Alan George Hurst (born 15 July 1950) is a former Australian cricketer who played in twelve Test matches and eight One Day Internationals between 1975 and 1979.

A famous Australian former selector refers to him as "the hearse" but throughout a hard Shield season he has carried the burden for Victoria and his figures have been consistently presentable.

[5] However he wasn't selected to make the trip across the Tasman for the return series a few weeks later,[6] despite a request from Australian skipper Ian Chappell that he do so.

Chappell considered Hurst the fastest bowler in the country, with Dennis Lillee sidelined by a severe back injury.

[8] The rise of Jeff Thomson during the Ashes series later in 1974 pushed Hurst further down the pecking order in the hunt for a baggy green cap.

[9] He had a strong season in 1975–76, taking 39 wickets at 23.38, including a spell of 4–13 in nine overs for Victoria against the touring West Indies.

[10] However he was unable to force his way into the test side past Lillee, Thomson, Max Walker and Gary Gilmour.

"[14] He was overlooked for selection on the 1977 Ashes; the fast bowlers who went were Thomson, Walker, Len Pascoe, Mick Malone and Geoff Dymock.

[15] He took 0–31 and 2–50; he also scored 26 in the second innings, taking part in a 50-run last-wicket partnership with Jeff Thomson which proved crucial for Australia's victory.

[17] When Hurst recovered he was unable to force his way back into the side for the rest of the series, or on the 1978 tour of the West Indies.

In six Tests, he grabbed 25 wickets and formed an opening partnership with debutant Rodney Hogg that rivalled Lillee-Thomson for potency.

Even though Australia lost 5–1, the England players were full of praise for Hurst, whose sustained pace and stamina impressed those who had previously believed him to be physically suspect.

Hurst was an athletic man in the outfield who bowled with an elaborate, "winding" delivery stride that generated real pace.

Later in the day, Australian batsman Andrew Hilditch was given out after an appeal for handled the ball and became the only non-striker to have suffered that decision.

Hilditch picked up a wayward throw that had dribbled onto the pitch and handed the ball back to Sarfraz Nawaz who appealed and the umpire had to give him out.