Peter Parfitt
Encyclopedia
Peter Parfitt is an English
former cricket
er. He attended Fakenham Grammar School
, and King Edward VII Grammar School, in Kings Lynn, Norfolk.
The cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, noted, "he was a stocky, powerful left-handed batsman, happy to take on the quicks, and he made a dramatic impact in Test cricket despite his misgivings".
reserves at football, and cricket at Minor Counties level, before Middlesex offered him a playing contract.
Parfitt played for Middlesex
between 1956 and 1972, captaining
the team from 1968 to 1970. He played in thirty seven Tests
for England between 1962 and 1972, and was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year
in 1963. A left-handed strokemaker, he made three centuries in four Tests against Pakistan in 1962, (ultimately making four in five Tests against the same opposition), but was used as a makeshift opener
in the 1962-63 Ashes series in Australia and failed.
A left-handed batsman, right-arm off-break bowler and fine fielder, he was judged to be one of the most exciting strokemakers of his generation. Parfitt took over the captaincy at Middlesex when Fred Titmus
stood down, but was not pleased to have only two seasons in charge, before Mike Brearley
took over the role. He scored almost 27,000 runs in first-class cricket.
Parfitt retired from the sport at the age of 35, although he later regretted the lack of late career opportunities that decision created.
After cricket he ran a pub
on the Lancashire
/Yorkshire
border, and later became involved in hospitality at Test matches. After selling that business, Parfitt became an after-dinner speaker
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former cricket
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. He attended Fakenham Grammar School
Fakenham
Fakenham is a town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is situated on the River Wensum, some north east of King's Lynn, south west of Cromer, and north west of Norwich....
, and King Edward VII Grammar School, in Kings Lynn, Norfolk.
The cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, noted, "he was a stocky, powerful left-handed batsman, happy to take on the quicks, and he made a dramatic impact in Test cricket despite his misgivings".
Life and career
Parfitt was an all round sportsman, playing for Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
reserves at football, and cricket at Minor Counties level, before Middlesex offered him a playing contract.
Parfitt played for Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
between 1956 and 1972, captaining
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
the team from 1968 to 1970. He played in thirty seven 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...
for England between 1962 and 1972, and was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year
Wisden Cricketers of the Year
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, based primarily on their "influence on the previous English season"...
in 1963. A left-handed strokemaker, he made three centuries in four Tests against Pakistan in 1962, (ultimately making four in five Tests against the same opposition), but was used as a makeshift opener
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
in the 1962-63 Ashes series in Australia and failed.
A left-handed batsman, right-arm off-break bowler and fine fielder, he was judged to be one of the most exciting strokemakers of his generation. Parfitt took over the captaincy at Middlesex when Fred Titmus
Fred Titmus
Frederick John Titmus MBE was an English cricketer, whose first-class career spanned five decades. Although he was best known for his off spin , he was an accomplished lower-order batsman who deserved to be called an all-rounder, even opening the batting for England on six occasions...
stood down, but was not pleased to have only two seasons in charge, before Mike Brearley
Mike Brearley
John Michael Brearley OBE is a former cricketer who captained the England cricket team in 31 of his 39 Test matches, winning 17 and losing only 4. He was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2007–08.-Early life:...
took over the role. He scored almost 27,000 runs in first-class cricket.
Parfitt retired from the sport at the age of 35, although he later regretted the lack of late career opportunities that decision created.
After cricket he ran a pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
on the Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
/Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
border, and later became involved in hospitality at Test matches. After selling that business, Parfitt became an after-dinner speaker
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
.