Former Lancashire and England bowler Lever dies

Peter Lever, a former fast bowler for Lancashire and England, passed away at the age of 84 after a brief illness.

Lever made his Test debut against England in 1970 when the team won the Ashes in Australia under captain Raymond Illingworth.

When the third Test in Melbourne washed out, Lever also participated in the first one-day international, a hastily planned 40-over match between England and Australia.

In 1970, he actually played for England in a match against a Rest of the World XI, which was ultimately ended in Test mode.

In 17 Tests and 11 more one-day internationals overall, Lever took 41 wickets.

In 301 first-class games, he took almost 800 wickets while playing for Lancashire between 1960 and 1976.

Peter Lever passed away peacefully today, according to his wife Ros. “It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness. a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandpa.

Jonathan Agnew, the BBC’s top cricket commentator,

A fast bowler from the Nursery End entered the Gillette Cup final at Lord’s between Lancashire and Kent when I was 11 years old. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen. That’s who I want to be, my father said to me. Peter Lever was it.

The way he bowled was mysterious. The upbeatness and energy. I was Peter Lever right away because it gave me a spark. After seeing Peter bowl, my dad decided that I should be an off-spinner like him. He was everywhere in my life as I got older and I copied his actions.

I paid to have some coaching in the Lancashire nets at Old Trafford when I was about 15 and moved to Cheshire to stay with my grandmother. I was promoted to bowl to the first team because I was reasonably quick. I was extremely anxious. Peter was right in front of the next-door internet cafe. It was like a true dream.

I devoted my life to him. He was a very gentle character for a fast bowler.

Due to apartheid, Peter refused to play against South Africa when they traveled to England in 1965 and played against Lancashire in a tour match.

Then, in 1975, he had the horrifying experience of hitting the home number 11 Ewen Chatfield with a bouncer in the first Test against New Zealand in Auckland. Chatfield was close to passing away. Peter was almost destroyed by it.

It snowed and left the field as if it were a lottery game between Derbyshire and Lancashire at Buxton a few years later. Because he thought bowling was too dangerous, Peter refused to play.

After their initial professional years, Raymond Illingworth and Peter continued to play together. Peter became the bowling coach when Raymond took over the England team as the team’s supremo head coach and selector.

Peter and Ros moved to Devon, where he immersed himself in the local community. He planted wildflowers all over the village while coaching cricket at Lewdown Cricket Club.

Everyone who has ever played for England at Lord’s, both men and women, was invited to a “Club England” dinner at Lord’s in 2017. I was only permitted to host the evening if I wanted to sit next to Peter. We each received a special cap in honor of our achievements as England players. He gave me both of his and mine, and I gave them both. It turned out lovely.