 30th July 1948.
Ronald Arthur Hamence C1946. Image in the Public Domain.
The Australian touring party of 18 players were captained by Don Bradman, who was making his fourth and final tour of England. “The team is famous for being the only Test Match side to play an entire tour of England without losing a match. This feat earned them the nickname of The Invincibles, and they are regarded as one of the greatest cricket teams of all time. According to the Australian federal government the team "is one of Australia's most cherished sporting legends”.
The Australians (456) defeated Derbyshire (240 and 182) by an innings and 34 runs. There was a Derbyshire record attendance of 17,000 on the first day. “ (Wikipedia).
The Derbyshire County Cricket ground in 1948. Image courtesy of the Derby Telegraph
Hamence, batting at number six, is reported to have made 21 runs.
Ron, at 15, is reported to have been the youngest Australian to play district cricket. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Australian Airforce. After the war he resumed his cricketing career making his debut for Australia in the fifth Test at Sydney on the 28th February 1947.
Bradman, following the Invincibles tour, described Hamence as "a fine batsman of the strictly orthodox type. Very sound and reliable with his game based on driving” and a "very safe fieldsman". In reality it seems that Ron was used in non-Test tour matches so that the leading batsmen could conserve energy for the Tests, as play was scheduled for six days a week. Along with Doug Ring, Hamence and McCool called themselves "ground staff" because of their scant playing duties in the major matches, and they often created and sang ironic songs about their lack of opportunities. Bradman was reluctant to risk the team's unbeaten record and as a result, Hamence did not receive many opportunities to bat high in the order, something that was the subject of criticism.” (Wikipedia)
Ron played in only three Tests during his career, with a top score of 30 not out. He also had the distinction of making a century in his first and last first-class matches for South Australia (Obituary ABC News)
Following Ron’s death at the age of 94 in an Adelaid nursing home his extensive collection of cricketing memorabilia was sold through auctioneers Leski of Armadale, Victoria, who have kindly given permission for me to use the loving cup image. Perhaps some of the others given to the team members have survived? If so I would be delighted to include the information on this website. Please get in touch via the contact page.
For information about Ron and the Invincibles Tour see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_cricket_team_in_England_in_1948
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Hamence_with_the_Australian_cricket_team_in_England_in_1948
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-03-25/oldest-test-player-dies-aged-94/379410