Gerald Peckover

Participate in discussion with your fellow Zimbabwe cricket fans!
User avatar
eugene
Posts: 7653
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:31 pm
Supports: Matabeleland Tuskers

Gerald Peckover

Post by eugene »

I have set up an interview with former Rhodesian and Zimbabwe international Gerald Peckover. Let me know if you have any particular questions you would like me to ask? Interesting guy, played in the 1983 CWC and was also a prolific hockey player. You can read more about him here: http://rhodesiansportprofiles.blogspot. ... r.html?m=1
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes

jward
Posts: 263
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:00 pm
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: Gerald Peckover

Post by jward »

Very nice guy. Perhaps he might remember me, as I was involved in schoolboy cricket when he worked for Mark Manolios - please give him my best wishes.

cricket_22001
Posts: 338
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:20 pm

Re: Gerald Peckover

Post by cricket_22001 »

Information about him seems to stop after 1983/84.
Statistically, he played all his FC matches in the Currie Cup. Then he disappears till just before the 1983 WC & is part of the List A squad in 1983/84. He signs off with a century against Young West Indies after opening the batting. He was shunted up & down the batting order through this short career.
So, what happened from 1980-82? Hockey for Zimbabwe?
How did he come back into international contention for the 1983 World Cup?
Did he feel mucked around by being moved up & down the order?
Was it his choice to be only available for List A as opposed for FC matches or was he seen as a List A specialist?
Was there hockey for him after 83/84? He was only around 28 years old.
I know Zimbabwe was amateur status & I'm presuming work/family became a priority.
These interview opportunities are great. I remember John Ward used to give player profiles about players on the domestic scene when the Logan Cup became first class. I enjoyed them thoroughly as it gave a personal insight & not just leave an image of the person through cold statistics.
Good stuff, eugene.

User avatar
CrimsonAvenger
Posts: 9838
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 2:57 am
Supports: Mountaineers
Location: India

Re: Gerald Peckover

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

cricket_22001 wrote:
Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:20 am
These interview opportunities are great. I remember John Ward used to give player profiles about players on the domestic scene when the Logan Cup became first class. I enjoyed them thoroughly as it gave a personal insight & not just leave an image of the person through cold statistics.
Yeah I still go back to some of those biographies John Ward did for people who got into CFX academy, where the young players talked about their cricketing roots, their idols, the toughest opponents in the domestic scene etc. Gave a good glimpse of what they were made of.

User avatar
CrimsonAvenger
Posts: 9838
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 2:57 am
Supports: Mountaineers
Location: India

Re: Gerald Peckover

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

Some questions from my end:

1. If he continues to follow the modern game, what are his observations on the difference in wicket keeping techniques and strategies during his era and now?
2. What are his on-field memories from the famous India 1983 match when Rawson razed through the Indian top order? How good was Rawson on the day and how good was Kapil Dev in his counter attack?
3. How good was Houghton as a keeper, compared to, say, Andy Flower and Tatenda Taibu?
4. Which was the batting position he was most comfortable with and enjoy?
5. During his times, and before the Andy Flower era, apart from Houghton and Hick, which others players could have become world class had there been more games for Zimbabwe?

User avatar
jaybro
Posts: 10390
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 3:36 am
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: Gerald Peckover

Post by jaybro »

CrimsonAvenger wrote:
Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:03 am
Some questions from my end:

1. If he continues to follow the modern game, what are his observations on the difference in wicket keeping techniques and strategies during his era and now?
2. What are his on-field memories from the famous India 1983 match when Rawson razed through the Indian top order? How good was Rawson on the day and how good was Kapil Dev in his counter attack?
3. How good was Houghton as a keeper, compared to, say, Andy Flower and Tatenda Taibu?
4. Which was the batting position he was most comfortable with and enjoy?
5. During his times, and before the Andy Flower era, apart from Houghton and Hick, which others players could have become world class had there been more games for Zimbabwe?
Great questions

Can you ask him about playing with Kevin Curran & Duncan Fletcher; see who was better? (To rest a debate we have here).
Chairman of the Neville Madziva fan Club

Originator of the #mumbamania movement

User avatar
grant
Posts: 1950
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2014 9:57 am
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: Gerald Peckover

Post by grant »

jaybro wrote:
Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:25 am
Can you ask him about playing with Kevin Curran & Duncan Fletcher; see who was better? (To rest a debate we have here).
:lol:

User avatar
eugene
Posts: 7653
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:31 pm
Supports: Matabeleland Tuskers

Re: Gerald Peckover

Post by eugene »

I have sent a first batch of questions through, will see how responsive he is before sending a second batch.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes

User avatar
eugene
Posts: 7653
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:31 pm
Supports: Matabeleland Tuskers

Re: Gerald Peckover

Post by eugene »

OK, I have had fun conversing back-and-forth with Gerald Peckover, he is a nice guy. John Ward , he does indeed remember you!

How did you get into cricket as a youngster? Who were your mentors and heroes in cricket?
I started playing cricket at my junior school Courtney Selous in Harare at age 7. My cricketing heros were Barry Richards, Joe Partidge, and Colin Bland.


How did you come into contention for the 1983 squad? It seems as though you were out of the first class scene for a couple of years in the lead-up to the tournament?
In the early 1980's my cricket took a back seat as I was travelling the world playing hockey but when the World Cup came up I thought of it as a great opportunity and focused on cricket.


You were a worldclass hockey player, was hockey your primary sport?
Hockey was always my main sport and I was privileged enough to play against most of the best hockey teams in the world thanks to the efforts of the late Mark Manolios who was on the FIH board.


What are your on-field memories of Peter Rawson ripping through the Indians? How good was Rawson on his day?
Pete Rawson was one of the most competitive sportsmen I have had the privilege of playing with both cricket and hockey - an unsung hero. On his day he would knock over the best in the world, he was right up there with the best.


Apart from Dave Houghton and Graeme Hick, which other players could have become world class cricketers had Zimbabwe been given more opportunities?
Very difficult question, both Houghton and Hick were and are world class but from the earlier days there are people like John Traicos, Jack du Preez, Colin Bland and many others.


Who was the better allrounder, Kevin Curran or Duncan Fletcher?
Duncan was the ultimate professional whereas Kevin was talented, neither was better than the other, they just had different talents. If I had to put my life on it I would choose both!


Do you still follow Zimbabwean cricket today? How do the current players compare to the guys in your day?
I must confess in 2015 I had cancer and battled to health again and to save my business so I have not followed the last five years as much as I should have done.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes

jward
Posts: 263
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:00 pm
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: Gerald Peckover

Post by jward »

eugene wrote:
Tue Apr 14, 2020 9:36 pm
OK, I have had fun conversing back-and-forth with Gerald Peckover, he is a nice guy. John Ward , he does indeed remember you!

How did you get into cricket as a youngster? Who were your mentors and heroes in cricket?
I started playing cricket at my junior school Courtney Selous in Harare at age 7. My cricketing heros were Barry Richards, Joe Partidge, and Colin Bland.


How did you come into contention for the 1983 squad? It seems as though you were out of the first class scene for a couple of years in the lead-up to the tournament?
In the early 1980's my cricket took a back seat as I was travelling the world playing hockey but when the World Cup came up I thought of it as a great opportunity and focused on cricket.


You were a worldclass hockey player, was hockey your primary sport?
Hockey was always my main sport and I was privileged enough to play against most of the best hockey teams in the world thanks to the efforts of the late Mark Manolios who was on the FIH board.


What are your on-field memories of Peter Rawson ripping through the Indians? How good was Rawson on his day?
Pete Rawson was one of the most competitive sportsmen I have had the privilege of playing with both cricket and hockey - an unsung hero. On his day he would knock over the best in the world, he was right up there with the best.


Apart from Dave Houghton and Graeme Hick, which other players could have become world class cricketers had Zimbabwe been given more opportunities?
Very difficult question, both Houghton and Hick were and are world class but from the earlier days there are people like John Traicos, Jack du Preez, Colin Bland and many others.


Who was the better allrounder, Kevin Curran or Duncan Fletcher?
Duncan was the ultimate professional whereas Kevin was talented, neither was better than the other, they just had different talents. If I had to put my life on it I would choose both!


Do you still follow Zimbabwean cricket today? How do the current players compare to the guys in your day?
I must confess in 2015 I had cancer and battled to health again and to save my business so I have not followed the last five years as much as I should have done.
Thanks, Eugene, glad and a bit surprised he remembers me! Sorry to hear about the cancer, but very glad he seems to be fit again.

Post Reply