Peter Denning (cricketer)

Infobox Recent cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Peter Denning
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Left-handed batsman
bowling style = Right-arm offbreak
FCs = 269
FC runs = 11559
FC bat avg = 28.68
FC 100s/50s = 8/69
FC top score = 184
FC balls = 157
FC wickets = 1
FC bowl avg = 96.00
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = 1-4
FC catches/stumpings = 132/0
List As = 280
List A runs = 6792
List A bat avg = 28.06
List A 100s/50s = 5/32
List A top score = 145
List A balls = 21
List A wickets = -
List A bowl avg = -
List A 5s = -
List A 10s = -
List A best bowling = -
List A catches/stumpings = 94/0
debut date =
debut year = 1969
last date =
last year = 1984
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3518/3518.html Cricket Archive

Peter William Denning (16 December 1949 - 17 July 2007) was an English first class cricketer who played for Somerset from 1969 to 1984. He was known to Somerset cricket fans as "Dasher" [ Due to his "pace over the ground", "Daily Telegraph" Sports Section p17: article by David Green, published on 21 July 2007.] , and he was also known for an unorthodox stroke called the "Chewton carve" or "Chewton chop", a stroke that cut the ball away between the slips and the covers. Denning was a left handed top order (often opening) batsman and scored 1,000 runs in a season on six occasions. [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/story/0,,2129793,00.html "Somerset stalwart Denning dies at 57", "The Guardian", 19 July 2007] ]

Cricket career

Denning was born in the village of Chewton Mendip in Somerset, where his father was the butcher. He was educated at Millfield, where he was captain of cricket and also played tennis, rugby and football. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,2133860,00.html Obituary, "The Guardian", 25 July 2007] ] He later studied at St Luke's College, Exeter (now part of the University of Exeter), and qualified as a teacher.

He made his first-class cricket debut for Somerset against Glamorgan in June 1969. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/30/30208.html Scorecard] ] He played much of his career as an opener in partnership with Brian Rose.

He joined Somerset when they were struggling. However, Somerset would later become a strong one-day side with Brian Close as captain and a team containing three world-class players in Viv Richards, Ian Botham and Joel Garner. [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/302466.html Somerset opener Peter Denning dies at 57, Cricinfo, 18 July 2007] ] He was awarded his Somerset cap in 1973. He made his top score, 184, against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. He hit two centuries in the match against Gloucestershire in 1977, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2499906.ece Obituary, "The Times", 21 September 2007] ] and his 145 in a one-day game against Glamorgan in 1978.

His most prolific year came in 1979, when he made 1,222 runs at a batting average of 42.13. It was a memorable year for Somerset as well as they won the Gillette Cup and Sunday League under Rose's captaincy. Denning was a good limited overs player having the ability to run quick singles. The following year, in partnership with Ian Botham, he added 310 for the fourth wicket against Gloucestershire at Taunton in 1980, which remains a record for Somerset. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/somerset/6904706.stm Somerset mourn stalwart Denning, BBC News, 18 July 2007] ]

He was a member of the Somerset team that won the NatWest Trophy in 1983. He won seven man-of-the-match awards in the one-day game. Denning retired in 1984 after suffering problems with a cartilage and became a grain merchant in Somerset. [ [http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2793086.ece Obituary, "The Independent", 23 July 2007] ]

Denning died of cancer in Taunton in 2007. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Brian Rose, Denning's former opening partner and Somerset Director of Cricket paid the following tribute to his former team mate: "To me Peter epitomised all that should be good in a professional cricketer. He was hard, stubborn and made it difficult for the opposition - especially when he growled at them. His sad death is a tremendous loss to Somerset cricket."

References

External links

* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3518/3518.html Cricket Archive]
* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/11871.html Cricinfo]
* [http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/famousperson/denning/2606336 Peter Denning tribute]
* [http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2793086.ece Peter Denning obituary: Independent Newspaper]