'Laker Test' centurion Richardson passes away

Peter Richardson, who made a century for England in the 1956 Ashes Test in which Jim Laker took a world record 19 wickets, has passed at the age of 85, his former county Kent announced on Friday.

Peter Richardson (right) with his opening partner Colin Cowdrey walk out to bat against Australia during the first day of the first Ashes Test in 1956.

Peter Richardson, who made a century for England in the 1956 Ashes Test in which Jim Laker took a world record 19 wickets, has passed at the age of 85, his former county Kent announced on Friday.

Richardson accrued five centuries in the 34 Tests he played between 1956 and 1963 — starting his international career with two half centuries in the 1956 Ashes series — and the opener finished his first year as a Test batsman with 491 runs to his credit, the most in the world that year.

At the time he was an amateur playing for Worcestershire but the county refused to allow him to turn professional and move to Kent in 1958.

He had to sit out the 1959 season but having finally secured his move he found competition for the opening spots in the Test team restricted his appearances.

Richardson, who played on for Kent until 1965, made history in 1957 when he and brother Dick played one Test together against the West Indies, becoming the first siblings to do so for England in the 20th century.