David Pratt (cricketer)

David Pratt (born 20 July 1938) is a former English cricketer who played first-class cricket between 1959 and 1962 for three different teams. He also played minor counties cricket for Hertfordshire. He was a specialist bowler, whose batting was extremely poor: indeed, in his first 14 first-class innings his highest score was 3 not out, and he only ever reached double figures twice.^[1]

He made his first-class debut for Worcestershire in May 1959 against Derbyshire at Chesterfield, but took no wickets.^[2] He did not play in the first-team again until early August, when Worcestershire played Surrey at Worcester, but he then produced what was to remain a career-best performance. After going wicketless in the first innings, second time around he took 5-54, all his victims being current or future Test cricketers: Micky Stewart, Ken Barrington, Eric Bedser, Jim Laker and Alec Bedser.^[3]

He stayed in the team throughout August, but took only eight more wickets in six games. In 1960 he played no cricket at all, but in 1961, by now in the Army, he turned out on three occasions for Combined Services against Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire as well as a touring South Africa Fezelas side, taking six wickets in all. He returned to county cricket in 1962 with Nottinghamshire, playing seven first-class games (in which he took just four wickets) but otherwise being confined to the Second XI. Reflecting the start of his career, in his final match (against Gloucestershire) both his victims were Test players: Arthur Milton and David Smith.^[4]

Notes

References

• Player profile: David Pratt from CricketArchive
• Player profile: David Pratt from ESPNcricinfo