Albert Hartkopf

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = Australian
country = Australia
country abbrev = AUS
name = Albert Hartkopf
picture = Albert Hartkopf.jpg
batting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Legbreak
tests = 1
test runs = 80
test bat avg = 40.00
test 100s/50s = 0/1
test top score = 80
test balls = 240
test wickets = 1
test bowl avg = 134.00
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 1/120
test catches/stumpings = 0/0
FCs = 41
FC runs = 1758
FC bat avg = 34.47
FC 100s/50s = 2/12
FC top score = 126
FC balls = 6494
FC wickets = 121
FC bowl avg = 30.79
FC 5s = 7
FC 10s = 1
FC best bowling = 8/105
FC catches/stumpings = 36/0
debut date = 1 January
debut year = 1925
last date = 1 January
last year = 1925
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/5591.html

Albert Ernst Victor Hartkopf (28 December 1889 - 20 May 1968) was an Australian sportsman who played Test cricket for Australia and Australian rules football for Melbourne University Football Club.

Born in North Fitzroy, Victoria to German migrants, Hartkopf attended Scotch College, Melbourne, attracting attention as a star schoolboy athlete. After graduating from Scotch, Hartkopf studied medicine at the University of Melbourne, where he represented University in the Victorian Football League, playing 48 games and kicking 87 goals.

In 1911, Hartkopf cemented his position as one of Australia's best all-round sportsmen by becoming the Victorian state 440 yards champion and making his first-class cricket debut for Victoria on 23 December 1911 against New South Wales at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scoring an unbeaten 42 and a duck and taking 2/20 with his leg break bowling. He was a regular member of Victoria's cricket side and University's football side until injury and then World War I restricted Hartkopf's sporting career. During WWI, Hartkopf worked first at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne and then at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Perth, Western Australia. There is no evidence to suggest his German background caused him problems during the war.

In 1919 Hartkopf returned to Melbourne, opening a medical practice in Northcote and returned to cricket, playing his first game for Victoria for six years, scoring 53 and 49 against New South Wales. In November 1924, an unbeaten half century for Victoria against the touring English side led to his selection, at age 35, in the Australian team for the second Test of the 1924/25 series against England at the MCG. Batting at number 8, Hartkopf scored 80 in Australia’s first innings but could only produce match figures of 1/134 and was dropped from the team.

Hartkopf continued to play for Victoria until the end of the 1927/28 season but never returned to the national side. He then concentrated on his medical practice.

Albert Hartkopf died in Kew, Victoria after a long battle with rheumatoid arthritis. His obituary was unusually not recorded in "Wisden" until 1994.

References

* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/5591.html Cricinfo page on Albert Hartkopf]
* [http://dhe.darebin-libraries.vic.gov.au/encyclopedia.asp?id=228 Article on Hartkopf from the Darebin Historical Encyclopaedia]
* [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/296109.html Brydon Coverdale, "Australia's Winter Allrounders: XI Test Cricketers who played Australian Rules football at the highest level", Cricinfo, 28 May 2007]
* [http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/B/Bert_Hartkopf.html AFL Statistics: Bert Hartkopf (University Football Club)]