Ewen Chatfield
Encyclopedia
Ewen John Chatfield is a former cricket
er who played 43 Tests
and 114 One Day Internationals for New Zealand
. A medium-pace bowler, his chief weapon was his accuracy, giving him economical bowling figures, although he occasionally would come in for punishment in the late stages of limited overs matches due to a lack of variation in his line and length.
In a three-day match for Wellington in February 1980, Chatfield almost single-handedly defeated the West Indies, who were at the time the best cricket team in the world, taking six wickets in the first innings and seven in the second.
. In 1984 he was awarded the Hutt City Sportsperson of the Year award (the first person to receive this award). Since retiring from first-class cricket, Chatfield has had a variety of jobs. He coached the Hutt Valley association until they merged with Wellington, worked in a chip shop, was a courier and drove a van for a dairy. He also mowed lawns, and as of 2009 works as a taxi driver in Wellington.
by Australia
, chiefly by the Australian fast bowlers Jeff Thomson
and Dennis Lillee
. Chatfield, a genuine number 11 batsman, was holding up England with a last wicket partnership with his future captain, Geoff Howarth
. English fast bowler Peter Lever
decided to test Chatfield with a bouncer. At the time helmets and other now common protective gear were not in use. The ball struck Chatfield on the temple, rendering him unconscious and not breathing. Watching English physiotherapist Bernard Thomas
was the first to realise what had happened: Chatfield had swallowed his tongue. He flicked it back into place and managed to revive Chatfield with a heart massage. Lever was distraught and Chatfield later joked that when he was visited by Lever in hospital, that "he looked worse than I did". A couple of years later helmets were introduced into cricket and Chatfield wore one thereafter. Another legacy of the incident was that Chatfield himself never bowled a bouncer in the rest of his career.
on a partnership to defeat Pakistan in a 1984/85 Test series. It was technically not a last wicket win, as Lance Cairns
was still available to bat, but Cairns was severely concussed at the time and essentially incapable of batting, making Chatfield his side's last hope for a series win. Chatfield managed his highest Test score, an unbeaten 21. Such was Coney's faith in his partner that Chatfield ended up facing 84 deliveries during their stand as opposed to Coney's 48.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played 43 Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and 114 One Day Internationals for New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
. A medium-pace bowler, his chief weapon was his accuracy, giving him economical bowling figures, although he occasionally would come in for punishment in the late stages of limited overs matches due to a lack of variation in his line and length.
Career
With the ball, Chatfield distinguished himself with efforts against the West Indies, the leading cricketing side of the day, on tour in 1984/85 and in the home series which New Zealand drew in 1986/87. He was also a member of the New Zealand sides which achieved the country's first Test series wins against England and Australia at home and away.In a three-day match for Wellington in February 1980, Chatfield almost single-handedly defeated the West Indies, who were at the time the best cricket team in the world, taking six wickets in the first innings and seven in the second.
Hutt Valley
Chatfield also played for Hutt Valley in the Hawke CupHawke Cup
The Hawke Cup is a cricket competition for New Zealand's District Associations. Apart from 1910/11, 1912/13 and 2000/01 the competition has always been on a challenge basis. In order to win the Hawke Cup the challenger must beat the holder on their home ground...
. In 1984 he was awarded the Hutt City Sportsperson of the Year award (the first person to receive this award). Since retiring from first-class cricket, Chatfield has had a variety of jobs. He coached the Hutt Valley association until they merged with Wellington, worked in a chip shop, was a courier and drove a van for a dairy. He also mowed lawns, and as of 2009 works as a taxi driver in Wellington.
Nearly killed
Chatfield is also noted for nearly being killed on the cricket field, in a Test match against England in the 1974/5 season. England were at the end of a long and difficult tour in which they had been defeated in the The AshesThe Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
by Australia
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
, chiefly by the Australian fast bowlers Jeff Thomson
Jeff Thomson
Jeffrey Robert Thomson is a former Australian cricketer. Known as "Thommo", he was one of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket and was the opening partner of fellow fast bowler Dennis Lillee; their combination was one of the most fearsome in Test cricket history...
and Dennis Lillee
Dennis Lillee
Dennis Keith Lillee, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer rated as the "outstanding fast bowler of his generation"...
. Chatfield, a genuine number 11 batsman, was holding up England with a last wicket partnership with his future captain, Geoff Howarth
Geoff Howarth
Geoffrey "Geoff" Philip Howarth OBE is a former New Zealand cricketer, who remains the only New Zealand captain to have positive win-loss records in both Test cricket and ODI cricket. Howarth played some Test cricket with his elder brother, Hedley Howarth, but most of his 47-Test career did not...
. English fast bowler Peter Lever
Peter Lever
Peter Lever is a former English cricketer, who played in seventeen Tests and ten ODIs for England from 1970 to 1975. He was a successful wicket taker, taking 41 victims from those seventeen Tests, and a handy batsman with a top score of 88 not out...
decided to test Chatfield with a bouncer. At the time helmets and other now common protective gear were not in use. The ball struck Chatfield on the temple, rendering him unconscious and not breathing. Watching English physiotherapist Bernard Thomas
Bernard Thomas
The Ven Elwyn Bernard Thomas B.Sc., BD is the current Archdeacon of St Asaph .He was born in 1945, educated at Swansea University and St. Michael's College, Llandaff and ordained in 1972. After curacies at Aberdare and Merthyr Dyfan he held incumbencies in Dowlais, Llangynwyd with Maesteg...
was the first to realise what had happened: Chatfield had swallowed his tongue. He flicked it back into place and managed to revive Chatfield with a heart massage. Lever was distraught and Chatfield later joked that when he was visited by Lever in hospital, that "he looked worse than I did". A couple of years later helmets were introduced into cricket and Chatfield wore one thereafter. Another legacy of the incident was that Chatfield himself never bowled a bouncer in the rest of his career.
Defeating Pakistan
He accompanied Wellington team mate Jeremy ConeyJeremy Coney
Jeremy Vernon Coney MBE is a former New Zealand cricketer, who played 52 Test matches and 88 ODIs for New Zealand, captaining them in 15 Tests and 25 ODIs. He was one of New Zealand's most successful batsmen, at least by average, and he made 16 fifties, but centuries often eluded him and he had to...
on a partnership to defeat Pakistan in a 1984/85 Test series. It was technically not a last wicket win, as Lance Cairns
Lance Cairns
Bernard Lance Cairns is a former all-rounder who played for the New Zealand cricket team, and is the father of New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns....
was still available to bat, but Cairns was severely concussed at the time and essentially incapable of batting, making Chatfield his side's last hope for a series win. Chatfield managed his highest Test score, an unbeaten 21. Such was Coney's faith in his partner that Chatfield ended up facing 84 deliveries during their stand as opposed to Coney's 48.