Peter Toohey

Peter Michael Toohey 1954 - Test Cricketer

Peter Michael Toohey was born on 20 April 1954 and spent his early years on the family farm at Barry near Blayney. The Toohey family figured prominently in the Blayney Club side that played in the Orange competition. In the early days of his career Peter was greatly influenced by his father Alan and his uncle Brian Toohey, as all three were in the Orange representative teams in the Western Districts and Grinsted Cup cricket.

Between 1968 and 1971 Peter progressed through the various levels of country cricket. In 1971 he was selected for Western Districts to tour New Zealand. His brothers David and Mark were also selected in Western Districts Colts tours to New Zealand during the same period.

In 1972 Peter moved to Sydney to play with Western Suburbs under the then Australian Captain Bob Simpson. In his second season in Sydney he made the State squad and in the 1974 - 1975 season he won selection in the Sheffield Shield Team. In his first 50 innings for New South Wales he scored six centuries and earned his first test cap at the age of 23 in 1977, making his debut against India at Brisbane.

Peter Toohey played in all five tests against India and then toured the West Indies where he suffered a broken thumb in the first test, causing him to miss the next two tests. He cam back strongly in the fourth test and in the fifth test at Kinston, Jamaica he turned in scores of 122 and 97.

Peter played in all five tests against England in 1978 and one in 1979 and a further test against the West Indies in 1979, to finish with a test record of 15 matches for 893 runs at an average of 31.89 and a total of 9 catches. Peter also featured in three Century Partnerships, two with Graham Yallop and one with Bob Simpson. He represented New South Wales in 64 shield matches to score 4038 runs and take 42 catches. He retired in 1981 and become a state selector for several seasons