Tom Pritchard
Encyclopedia
Thomas Leslie Pritchard, born at Kaupokonui, Taranaki, New Zealand
on 10 March 1917, was a cricketer
who played most of his first-class cricket
in England.
Pritchard was a genuinely fast right-arm bowler and a useful lower order right-handed batsman who played in several matches for Wellington before the Second World War. Coming to Europe and then England with the New Zealand forces during the War, he qualified for Warwickshire
and was highly successful for several seasons. His best year was 1948 when he took 172 wickets at an average of 18.75; in 1951, his bowling, by now fast-medium rather than outright fast, played a big part in Warwickshire's unexpected County Championship
success.
His bowling declined across the 1950s, and he left Warwickshire after the 1955 season. He played a few matches for Kent
in 1956, but was not a success, and then retired. His last match was against Warwickshire, and as a batsman he was out first ball as part of a hat-trick
by Ken Dollery.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
on 10 March 1917, was a cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played most of his first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
in England.
Pritchard was a genuinely fast right-arm bowler and a useful lower order right-handed batsman who played in several matches for Wellington before the Second World War. Coming to Europe and then England with the New Zealand forces during the War, he qualified for Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
and was highly successful for several seasons. His best year was 1948 when he took 172 wickets at an average of 18.75; in 1951, his bowling, by now fast-medium rather than outright fast, played a big part in Warwickshire's unexpected County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
success.
His bowling declined across the 1950s, and he left Warwickshire after the 1955 season. He played a few matches for Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in 1956, but was not a success, and then retired. His last match was against Warwickshire, and as a batsman he was out first ball as part of a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
by Ken Dollery.