Alf Hall
A South African fast bowler whose brief Test career in the 1920s was marked by a famous, match-winning spell against England.
1896–1964 (age 68)·South African cricketer·Birthday: January 23·The Lost Generation
Biography
Alf Hall's story in cricket is one of a potent but fleeting impact. A left-arm fast-medium bowler with a punishing, heavy-ball action, he played only seven Tests for South Africa across eight years, a career span interrupted and limited by the era's infrequent touring schedules. His moment of immortality came during his very first Test series in 1923, on home soil against a strong England side. In the decisive match at Johannesburg, Hall produced a devastating performance, taking seven wickets in the second innings to secure a series victory for South Africa. Though he played sporadically thereafter, including a final tour to England in 1929, that one explosive display ensured his name would be remembered as that of a match-winner who burned brightly on the biggest stage.
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.
Alf was born in 1896, 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 Alf Was Born
The biggest hits of 1896
Alf's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1896Born
First modern Olympic Games held in Athens
President: Grover Cleveland
1901Started school
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Became a teenager
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1912Could drive
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1914Could vote
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Turned 21
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Turned 30
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1936Turned 40
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1946Turned 50
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 60
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1964Died at 68
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
Key Achievements
- Took 7 wickets for 63 runs in the second innings of the 1923 Johannesburg Test to bowl South Africa to a series-winning victory over England.
- Played a key role in South Africa's first-ever Test series win over England in 1922-23.
- Finished his Test career with 40 wickets at an average of under 23 runs per wicket.
Did You Know?
He was nicknamed 'Toey' Hall.
He played first-class cricket for both Transvaal and Western Province in South Africa.
His son, Andrew Hall, also played first-class cricket in South Africa.
“I bowled them out for thirty, and we won by four runs.”
