Geoff Pullar
 Pullar in 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Geoffrey Pullar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1 August 1935 Swinton, Lancashire, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 25 December 2014 (aged 79) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Noddy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Legbreak | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National side | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut | 2 July 1959 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 25 January 1963 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricInfo, 6 November 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Geoffrey Pullar (1 August 1935 – 25 December 2014) was an English cricketer, who played for Lancashire and Gloucestershire and in 28 Tests for England.
His affectionate nickname was 'Noddy', not, as often said, because, once he was out, he was known to sleep often in the dressing room, but because he was once discovered watching the children's programme there.[1]
He was, in any case, a skilled batsman, rarely lifting the ball off the surface while driving elegantly and adept at accumulating by flicking the ball off his toes towards fine leg. Preferring to play off the front foot, Pullar was also a good puller of the ball and could crack a square cut. In his younger days he had been compared to Charlie Hallows and Eddie Paynter, two of Lancashire's crowd pleasing greats – he had the artistry of the former and the pugnacious aggression and watchful determination of the latter.
Life and career
Pullar was born in
Originally a
After some years of declining success for Lancashire, he joined Gloucestershire in 1969, and topped the county's batting averages in his first season. But arthritis in his knees forced his retirement after just six matches the following year.
Pullar was elected Young Cricketer of the Year in 1959 by the Cricket Writers' Association (a year in which he scored three tons against the champions, Yorkshire) and he was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1960. He also won a junior England cap for table tennis.
Pullar died at age 79 on 25 December 2014.[1][3][4]
References
- ^ a b Peter Mason (28 December 2014). "Geoff Pullar obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
- ^ "Geoff Pullar: Former England cricketer dies". BBC Sport. 26 December 2014.
- ^ "Geoff Pullar – obituary". The Telegraph. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.