Former England cricketer Peter Richardson passes away at 85

Former England cricketer Peter Richardson passed away yesterday at the age of 85. Having played most of his cricket the post-Bradman era in a career spanning 7 years from 1956 to 1963. Having made his debut in the 1956 Ashes Test series, he announced his retirement after playing his final Test match against the West Indies at the age of 32. However, despite the fact that his international career was not as envious as he’d like. he had an extremely prolific career in the English county championships.

As a left-handed batsman, Richardson was a prolific player for both Kent and Worcestershire, with the former being one that he played the bulk of his cricket for. He was also fondly known as a prankster and a comedian off the field of play. While Colin Bateman, the correspondent of the Daily Express went on to illustrate his off-field antics, it was quite clear that his on-filed antics were indeed something admired.

Having made his debut in the 1956 Ashes series, his career got off to a good start when he went ahead and smashed 364 runs in a series that was dominated by England bowler Jim Laker. The latter helped himself to 46 wickets in that particular series including 19 wickets in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Colin Bateman, the one-time Daily Express cricket correspondent, noted, “Peter Richardson was one of the cricket’s great characters although you would never have guessed it watching him bat”.

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Bateman added “yet off the field he was a one-man entertainment show, particularly when the troops were stuck in some up-country billet in India. His sense of humour and sharp mind enlivened many a dull official function to the delight of his team-mates. His love of a prank continued after his playing days with outrageous letters from fictitious Colonel Blimps to The Daily Telegraph.”