Ted Peate

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Ted Peate
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Left-hand bat
bowling style = Slow left-arm orthodox
tests = 9
test runs = 70
test bat avg = 11.66
test 100s/50s = 0/0
test top score = 13
test balls = 2,096
test wickets = 31
test bowl avg = 22.03
test 5s = 2
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 6/85
test catches/stumpings = 2/0
FCs = 209
FC runs = 2,384
FC bat avg = 13.49
FC 100s/50s = 0/3
FC top score = 95
FC balls = 47,116
FC wickets = 1,076
FC bowl avg = 10.64
FC 5s = 94
FC 10s = 27
FC best bowling = 8/5
FC catches/stumpings = 132/0
debut date = 31 December
debut year = 1881
last date = 7 July
last year = 1886
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/59/59.html

Edmund ("Ted") Peate (Holbeck, Leeds, Yorkshire, 2 March 1855 – 11 March 1900 in Newlay, Horsforth, Yorkshire) was an English professional cricketer who played for Yorkshire and England. He was one of the most famous slow bowlers of his day. Many of his contemporaries rated him the greatest slow left-armer who ever lived.

Overview

Peate's career, which lasted from 1879 to 1890, was exceptional while it lasted but, alas, very short. He earned his place in the Yorkshire side in 1879 and, "before the season was over," wrote WG Grace (against whom he enjoyed conspicuous success), "had taken rank with the very best bowlers in England. Every year added to his fine reputation; and no matter the company he played in he came through the ordeal most successfully." [Grace, W.G.: "Cricket" (J.W. Arrowsmith, 1891), p. 353.]

Peate rose in 1880 to the top of the cricketing tree and remained there until the end of 1884. He amply filled the boots of Alfred Shaw, becoming the first-choice slow-bowler for the England elevens of his era.

Despite a serious ankle sprain, which kept him out of action for a fortnight, Peate managed a new record wicket haul for a county-cricket season with 214 in 1882. As Grace affirms, "Peate... had now become the acknowledged best slow bowler of England". [Grace, "op. cit.", p. 168.] His finest (and lowest) hour came in the Test Match against Australia at the Oval of August 1882, when he was the last man in to bat at the end of England's second innings, with his country needing only ten runs to win. Peate got only two before he was bowled by Harry Boyle, giving the Australians their first ever Test win against England. He arrived back in the dressing-room to be admonished for not having left the job to his better-equipped partner, the in-form Charles Studd. "I couldn't trust Mr Studd," Peate explained. Although less famous than the death notice of English cricket which appeared in "The Sporting Times" on 2 September 1882, another in similar vein was published on 30 August 1882 in C. W. Alcock's "Cricket: a Weekly Record of The Game", reading: [Alcock, C. W., (ed.), "Cricket: a Weekly Record of The Game" dated 31 August 1882] cquote|SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ENGLAND'S SUPREMACY IN THE CRICKET-FIELD WHICH EXPIRED ON THE 29TH DAY OF AUGUST, AT THE OVAL: "ITS END WAS PEATE"

There ought to have been many more years of good work ahead of him, but he put on a great deal of weight and showed a weakness for alcohol. In the summer of 1886, it became evident that his days in first-class cricket were numbered. He would undoubtedly have lasted far longer had he ordered his life with more care.

He never entirely lost his skill as a bowler. Even up to the last year or two of his short life, he played with success in club cricket in and around Leeds.

Best performances

Some of his best performances with the ball were-6 wickets for 14 runs, Yorkshire against Middlesex at Huddersfield, 1879: :5 wickets 11 for runs, Yorkshire v. Derbyshire, at Derby, 1880. :14 wickets 130 for runs, Yorkshire v. Sussex, at Brighton, 1881. :14 wickets 77 for runs, Yorkshire v. Surrey, at Huddersfield. :8 wickets 71 for runs, England v. Australia, at the Oval, 1882. :8 wickets 57 for runs, Shaw and Shrewsbury"s XI. at Sydney, 1882. :6 wickets 12 for runs, Yorkshire v. Derbyshire, at Derby, 1882. :8 wickets 32 for runs, Yorkshire v. Middlesex, at Sheffield, 1882. :8 wickets 5 for runs, Yorkshire v. Surrey, at Holbeck, 1883. :5 wickets 17 for runs, Yorkshire v. Notts, at Sheffield, 1883. :6 wickets 13 for runs, Yorkshire v. Gloucestershire, at Moreton-in-Marsh, 1884. :10 wickets 51 for runs, North of England v. the Australians, at Manchester, 1884. :10 wickets 45 for runs, Yorkshire v. Derbyshire, at Huddersfield, 1885. :6 wickets 17 for runs, England v. Shaw's Australian XI., at Lord"s, 1885. :9 wickets 21 for runs, Yorkshire v. Sussex, at Huddersfield, 1886.

He first represented the Players against the Gentlemen in 1881, and took part in the matches for six years, bowling in 11 matches (21 innings), 3227 balls for 996 runs, and 39 wickets, average 25.53. At birth he was registered as Edmund Peat.

Notes

References

*"Wisden".
* [http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/18487.html Cricinfo page on Ted Peate]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/59/59.html CricketArchive page on Ted Peate]