Peter Parfitt

{{short description|English cricketer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use British English|date=June 2012}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Peter Parfitt | image = | caption = | fullname = Peter Howard Parfitt | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1936|12|8|df=yes}} | birth_place = Billingford, Norfolk, England | batting = Left-handed | bowling = Right-arm off break | columns = 2 | column1 = Test | matches1 = 37 | runs1 = 1,882 | bat avg1 = 40.91 | 100s/50s1 = 7/6 | top score1 = 131* | deliveries1 = 1,326 | wickets1 = 12 | bowl avg1 = 47.83 | fivefor1 = 0 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 2/5 | catches/stumpings1= 42/– | column2 = First-class | matches2 = 498 | runs2 = 26,924 | bat avg2 = 36.33 | 100s/50s2 = 58/144 | top score2 = 200* | deliveries2 = 18,385 | wickets2 = 277 | bowl avg2 = 30.32 | fivefor2 = 5 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 6/45 | catches/stumpings2= 565/– | international = true | country = England | testdebutagainst = India | testdebutdate = 30 December | testdebutyear = 1961 | lasttestdate = 10 August | lasttestagainst = Australia | lasttestyear = 1972 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/18411.html ESPNcricinfo | date = 10 September | year = 2022 }}

'''Peter Howard Parfitt''' (born 8 December 1936)<ref name="Cap">{{cite book |title=If The Cap Fits |last=Bateman |first=Colin |year=1993 |publisher=Tony Williams Publications |isbn=1-869833-21-X |page=[https://archive.org/details/ifcapfits0000unse/page/129 129] |url=https://archive.org/details/ifcapfits0000unse/page/129 }}</ref> is an English former cricketer. He attended Fakenham Grammar School,<ref name=Wisden>{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154564.html | title=Cricketer Of The Year 1963 Peter Parfitt | publisher=ESPNCricinfo | work=1963 Wisden Almanack | access-date=14 March 2013}}</ref> and King Edward VII Grammar School, in Kings Lynn, Norfolk.

The cricket correspondent Colin Bateman noted, "he was a stocky, powerful left-handed batsman, happy to take on the quicks, and he made a dramatic impact in Test cricket despite his misgivings".<ref name="Cap"/>

==Life and career== Parfitt was an all round sportsman, playing for Norwich City reserves at football, and cricket at Minor Counties level, before Middlesex offered him a playing contract.<ref name="Cap"/>

Batting left-handed and bowling right-arm off-breaks, Parfitt played for Middlesex between 1956 and 1972, captaining the team from 1968 to 1970. He played in 37 Tests for England between 1962 and 1972, and was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1963.<ref name=Wisden/> He made four centuries in five consecutive Tests against Pakistan in 1962,<ref name="Cap"/> but was used as a makeshift opener in the 1962–63 Ashes series in Australia and failed.

A left-handed batsman, right-arm off-break bowler and fine fielder, he was judged to be one of the most exciting strokemakers of his generation. Parfitt took over the captaincy at Middlesex when Fred Titmus stood down, but was not pleased to have only two seasons in charge, before Mike Brearley took over the role.<ref name="Cap"/> He scored almost 27,000 runs in first-class cricket.

Parfitt retired from the sport at the age of 35, a decision he later regretted.<ref name="Cap"/>

After cricket he ran a pub on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border, and later became involved in hospitality at Test matches.<ref name="Cap"/> After selling that business, Parfitt became an after-dinner speaker.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{ESPNcricinfo|id=18411}}

{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box| |before=Fred Titmus |title=Middlesex County Cricket Captain |years=1968–1970 |after=Mike Brearley }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parfitt, Peter}} Category:1936 births Category:Living people Category:England Test cricketers Category:English cricketers Category:English cricketers of 1946 to 1968 Category:English cricketers of 1969 to 2000 Category:20th-century English sportsmen Category:Middlesex cricket captains Category:Norfolk cricketers Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year Category:People from Billingford, Breckland Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers Category:Combined Services cricketers Category:Players cricketers Category:Presidents of Middlesex County Cricket Club Category:Middlesex cricketers Category:D. H. Robins' XI cricketers Category:T. N. Pearce's XI cricketers Category:Marylebone Cricket Club Australian Touring Team cricketers Category:Cricketers from Norfolk