Peter Rochford

Peter Rochford (27 August 1928 – 18 June 1992) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire between 1952 and 1957.^[1] He was born in Halifax, Yorkshire and died at Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Peter Rochford

Personal information
Full name	Peter Rochford
Born	(1928-08-27)27 August 1928 Halifax, Yorkshire, England
Died	18 June 1992(1992-06-18) (aged 63) Stroud, Gloucestershire, England
Batting	Right-handed
Role	Wicketkeeper, umpire
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1952–57	Gloucestershire
First-class debut	28 June 1952 Gloucestershire v Cambridge University
Last First-class	15 August 1957 Gloucestershire v Hampshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 80 Runs scored 479 Batting average 5.26 100s/50s –/– Top score 31* Balls bowled – Wickets – Bowling average – 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling – Catches/stumpings 118/34
Source: CricketArchive, 5 August 2011

A right-handed tail-end batsman and wicketkeeper, Rochford played for Yorkshire's second eleven in the Minor Counties Championship in 1951 before joining Gloucestershire for 1952. Unable to displace regular wicketkeeper Andy Wilson, who was a far better batsman, he played just two first-class games in 1952 and one in 1953, and made only eight appearances in 1954, when Wilson was 44. In 1955, however, Rochford took over as the regular wicketkeeper, playing in 30 matches and making 60 dismissals, and being awarded his county cap.^[2] His batting did not develop, however, and his highest score of the season was just 16 not out. There were a few signs of batting improvement in 1956 when, with 31 not out against Oxford University, Rochford made his highest score, and with Bryan Wells, Sam Cook and Francis McHugh in Gloucestershire's side, Rochford often batted far higher in the order than his batting talent warranted.^[3] He again made 60 dismissals in the season.^[2] After a few matches in 1957, he lost his place and with both Bobby Etheridge and Barrie Meyer available, he left the Gloucestershire staff at the end of the season. His obituary in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 1993 indicates that there was friction between Rochford and the Gloucestershire committee.^[4]

From 1975 to 1977, Rochford was on the umpires' list for first-class and List A matches in England and Wales. He also coached cricket and was a writer and journalist on cricket too.^[4] He collapsed and died suddenly in a pub in Stroud, but was also suffering from cancer at the time.^[4]

References

1. "Peter Rochford". www.cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
2. "First-class batting and fielding in each season by Peter Rochford". www.cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
3. "Scorecard: Oxford University v Gloucestershire". www.cricketarchive.com. 28 April 1956. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
4. "Obituaries". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (1993 ed.). Wisden. p. 1287.