Gary Pratt

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Gary Pratt


country = England
fullname = Gary Joseph Pratt
nickname = Gonzo, Gazza, Gates
living = true
dayofbirth = 22
monthofbirth = 12
yearofbirth = 1981
placeofbirth = Bishop Auckland, County Durham
countryofbirth = England
dayofdeath =
monthofdeath =
yearofdeath =
placeofdeath =
countryofdeath =
heightft = 5
heightinch = 10
heightm =
batting = Left-hand batsman
bowling = Right arm off break
role = Batsman, occasional wicketkeeper
family = A Pratt (brother)
club1 = Durham
year1 = 2000–2006
clubnumber1 =
type1 = First-class
debutdate1 = 19 July
debutyear1 = 2000
debutfor1 = Durham
debutagainst1 = Lancashire
lastdate1 = 7 June
lastyear1 = 2006
lastfor1 = Durham
lastagainst1 = Warwickshire
type2 = List A
debutdate2 = 13 September
debutyear2 = 2001
debutfor2 = Durham Cricket Board
debutagainst2 = Buckinghamshire
lastdate2 = 25 June
lastyear2 = 2006
lastfor2 = Durham
lastagainst2 = Derbyshire
deliveries = balls
columns = 4
column1 = FC
matches1 = 53
runs1 = 2410
bat avg1 = 25.91
100s/50s1 = 1/15
top score1 = 150
deliveries1 = 33
wickets1 = 0
bowl avg1 = –
fivefor1 = –
tenfor1 = –
best bowling1 = 0/2
catches/stumpings1 = 31/0
column2 = List A
matches2 = 78
runs2 = 1749
bat avg2 = 31.80
100s/50s2 = 1/11
top score2 = 101*
deliveries2 = –
wickets2 = –
bowl avg2 = –
fivefor2 = –
tenfor2 = –
best bowling2 = –
catches/stumpings2 = 31/0
column3 = T20
matches3 = 25
runs3 = 321
bat avg3 = 14.59
100s/50s3 = 0/1
top score3 = 62*
deliveries3 = –
wickets3 = –
bowl avg3 = –
fivefor3 = –
tenfor3 = –
best bowling3 = –
catches/stumpings3 = 8/0
column4 = U–19
matches4 = 11
runs4 = 700
bat avg4 = 41.17
100s/50s4 = 2/2
top score4 = 188
deliveries4 = 30
wickets4 = 0
bowl avg4 = –
fivefor4 = –
tenfor4 = –
best bowling4 = 0/10
catches/stumpings4 = 6/0
date = 5 September
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8895/8895.html CricketArchive

Gary Joseph Pratt (born 22 December 1981 in Bishop Auckland, England) is an English cricketer and a footballer. He is primarily a left-handed batsman but also bowls right-arm off breaks. Pratt performed well in his early career, picking up the NBC Denis Compton Award in 1999 as the most promising young player at Durham County Cricket Club, [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/209589.html The NBC Denis Compton Awards] , Cricinfo. Retrieved on 24 November 2006.] , and scored a century for England Under 19s [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/1494934.stm] He stayed on at Durham, scoring more than 1000 first-class runs in 2003. Pratt has failed to match that form since. He did not play a single first-class game in 2005 (although he famously appeared as a substitute fielder for England) and in August 2006, Durham announced that they had decided not to renew Pratt's contract. [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/257809.html Pratt released by Durham] , 25 August 2006, Cricinfo. Retrieved on 24 November 2006.] He has since appeared for Crook Town F.C. in a Northern League Division Two fixture against Brandon United F.C. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,426-2391156,00.html Ashes hero Pratt gets another run-out ... at football] , 6 October 2006, The Times. Retrieved on 24 November 2006.] He has signed for Cumberland minor county cricket club for the 2007 cricket season. [ [http://www.nwemail.co.uk/unknown/viewarticle.aspx?id=465668 Ponting's nemesis signs for county] , 12 February 2007, North-West Evening Mail. Retrieved on 12 February 2007.]

tatistics and Records

Pratt's best year as a first class cricketer was undoubtedly 2003, when he scored 1,055 runs. His highest score in first-class cricket is 150, achieved while batting for Durham against Northamptonshire at the Riverside Ground in 2003. His highest one-day score is 101*, achieved for Durham versus Somerset at Taunton in 2003. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/18605.html Gary Pratt Player Profile] , Cricinfo. Retrieved on 24 November 2006.]

Ponting Run Out

Pratt is most famous for his run out of Australian captain Ricky Ponting at Trent Bridge in the 2005 Ashes series. [http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2006/10/5/231889.html Ashes hero Gary signs on as football striker] , 5 October 2006, The Northern Echo. Retrieved on 24 November 2006.] This moment is remembered as one of the most important turning points during the series, with Ponting looking well set for a big score at the time. The dismissal prompted an angry outburst from the batsman, who was seen shouting up at the England balcony towards Duncan Fletcher, unhappy at England's frequent use of substitute fielders during the series. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/engvaus/content/story/217421.html Ponting to attend disciplinary hearing] , 28 August 2005, Cricinfo. Retrieved on 24 November 2006.] Ironically, although England may have used substitute fielders to rest bowlers between spells, this appearance by Pratt was not among them. He was on for Simon Jones, who had been taken to hospital with an ankle injury. The run out earned him a place on the open top bus parade following the series victory.

Since the incident, Pratt has acquired a small following of grateful English fans. He had the doubtful honour of having the pavilion in Sky TV's Cricket AM named the 'Gary Pratt Pavilion'. England fan organisation the Barmy Army planned to fly Pratt out to Australia for the 2006-07 Ashes series as a good-luck charm, but failed to find sponsorship for his plane fare. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Barmy-Armys-lucky-mascot-plans-fail/2006/10/07/1159641565999.html Barmy Army's lucky mascot plans fail] , 17 October 2006 The Age. Retrieved on 24 November 2006.]

Trivia

* As a young man, Pratt was a centre forward for Sheffield Wednesday's junior team.
* Pratt was one of the first pair of brothers to play in the same first-class game for Durham; Andrew Pratt was the other (older) brother. His younger brother Neil was also a Durham and MCC young cricketer.
* Gary now manages a self-storage company in Bishop Auckland.

References

External links

* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/18605.html Cricinfo Player profile]
* [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/story/0,,1860794,00.html England's supersub brought back down to earth] , The Guardian.