Former South African fast bowler Peter Heine dies at 76

Peter Heine bowls in England in 1955 © The Cricketer Enlarge

Peter Heine, the former South African fast bowler, has died. He was 76.

Heine, who played for Orange Free State, North-Eastern Transvaal, and Transvaal, was a genuinely fast bowler who formed a formidable new-ball pairing with Neil Adcock in the 1950s.

He first made a mark with 7 for 29 for OFS against the touring New Zealanders in 1953-54, and made his Test debut in England in 1955, taking 5 for 60 at Lord's on his first day as an international cricketer. He dismissed Tom Graveney, Peter May, Denis Compton, Ken Barrington and Godfrey Evans.

A big, aggressive man, Heine was not afraid to pitch it short, once reputedly snarling at Trevor Bailey that "I want to hurt you". He finished with 58 wickets at 25 in 14 Tests, with a best return of 6 for 58 against Australia at Johannesburg in 1957-58. In all first-class cricket he grabbed 277 wickets at the excellent average of 21.38, including a haul of 8 for 92 for OFS against Transvaal at Welkom in 1954-55.