Alan Kippax
An elegant Australian batsman whose graceful strokeplay and state-level dominance made him a beloved figure of the interwar era.
1897–1972 (age 75)·Australian cricketer·Birthday: May 25·The Lost Generation
Biography
Alan Kippax brought a touch of class to the Australian crease during the 1920s and early '30s. With a late start to his Test career, he became the heart of a powerful New South Wales side, captaining the team with shrewd intelligence. At the batting crease, he was all flowing drives and crisp cuts, a stylist whose technique was as sound as it was beautiful to watch. His Test average doesn't fully capture his stature, as he often shone brightest under the pressure of Sheffield Shield cricket, where he was a prolific run-machine. Kippax's legacy is cemented by an iconic domestic performance: a last-wicket partnership of 307 with tailender Hal Hooker in 1928, a defiant, record-breaking stand that entered cricket folklore. He was a cricketer's cricketer, respected for his leadership and his unwavering commitment to attractive, attacking play.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Alan was born in 1897, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1897
Alan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1897Born
President: William McKinley
1902Started school
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Became a teenager
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could drive
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1915Could vote
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Turned 21
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 30
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 40
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 50
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 60
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 70
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Died at 75
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
Key Achievements
- Scored a famous 315 not out in a record 307-run last-wicket partnership for New South Wales in 1928.
- Captained New South Wales to Sheffield Shield victory in the 1931-32 season.
- Represented Australia on two Ashes tours to England, in 1930 and 1934.
- Averaged over 55 in first-class cricket, reflecting his immense dominance at the domestic level.
Did You Know?
He was also a talented Australian rules football player in his youth.
The massive 1928 partnership with Hal Hooker saved NSW from following on against Victoria.
He worked as a stock and share broker outside of cricket.
His Test debut was delayed until he was 31 years old.
“A straight bat and a cool head will see you through.”
