Peter Toohey

Peter Toohey (born 20 April 1954, Blayney, New South Wales) is a former Australian cricketer who played in 15 Tests and 5 ODIs from 1977 to 1979.

Toohey was one of the cricketers who came to the fore when the bulk of Australia's top cricketers defected to Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket. During his prime playing years in the Australian Test team, some media commentators referred to Toohey as "Australia's master batsman", such was Toohey's pivotal role in the Australian Test team during the absence of the defecting World Series players.

When the World Series Cricket players returned to mainstream Test cricket in 1979-80, Toohey only played two more tests in his career, both in the summer of 1979-80. He retired from Cricket and now works in the Financial sector in Brisbane.

Career

Toohey played cricket for St Stanislaus' College in Bathurst. He toured New Zealand with Western Districts Colts and played for NSW Schoolboys before his Sheffield Shield debut for NSW against Queensland in 1974-75.

Test Player

During the 1977-78 season, defections to World Series Cricket saw opportunities open up for Australian cricketers. Toohey was selected for the first test against India and played all five tests that series.

He was one of the standout performers on the 1978 tour of the West Indies.

Toohey was dropped from the Australian side during the 1978-79 Ashes.

He was overlooked for the 1979 tour to India.

Toohey's form declined during the 1983-84 season and he was dropped from the NSW side. He eventually retired from first class cricket in May 1984.