PETER DENNINGPeter ‘Dasher’ Denning, who died on 18 July, 2007 aged 57 was one of the most popular and entertaining cricketers in the successful Somerset side of the late 1970s and early 1980s.An unorthodox player, Mr Denning was unpredictable and dynamic and made his name in the increasingly popular one-day games. He even invented his own move called the ‘Chewton Chop’ after his home village of Chewton Mendip.He was a distinctive figure on the field, with unruly long blonde hair, oversized pads and often a large floppy white hat, playing up to his country yokel image.But behind the image, ‘Dasher’ was a gifted cricketer and a key member of the Somerset team that took five trophies between 1979 and 1983. Mr Denning once scored three centuries in three limited-overs matches and was often described as ‘electric’ on the pitch.Peter William Denning was born on 16 December, 1949 in Somerset. His early talent secured him a place at the Millfield sports academy, where he became Captain of Cricket.He went on to study at Exeter University, where he had to choose between a career in cricket or teaching. He chose cricket and made his first-class debut in 1969.His nickname 'Dasher' referred to his lightning pace between the wickets. He excelled as a left-handed opening batsman, but was also an excellent ground fielder and a natural catcher.Although he was left-handed, the majority of his runs were scored with the off and cover drive.Mr Denning’s characteristic cut stroke, termed the Chewton Chop, was without doubt his most successful, rocketing the ball anywhere from cover to slip.He passed 1,000 runs in a season six times, scoring 11,559 first-class runs with an average of 28.68 in a career lasting 15 years.His cricketing days was cut short by cartilage trouble in 1984. He retired from the game but remained in Somerset to become a grain merchant.He died from cancer in a hospice in the county town of Taunton where he had played many of his most memorable innings.He was a formidable cricketer, scoring a record 4,565 runs in the Sunday League. His performance with Ian Botham in 1980, putting on 310 for the 4th wicket, remains a Somerset record.He was very popular with fans and teammates alike and won seven Man of the Match awards.Fellow cricketer Peter Roebuck remembers Mr Denning as "electrifying over a few yards, alert, grittily uncompromising, disdaining all airs and graces . . . pinching runs without caring if they were prettily made."Brian Rose, Mr Denning’s opening partner at Somerset, will miss his friend and colleague: "He was a bit unorthodox, which made him hard to bowl to. He was very fit, a great enthusiast and an ideal professional. His sad death is a tremendous loss to Somerset cricket."
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