Peter Lever interviewed by Ahmer Khokhar

Reference

AV/4/24

Date:

2001

Level of description

item

Extent

1 cassette: 2 sides, total time 51 minutes 57 seconds

Part of

Audio Cassettes (AV/4)

Scope and Content

Cassette recording, Peter Lever interviewed by Ahmer Khokhar. The recording is on two sides of a cassette. The interview was conducted at Lever's home in Rochdale.

Side A: [0:00-1:50] Lever talks about how he began playing for Lancashire and going for a trial with the Club while still at school in Yorkshire, [1:50-3:50] Lever talks about the team he played with at Lancashire and playing cricket with his boyhood heroes, [3:50-5:35] Lever talks about J B Statham's bowling accuracy and the qualities of G D McGrath, [5:35-8:30] Lever talks about playing in 'Roses' matches between Lancashire and Yorkshire and the high attendances the match attracted, [8:30-10:40] Lever talks about his ambition to play for England and his first appearance for England against Rest of the World at The Oval in 1970, and then touring Australia twice with England, [10:40-13:55] Lever talks about Raymond Illingworth's character and playing under Illingworth's captaincy during the England tour of Australia in 1970-1971, and the England squad being sent to an Australian Academy in 2001, [13:55-18:35] Lever talks about the success in the 1990s of Australia compared to England and the coaching methods used by both countries, [18:35-23:20] Lever talks about the amount of games played by cricketers in 2001 compared to when he played and Ray Illingworth's method of rotating bowlers during the 1970-1971 tour of Australia and New Zealand, and playing against India and Pakistan the following summer in England, scoring 88 not out against India and receiving 10,000 tea bags for getting the Man of the Match award, [23:20-26:55] Lever talks about playing for England as an all-rounder and losing his place in the Test team after playing against Australia in 1972 and then playing in the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975 as well as one more Test against Australia in 1975 before retiring in 1976, [26:55-31:40] Lever talks about the decline in England pace bowlers compared to when he played, and his hopes for the Australian-based England academy headed by Rodney Marsh, [31:40-36:30] Lever talks about Lancashire's failure to win the County Championship despite success in one-day competitions, [36:30-38:38] Lever talks about working as England's bowling coach and leaving the role once David Lloyd was appointed England head coach, and his relationship with Lloyd and having arguments in the dressing room at Lancashire with Lloyd.

Side B: [0:00-4:50] Lever talks about the difference in coaching in England and Australia, and the quality of the England team in 2001 compared to Australia, [4:50-7:50] Lever talks about Chris Schofield receiving a central contract in 2000, [7:50-10:00] Lever talks about founding the company Club Design, a company that specialised in building facilities for sports clubs and being offered a chance to coach Kenya, [10:00-13:19] Lever talks about his desire to coach despite running a company.

Associations

Peter Lever
Ahmer Khokhar
John Brian Statham
Glenn Donald McGrath
Raymond Illingworth
Rodney William Marsh
David Lloyd
Christopher Paul Schofield
Club Design
Lancashire County Cricket Club

Subject

Rest of the World in England 1970, England in Australia 1970-1971, coaching, England in New Zealand 1970-1971, MCC in Australia 1970-1971, MCC in New Zealand 1970-1971, Pakistan in England 1971, India in England 1971, central contracts

Institution name

Marylebone Cricket Club

Conditions governing access

Open

Language

English, 6574, , , , , , , , ,

Size

1 cassette: 2 sides, total time 51 minutes 57 seconds

Hierarchy browser

• Audio Cassettes (AV/4)
  
  • Peter Lever interviewed by Ahmer Khokhar (AV/4/24)