Former England fast bowler Peter Lever, who was part of the victorious 1970-71 Ashes team, has sadly passed away at the age of 84. The news was confirmed by his former club, Lancashire, which expressed its deep sorrow over his death and highlighted his impressive career, during which he played 301 First-Class matches from 1960 to 1976 and took 796 wickets. In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Lever was inducted into the Lancashire Hall of Fame just last year.
Lever’s international career included 17 Test matches and 10 one-day internationals, notably featuring in England’s inaugural one-day match in 1971. He made a remarkable impression on his debut for England in the summer of 1970, taking 7 wickets for 83 runs against a Rest of the World XI, though the match was later stripped of its Test status.
A defining moment in Lever’s career occurred during a 1975 Test match against New Zealand. In a dramatic incident, a bouncer aimed at New Zealand’s Ewen Chatfield struck him on the head, leading to a near-fatal situation. Thanks to the quick actions of the England physio, who performed CPR, Chatfield was revived, leaving Lever deeply shaken and contemplating retirement from the game.
Lever toured Australia in 1975, achieving his best Test figures of 6 for 38 in Melbourne. His performance in that match was significant, as he took four of the top five Australian batsmen for just two runs, contributing to England’s sole victory in the six-Test series.
Sadly, after the New Zealand incident, Lever played just one more Test, which was the second Ashes match at Lord’s, and his first-class career ended shortly thereafter. His legacy in cricket remains celebrated, and he is remembered as a key figure in England’s cricketing history. The cricket community extends its sympathies to Lever’s family and friends during this difficult time.