Former England Fast Bowler Peter Lever Dies at 84

England cricket has lost one of its former pacers, Peter Lever, who passed away at the age of 84. Lever, a right-arm fast bowler, played 17 Test matches and 10 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for England during the 1970s.

His international career included taking 41 wickets in Test cricket and 11 wickets in ODIs. Notably, he played in the first-ever ODI match held in 1971.

Lever’s name is also associated with one of the scariest moments in cricket history. During a Test match against New Zealand in Auckland in 1975, one of his bouncers struck debutant Ewen Chatfield on the head. The impact caused Chatfield to swallow his tongue, and he nearly lost his life. However, England’s physiotherapist managed to revive him, preventing a tragic outcome.

While Lever played only two more Tests after that incident, Chatfield went on to have a long cricketing career, representing New Zealand in 43 Tests until his retirement in 1989.

Peter Lever’s contributions to England cricket remain significant, and he will be fondly remembered by cricketing fans and the sporting fraternity.