New Zealand has lost one of its most popular Test cricketers with the news of the passing of off-spinner Peter Petherick, aged 72.
Mr Petherick, who played for Otago, Wellington and New Zealand, passed away in Perth at the weekend.
A much-loved member of the Otago side in the late 1970s, Mr Petherick is best known for taking a hat-trick on Test debut, against Pakistan in Lahore in 1976.
Mr Petherick dismissed Javed Miandad, Wasim Raja and Intikhab Alam off successive deliveries to become the first player since England’s Maurice Allom to achieve the feat on debut.
Only Australian Damien Fleming has since emulated the achievement.
Born in Ranfurly, Central Otago, Mr Petherick made a late entrance to first-class cricket, making his first-class debut for Otago as a 33-year-old.
His dry sense of humour and laid-back mannerisms made him an instant favourite at Otago’s home ground, Carisbrook, and a popular figure on the Shell Trophy and Shell Cup circuits.
He bowled off a super-short run-up of only a couple of paces, and gained a reputation for being the slowest of slow bowlers; often frustrating batsmen with his tantalising flight and loop.
In his six Tests for New Zealand (two against Pakistan; three against India and just one in New Zealand, against Australia), he snared 16 wickets at 42.56.
In first-class cricket he ended with 189 wickets (including 114 for Otago) at 24.47, including nine five-wicket, and two ten-wicket bags.
He later moved north, where he proved just as popular with the Wellington side, before retiring from cricket and taking up lawn bowls.
Mr Petherick was the New Zealand Almanack’s Player of the Year in 1976.
