Former Australian and Queensland fast bowler Peter Allan, renowned for his impressive cricketing achievements, has sadly passed away at the age of 87. Allan, who played a single Test match and holds the distinction of being one of only three players to claim 10 wickets in a Sheffield Shield innings, leaves behind a rich cricketing legacy.
During the 1965-66 Ashes series against England, Allan made his sole Test appearance for Australia on his home ground at the Gabba in Brisbane. Despite the limited opportunity, he showcased his talent by dismissing two key batsmen, including England captain Mike Smith.
Allan had travelled to the Caribbean with the Australian team in 1965 before making his Test debut. However, he was unable to participate in a Test game during the tour owing to illness.
In a surprising turn of events, Allan accomplished a rare accomplishment in the Sheffield Shield barely one month after his sole Test. At the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), he took an incredible 10 wickets in one innings while representing Queensland against Victoria.
He was only the second individual in the history of the Shield to reach this milestone, after Tim Wall for New South Wales in 1933, thanks to his exceptional achievement. Ian Brayshaw of Western Australia did the same thing against Victoria the following year. Allan, Wall, and Brayshaw are the only players to have taken 10 wickets in a Sheffield Shield innings to this day.
Allan’s first-class career spanned a decade from 1959 to 1969, during which he played 57 matches and claimed a total of 206 wickets at an average of 26.10. His bowling prowess included 12 five-wicket hauls and three instances of 10-wicket hauls.
Following his retirement from cricket, Allan pursued various endeavors, including roles with the Brisbane City Council, as a hotel publican, and as a civil celebrant on Hamilton Island.
