Oakworth Cricket Club - Player Profile

Cyril Pegg (First XI 1937-1978)

The club is very sad to announce the death of former Oaks player, Committee man  and Treasurer Cyril Pegg died suddenly at the age of 87 at his Coventry home in 2005.

Cyril Pegg is a legend in Oaks cricketing circles. Only four players have played more matches for Oaks than the redoubtable Cyril Pegg. He amassed a huge 410 appearances between 1937 and 1978, including 361 league matches all in the West Bradford League. Over 6,086 runs came from Cyril's flowing bat at a very healthy average of 17.19. Principally an opening batsman with the soundest of defences Cyril was a hard man to get out. He preceded Barry Sayer in a line of solid Oakworth openers. His career started pre-World War 2 when youthful promise accelerated him to the First XI prominence at the age of 19. He scored 6 on his debut on 24th April 1937 against Haworth West End and it was his 21st match before he finally made double figures but there the struggle ended. His first half-century came as a 29 year-old with 82no vs Morton Banks in 1947. The intervention of the War was a cricketing tragedy for Cyril, who missed 8 years at his playing peak. Nevertheless he was to make up for this with Oakworth's second ever Century on 10th July 1948 with a stunning 115no against Bingley Congs. In fact the 1948 season brought Cyril a fabulous new Oaks record aggregate for a season with 462 runs. In 1951 he recorded '50 & 5' doubles against Prince Smith & Stells (Cup) and Ingrow St Johns and a third one in 1956 vs Cullingworth.

Cyril spent the 1957- 1963 seasons at Morton Banks, nearer his Riddlesden home but not before his finest hour in 1956. It came in a Keighley Cup game against Cullingworth on 2nd June 1956. Oaks actually lost the Cup-tie with a total of 150-8 by 2 wickets. Cyril made 129 not out, an amazing 86% of the total. On his return he was a member of Oakworth's first ever Cup Final team against Bingley Congs in 1965 when he scored 11 in our defeat. Cyril's last innings for Oakworth came in 1978 just before Oaks transfer to the Craven & District League, scoring 15 against Ingrow St Johns at the age of 60.

Cyril along with Arthur Lockwood finally put Oakworth on the senior cricket map either side of World War 2. Without doubt one of Oaks best ever has now gone.