Former Australia and Queensland paceman Peter Allan dies aged 87
He played one Test against England in the 1965-66 Ashes and was one of only three men to take 10 wickets in an innings in the Sheffield Shield
ESPNcricinfo staff
22-Jun-2023
Peter Allan shows the balls with which he took his ten-wicket hauls • Brydon Coverdale
Former Australia and Queensland paceman Peter Allan, who played one Test and is one of only three men to have taken 10 wickets in a Sheffield Shield innings, has died at the age of 87.
Allan played his sole Test for Australia in the 1965-66 Ashes against England on his home ground at the Gabba. He took two wickets, including England captain Mike Smith.
Allan had previously toured the Caribbean with Australia in 1965 but did not play a Test due to illness.
Despite it being his only Test appearance for his country, less than a month later he took 10 wickets in an innings for Queensland against Victoria in a Sheffield Shield match at the MCG. He was just the second man to achieve the feat after Tim Wall had done it for New South Wales in 1933. The following year, Western Australian Ian Brayshaw also completed the feat for WA against Victoria. Those three remain the only men in Shield history to take 10 wickets in an innings.
Remarkably, Allan also took 10 wickets in an innings in a Brisbane club game in March of 1966.
Allan's first-class career spanned a decade from 1959 to 1969. He took 206 wickets at 26.10, including 12 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls in 57 matches.
His post-cricket career featured a variety of roles including with the Brisbane City Council, as a hotel publican and civil celebrant on Hamilton Island.
Queensland Cricket Chairman Chris Simpson honoured Allan upon his passing.
"Peter had great skill as a bowler which was also mixed with determination," Simpson said. "He typified that strike bowler role in the teams he played for. He served on the executive committee of the Queensland Cricket Association from 1985 to 1991 and was generous with his time and insights for any aspiring player who sought him out.
"His feat of taking 10 wickets in an innings remains a high point in Australian cricket. Peter made a wonderful contribution to cricket in Queensland and on behalf of Queensland Cricket, we thank him for his service to the game."