Peter Pollock
Encyclopedia
Peter Maclean Pollock, has played a continuing role in the South Africa cricket team as a player, selector, and father of a future captain. He was voted a Wisden Cricketer of the Year
in 1966. He was primarily a fast bowler
, but was also a useful late-order batsman.
Peter's father Andrew Pollock played a small number of undistinguished first-class games for the Orange Free State side, but the rest of the family have found greater fame in the cricketing world. His brother, Graeme Pollock
, an acclaimed left hand batsman, was a regular player for the South Africa cricket team at the same time as Peter, and two of his nephews also played first-class cricket, both for Transvaal
and Leicestershire
amongst other sides. Perhaps most famous of all is his son, Shaun Pollock
, who played 108 Tests and over 300 ODIs for South Africa and is widely regarded as one of the finest all-rounder
s to ever play the game.
Perhaps the highlight of his career came alongside that of his brother when they were both playing in a Test match
at Trent Bridge
in 1965. Peter took ten wickets in the match with innings figures of 5 for 53 and 5 for 34, while his brother Graeme, batting, made 125 and 59. South Africa won the match, and with it the three-Test series.
Peter was convenor of selectors for South Africa in the 1990s, immediately following their re-admittance into world cricket after the collapse of apartheid. He is often credited with establishing the work ethic and style of play (based on tight fast bowling
) that led to the team rapidly rising to become one of the top two teams in the game. Later, he led calls for the famous fast bowler Allan Donald
to retire from the game when that player became very injury-prone due to his age.
Outside cricket, Peter is a trained journalist
and a lay preacher.
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 1966. He was primarily a fast bowler
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
, but was also a useful late-order batsman.
Peter's father Andrew Pollock played a small number of undistinguished first-class games for the Orange Free State side, but the rest of the family have found greater fame in the cricketing world. His brother, Graeme Pollock
Graeme Pollock
Robert Graeme Pollock, known as Graeme, is a former cricketer. He played in 23 Test matches for South Africa and represented Transvaal and Eastern Province at domestic level....
, an acclaimed left hand batsman, was a regular player for the South Africa cricket team at the same time as Peter, and two of his nephews also played first-class cricket, both for Transvaal
Transvaal cricket team
Gauteng cricket team is the first-class cricket team of the province of Gauteng in South Africa....
and Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
amongst other sides. Perhaps most famous of all is his son, Shaun Pollock
Shaun Pollock
Shaun Maclean Pollock is a retired South African cricketer who is considered a bowling all-rounder. From 2000 to 2003 he was the captain of the South African cricket team, and also played for Africa XI, World XI, Dolphins and Warwickshire. He was also chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in...
, who played 108 Tests and over 300 ODIs for South Africa and is widely regarded as one of the finest all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
s to ever play the game.
Perhaps the highlight of his career came alongside that of his brother when they were both playing in a Test match
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...
at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
in 1965. Peter took ten wickets in the match with innings figures of 5 for 53 and 5 for 34, while his brother Graeme, batting, made 125 and 59. South Africa won the match, and with it the three-Test series.
Peter was convenor of selectors for South Africa in the 1990s, immediately following their re-admittance into world cricket after the collapse of apartheid. He is often credited with establishing the work ethic and style of play (based on tight fast bowling
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
) that led to the team rapidly rising to become one of the top two teams in the game. Later, he led calls for the famous fast bowler Allan Donald
Allan Donald
Allan Anthony Donald is a former South African cricketer and one of their most successful pace bowlers.In his prime, he was one of the best fast bowlers ever seen in Test cricket, reaching the top of the ICC Test rankings in 1998 and peaked with a top ICC ranking of 895 points the next year, the...
to retire from the game when that player became very injury-prone due to his age.
Outside cricket, Peter is a trained journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and a lay preacher.