John Lever

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = John Lever
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Left-arm fast-medium
balls = true
tests = 21
test runs = 306
test bat avg = 11.76
test 100s/50s = -/1
test top score = 53
test overs = 4433
test wickets = 73
test bowl avg = 26.72
test 5s = 3
test 10s = 1
test best bowling = 7/46
test catches/stumpings = 11/-
ODIs = 22
ODI runs = 56
ODI bat avg = 8.00
ODI 100s/50s = -/-
ODI top score = 27*
ODI overs = 1152
ODI wickets = 24
ODI bowl avg = 29.70
ODI 5s = -
ODI 10s = -
ODI best bowling = 4/29
ODI catches/stumpings = 6/-
date = 1 January
year = 2006
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/16260.html

John Kenneth Lever (born February 24, 1949, Stepney, London) is an English former cricketer who played in 21 Tests and 22 ODIs from 1976 to 1986.

Lever was a left arm fast medium bowler who predominantly swung the ball into the right handed batsmen predominantly, to try to outwit them.

He is sometimes remembered for the 'vaseline incident'. It was one of the first publicised 'doctoring' (using unfair means to enhance the swing or seam abilities) of the cricket ball by a bowler, when Lever reportedly rubbed vaseline onto one side of the ball so it would swing better [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2452/24520540.htm Controversies have proved beneficial to the game ] ] [ [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/englandpakistan2006/story/0,,1859484,00.html Cricket: These tamper tantrums will pass | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited Sport ] ] [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1998404410.cms John's leverage with vaseline-The Times of India ] ] [ [http://mid-day.com/sports/international/2006/august/142938.htm Mid-Day - Sports news, indian sports news, international sports news & lot more ] ] [ [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/08/24/let_bowlers_and_fielders_rub_a.html Guardian Unlimited: Sport blog: Let bowlers and fielders rub and pick, scratch and scuff ] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/5324920.stm BBC SPORT | Cricket | Historical echoes of ball-tampering row ] ] . The claim was later rejected and Lever was cleared of any wrongdoing. In this Test Lever recorded the best Test bowling figures for an English debutant (7-46), a record that stood until Dominic Cork beat it by 4 runs on his debut vs west indies

Lever gave 22 years of service to Essex CCC in one of the most successful periods in the clubs history. Later awarded an MBE for his services to cricket. He was also involved in the "Rebel" tour to South Africa during the apartheid era, where he formed strong links in the country and later spent many winters there playing for the provincial side of Natal.

More recently John Lever has taken up teaching physical education at Bancroft's School and is currently the bowling coach for Middlesex County Cricket Club.

References