Paul Allott

Paul Allott

Personal information
Full name	Paul John Walter Allott
Born	(1956-09-14) 14 September 1956 (age 68) Altrincham, England
Nickname	Wally, Walt, Wal
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast-medium
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 491)	13 August 1981 v Australia
Last Test	6 August 1985 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 63)	13 February 1982 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI	3 June 1985 v Australia
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1978–1992	Lancashire
1982–1985	MCC
1985/86–1986/87	Wellington
1993	Staffordshire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 13 13 245 291 Runs scored 213 15 3,360 878 Batting average 14.20 3.00 16.96 11.55 100s/50s 0/1 0/0 0/10 0/0 Top score 52* 8 88 43 Balls bowled 2,225 819 38,927 13,939 Wickets 26 15 652 321 Bowling average 41.69 36.80 25.55 25.71 5 wickets in innings 1 0 30 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0 Best bowling 6/61 3/41 8/48 4/12 Catches/stumpings 4/– 2/– 136/– 56/–
Source: Cricinfo, 10 April 2009

Paul John Walter Allott (born 14 September 1956) is a former English cricketer who played county cricket for Lancashire, Minor Counties cricket for Staffordshire and first-class cricket in New Zealand for Wellington, as well as thirteen Test match appearances and thirteen One Day International appearances for England.

He was a powerfully built, skilful right-arm medium-fast swing bowler,^[1] who could also bat adequately at number 9. He was part of a Lancashire side that was successful in List A cricket, winning five trophies between 1984 and 1990, including the Refuge Assurance League in 1989. Allott helped to clinch the latter triumph with some late order hitting in the deciding fixture.^[2]

A consistent county performer, he was at his best in English conditions, but lacked that extra zip to enjoy more than a respectable Test career.^[1] He scored his maiden first-class half century on his Test debut against Australia at Old Trafford in 1981, also taking four wickets in the match. For three years he was in and out of the side, then had his best Test series in 1984 against the West Indies, taking his best Test figures of 6/61 at Headingley. However, England lost every match in that series. He was forced home from the 1984–85 tour of India due to back trouble, and this effectively curtailed his progression in the Test match arena. He struggled in his last test series against Australia in 1985, and was replaced with Richard Ellison, who was instantly more successful. Sheepishly, he recollected: "They dropped me and picked Richard Ellison, so in a way I won the Ashes for England".^[3] In Tests he took 26 wickets at 41.69 each.^[1]

Allott left his job as a commentator for Sky Sports to become director of cricket at Lancashire for the 2018 season. He left this role at the end of the 2021 season.^[4]

References

1. Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 14, 109. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
2. "Lancashire v Surrey at Manchester". Retrieved 15 March 2022.
3. "England's last hurrah". Retrieved 15 March 2022.
4. "Chilton to succeed Allott for Lancashire". BBC Sport. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2022.