Peter Philpott was in his first season of Sheffield Shield cricket when he scored a half century against the MCC in 1954-55.

Bodyline wicketkeeper, George Duckworth, was the tour manager, and he was on the lookout for a couple of professionals for the Lancashire League. He approached Philpott and team-mate, Pat Crawford.

He said: "We went out in the Long Bar. There were two clubs - East Lancs and Rammy. East Lancs were offering more money.

"So, we tossed the coin. Pat won the toss and went to East Lancs.

"And, as I've said frequently before, it's the best toss I've ever lost. I went to Rammy and had a wonderful time there for three years."

But, in a classic case of having his cake and eating it, Philpott later had a fourth season in the League at Alexandra Meadows.

The New South Wales all-rounder was paid £350 for the season, plus the same amount for travelling, and 20 quid for every half-century and five-wicket haul.

It would ultimately prove quite lucrative for the 20 year-old.

But first there were lessons to be learned for the man known as "Percy".

The opening match was washed out, and he chatted over a beer to Haslingden pro, Vinoo Mankad.

The Pakistani emphasised that, whatever happened, it was important to uphold the ethics of the game.

In the return fixture, Mankad sent down a delivery left-arm around the wicket which hit Philpott on the full.

He added: "And, particularly with the drift, it would have missed leg stump, I would have thought, by about two yards. And, Vinoo screamed his head off.

"Up he went, and the umpire, of course, gave me out. And, I learned from that never to listen too carefully to what the other pro said!"

Philpott made 861 runs and took 78 wickets with his leg-spinners. But, he also made an impact with his true profession.

He said: "I was teaching in the Ramsbottom area at the time and got close to the kids, and developed coaching things there, which the community really appreciated.

"And, once you're appreciated by these Lancashire towns, then life can be very good."

After concentrating on his teaching career at home, he returned to Acre Bottom in 1959 and made 1000 runs.

He repeated the dose the following year when Ramsbottom won the Holland Cup. They finished just one point behind Bacup, whom they beat both times, overcoming the dangerous Roy Gilchrist.

He said: "Gilly was an awkward man. He had a lot of blokes terrified. He was very quick. He was a little bloke with big, long arms.

"He was prepared to run through the crease to get closer to the batsman.

"He was prepared to throw a couple, and he was prepared to bowl beam balls."

Philpott was married in 1961, and he and wife, Prue, decided to honeymoon at Duke's Brow the next year.

East Lancs finished third, as the Aussie made 956 runs and took 82 wickets.

By then, he had returned to first-class cricket after heart problems, and went on to tour the West Indies in 1965. He took 5-90 against England at the Gabba later that year, his best figures in eight Tests.

Philpott then went on to a stellar career in coaching with Sri Lanka and New Zealand, plus a stint with South Australia.

He was de facto coach of Australia's 1981 Ashes squad, coached spin at Yorkshire and Surrey, and has written several books on the art.

Son, Meecham, and daughter, Fiona, have given him four grandchildren, and Peter and second wife, Judy, have a daughter, Georgina, who is finishing Law at Sydney University.

"Percy" Philpott has done it all in cricket, but his mind often strays to the Lancashire League.

He added: "Every Saturday, you set out on the team bus and, whether you won or lost, you never got home until about one o'clock in the morning.

"And, you'd be calling into the pubs where you'd be singing and laughing.

"It was just a fantastic experience, and they're beautiful people."

l Philpott's time at Acre Bottom and Alexandra Meadows is recalled in his autobiography, "Two Times Thirty-five," available for £20 by writing to the author at 11/669 Military Rd, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia.