Arthur Chipperfield
An Australian batsman whose Test career began with a tantalizing 99, forever marking him as a figure of near-greatness.
1905–1987 (age 82)·Australian cricketer·Birthday: November 17·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Arthur Chipperfield's name is etched in cricket lore for one of the sport's most agonizing and brilliant introductions. Stepping onto the Test stage against England in 1934, the right-handed batsman from New South Wales scored 99 runs in his first innings, falling one run short of a debut century—a feat that has only been matched by a handful of players in history. That moment defined a solid, if brief, international career spanning 14 Tests through the 1930s. He was a dependable middle-order player for Australia during a period of formidable team strength, contributing valuable runs against England and South Africa. While his overall statistics are modest, the story of his first-day brilliance ensures he is never forgotten in discussions of cricket's compelling near-misses.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Arthur was born in 1905, placing them squarely in The Greatest 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 Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1905
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1905Born
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Started school
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1918Became a teenager
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could drive
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1923Could vote
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Turned 21
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1935Turned 30
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 40
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 50
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 60
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 70
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 80
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Died at 82
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
Key Achievements
- Scored 99 runs on his Test match debut for Australia against England in 1934.
- Played in 14 Test matches between 1934 and 1938, contributing to a dominant Australian side.
- Represented New South Wales in Sheffield Shield cricket for over a decade.
Did You Know?
He is one of only three players in Test cricket history to be dismissed for 99 on debut.
His son, Ian Chipperfield, also became a first-class cricketer in Australia.
He served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War.
“You play each ball on its merits, not the score beside your name.”
