Tony Pigott

{{Short description|English cricketer (1958–2026)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Use British English|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Tony Pigott | image = | caption = | fullname = Anthony Charles Shackleton Pigott | birth_date = {{Birth date|1958|6|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = Fulham, London, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|2026|2|1|1958|6|4|df=yes}} | death_place = Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm fast-medium | columns = 2 | column1 = Test | matches1 = 1 | runs1 = 12 | bat avg1 = 12.00 | 100s/50s1 = 0/0 | top score1 = 8* | deliveries1 = 102 | wickets1 = 2 | bowl avg1 = 37.50 | fivefor1 = 0 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 2/75 | catches/stumpings1= 0/– | column2 = First-class | matches2 = 260 | runs2 = 4,841 | bat avg2 = 19.28 | 100s/50s2 = 1/20 | top score2 = 104* | deliveries2 = 38,053 | wickets2 = 672 | bowl avg2 = 30.99 | fivefor2 = 26 | tenfor2 = 2 | best bowling2 = 7/74 | catches/stumpings2= 121/– | international = true | country = England | testdebutagainst = New Zealand | testdebutdate = 3 February | testdebutyear = 1984 | onetest = true | testcap = 504 | source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/18533.html CricInfo | date = 7 November | year = 2022 }}

'''Anthony Charles Shackleton Pigott''' (4 June 1958 – 1 February 2026) was an English cricketer, who played in one Test for England in 1984, when he was called up as an emergency replacement in New Zealand. He was playing provincial cricket there at the time of an injury crisis, although according to Martin Williamson of Cricinfo, Pigott "would not have been high in the selectors' minds".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eleven-quirky-debuts-239768|title=Eleven quirky debuts|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/once-more-into-the-breach-271863|title=Once more into the breach|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>

At that time, Pigott was a fast bowler of some promise, playing in Wellington, New Zealand, for experience during the traditional winter's break from the domestic game in his homeland. Pigott was due to get married, and the surprise call-up meant he had to postpone his wedding to represent his country.<ref name="wedding">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149187.html |title=A verdict on spot-fixing |access-date=6 February 2017|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Pigott got off to a good start, taking a New Zealand wicket with only his seventh delivery. However, with a depleted side, England were twice bowled out for less than 100, and lost the match within twelve hours of actual playing time.<ref name="Cap"/>

==Biography== Pigott was born on 4 June 1958.<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/132 132] |url=https://archive.org/details/ifcapfits0000unse/page/132 }}</ref> He played first-class cricket for Sussex and later for Surrey. His initial three first-class wickets came in his third first-class game,<ref>{{cite web |title=First-Class Matches played by Tony Pigott (260) |url=https://archive.nzc.nz/Players/1/1747/First-Class_Matches.html |website=Archive NZC}}</ref> in the form of a hat-trick for Sussex against Surrey.<ref name="Frindall">{{cite book|last1=Frindall|first1=Bill|title=The Wisden Book of Cricket Records|date=1998|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|location=London|isbn=0747222037|pages=279|edition=Fourth}}</ref> However, his career became blighted by back injuries and petered out altogether after his move to play for Surrey. In total, he took 672 first-class wickets at marginally under 31 each. His only first-class century was 104 not out against Warwickshire in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |title=Warwickshire v Sussex, 1986 |url=https://i.imgci.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1986/ENG_LOCAL/CC/WARWICKS_SUSSEX_CC_13-16SEP1986.html |website=Cricinfo}}</ref>

After turning to coaching Surrey's second XI, he returned as Chief Executive at Sussex following an acrimonious coup. "I'm a Sussex boy and it horrifies me to see the club in such a state with no one prepared to take the blame for it," added Pigott.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/sport/other-sport/cricket-pigott-quits-first-love-4861459|title=Cricket: Pigott quits for his first love|first=Surrey|last=Live|date=7 March 1997|website=Getsurrey.co.uk|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> He became unhappy with the vagaries of his responsibilities, and resigned for personal reasons in 1999.<ref name="Cric">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/18533.html |title=Tony Pigott |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=27 April 2011}}</ref>

Pigott died from a heart attack on 1 February 2026, aged 67.<ref name="bbcdeath">{{cite news |title=Former Sussex seamer and CEO Pigott dies aged 67 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/ce3kr4py2w6o |access-date=2 February 2026 |work=BBC News |date=2 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-01 |title=Remembering Tony Pigott {{!}} 1958-2026 |url=https://sussexcricket.co.uk/news/remembering-tony-pigott-1958-2026 |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=Sussex County Cricket Club}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-02 |title=Tony Pigott obituary |url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4442836 |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=England and Wales Cricket Board |language=en}}</ref>

==See also== * One-Test wonder

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{cricinfo|id=18533}} *{{IMDb name| 17174544}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pigott, Tony}} Category:1958 births Category:2026 deaths Category:People educated at Harrow School Category:England Test cricketers Category:English cricketers Category:Surrey cricketers Category:Sussex cricketers Category:Wellington cricketers Category:People from Fulham Category:Cricketers from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Category:D. H. Robins' XI cricketers Category:20th-century English sportsmen