Anthony Charles Shackleton Pigott (born 4 June 1958),[1] was educated at Harrow School and is a former English cricketer, who played in one Test for England in 1984, when he was called up as an emergency replacement in New Zealand. He was playing provincial cricket there at the time of an injury crisis, although according to Martin Williamson of Cricinfo, Pigott "would not have been high in the selectors' minds".[2][3]

Tony Pigott
Personal information
Full name
Anthony Charles Shackleton Pigott
Born (1958-06-04) 4 June 1958 (age 66)
Fulham, London, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
International information
National side
Only Test3 February 1984 v New Zealand
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 1 260
Runs scored 12 4,841
Batting average 12.00 19.28
100s/50s 0/0 1/20
Top score 8* 104*
Balls bowled 102 38,053
Wickets 2 672
Bowling average 37.50 30.99
5 wickets in innings 0 26
10 wickets in match 0 2
Best bowling 2/75 7/74
Catches/stumpings 0/– 121/–
Source: CricInfo, 7 November 2022

At that time, Pigott was a fast bowler of some promise, playing in Wellington, New Zealand, for experience during the traditional winter's break from the domestic game in his homeland. Pigott was due to get married, and the surprise call-up meant he had to postpone his wedding to represent his country.[4] Pigott got off to a good start, taking a New Zealand wicket with only his seventh delivery. However, with a depleted side, England were twice bowled out for less than 100, and lost the match within twelve hours of actual playing time.[1]

Pigott played first-class cricket for Sussex and later for Surrey. His initial three first-class wickets in 1978, came courtesy of a hat-trick for Sussex against Surrey.[5] However, his career became blighted by back injuries and petered out altogether after his move to play for Surrey. In total, he took 672 first-class wickets at marginally under 31 each. His top score was 104 not out, his only first-class ton. After turning to coaching Surrey's second XI, he returned as Chief Executive at Sussex following an acrimonious coup. "I'm a Sussex boy and it horrifies me to see the club in such a state with no one prepared to take the blame for it," added Pigott.[6]

He became unhappy with the vagaries of his responsibilities, and resigned for personal reasons in 1999.[7]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 132. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
  2. ^ "Eleven quirky debuts". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Once more into the breach". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  4. ^ "A verdict on spot-fixing". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  5. ^ Frindall, Bill (1998). The Wisden Book of Cricket Records (Fourth ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. p. 279. ISBN 0747222037.
  6. ^ Live, Surrey (7 March 1997). "Cricket: Pigott quits for his first love". Getsurrey.co.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Tony Pigott". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
edit