Arthur Lindsay Hassett MBE (28 August 1913–16 June 1993) was a cricketer who played for Victoria and Australia. The diminutive Hassett was an elegant middle-order batsman, described by Wisden as, “... a master of nearly every stroke … his superb timing, nimble footwork and strong wrists enabled him to make batting look a simple matter”. His sporting career at school singled him out as a precocious talent, but he took a number of seasons to establish himself in first-class cricket. World War II interrupted his progress when he had just broken into the Australian team. He served in the Middle East and New Guinea before he was chosen to captain a team of Australian servicemen that played the “Victory Tests” in England during the months immediately following VE Day. Hassett’s leadership was intrinsic to the success of the team, which helped to re-establish the game in England, India and Australia in the aftermath of the war.

At the advanced age of 32, Hassett began his Test career in earnest and became a more sedate, cautious player who often frustrated spectators with his slow scoring. He served as Don Bradman’s vice-captain for three series, including the Invincibles tour of England in 1948, and then succeeded Bradman as Australian captain. During his 24 Test matches in charge, he suffered defeat only four times, but it was the last of the four losses that blighted his record. Defeated in the last match of the 1953 series against England, Hassett’s team lost The Ashes after Australia had held them for 19 years. Richie Benaud wrote of Hassett: "There are others who have made more runs and taken more wickets, but very few have ever got more out of a lifetime."