SYDNEY: Former Australia spinner Peter Philpott died on Sunday after a long battle with illness aged 86. Philpott, a former New South Wales captain and one of the game's foremost educators, played eight Tests for Australia, taking 28 wickets at an average of 38.46, while in 76 first-class matches he took 245 wickets at 30.31 and made 2889 runs at 31.36.
A leg spinner, Philpott made his Test debut for Australia during the 1964-65 series in the West Indies and made an immediate impact taking 18 wickets in the series. He also made a memorable home debut taking 5/90 in the first innings of the first Ashes Test in 1965.
Philpott was an articulate and passionate member of Australia's wonderful wrist-spin bowling lineage; a worthy successor to Clarrie Grimmett and 'ill O'Reilly and predecessor of Shane Warne, Cricket Australia said in a statement.
As a coach, author, and mentor, Philpott transformed his on-field experience into decades of advocacy for, and education on, cricket's most taxing art and became a profound influence on generations of spin bowlers. IANS
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