Brief profile of Dominic Hewson by Matthew Reed

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Player:

DR Hewson

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DateLine: 22nd November 2005

 

Dominic Hewson began his county career as an opener who rarely played limited-overs cricket, and ended it as a one-day specialist, whose bowling had arguably overtaken his batting as his stronger suit. He had a habit of starting strongly (half centuries in his maiden First-class and Championship innings, and a century on his debut for Derbyshire, albeit after a first innings golden duck), although his returns always seemed to fall away after such impressive beginnings. However it was still a surprise when Gloucestershire released him at the end of 2001, as that season had seen him record his maiden First-class centuries (both against Derbyshire), although the first was spoon-fed to him to speed a Gloucestershire declaration). However, he had averaged a not disgraceful 35, although the impending arrival of Craig Spearman doubtless played a part in the decision. Hewson didn’t play in any of Gloucestershire’s victorious one-day finals, which made his morphing into a one-day specialist all the more ironic. The strength of his bowling was in an ability to bowl a good line and length at a very medium pace (in the finest tradition of dob bowling), which on average to slow pitches could be very hard to hit. However, Hewson’s professional career was compromised throughout by a heart arrhythmia, which struck occasionally with various severity. In his last appearance for Derbyshire (in the Sunday league against Sussex in 2004) he showed tremendous character in batting at no.11 in a forlorn attempt to win the game, after earlier suffering from the complaint while in the field.

 

(November 2005)

 

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Matthew Reed)