On this day, April 23rd, 1940, England cricket seamer David Larter was born. He had multiple magnificent performances throughout his cricket career of three years. However, Larter’s noteworthy debut for England came at The Oval in 1962, where he made an indelible mark by claiming nine wickets against Pakistan. In that game, he was simply unplayable and Pakistan batters were pushed to the limits in order to negotiate his hostile bowling performance.
Larter’s exceptional performance on debut highlighted his talent and potential as a formidable bowler. His ability to swing the ball with precision and extract movement from the pitch posed a significant challenge to the Pakistani batting lineup. The match at The Oval provided Larter with a platform to showcase his skills on the international stage, and he rose to the occasion with aplomb. His memorable debut performance earned him accolades from fans and experts alike, cementing his place in cricketing history.
In the game, he picked up five wickets in his first innings with a bowling figure of 5/57 with an economy rate of 2.28 in the 25 overs spell. In addition to it, he also replicated his bowling prowess in the second innings when he picked up four wickets including a wicket of Imtiaz Ahmed (98) and Hanif Mohammed (0). He ended the second inning with a bowling figure of 4/88. All in all, in the Test match he picked up a bowling figure of 9/145. It will be no wrong to say that it was courtesy of his brilliant bowling spell in the Test match which inspired England to win the game by 10 wickets.
While Larter’s international career may not have been as illustrious as some of his counterparts, his contribution to English cricket, particularly on that debut match, remains a cherished moment in the annals of the sport. His talent and dedication served as an inspiration to aspiring cricketers and left an enduring legacy within the cricketing community.