Born in Watford, Hertfordshire on 20 July 1938, David Pratt was a right-hand bat and slow left-arm bowler. He began as a schoolboy cricketer at Leggatts Way School in Watford and played for the Watford Boys’ team before becoming a member of Watford CC First XI at the age of 15. He progressed to the full Hertfordshire team and played in four Minor Counties championship games in 1957 taking 18 wickets @14.27.
He joined the Worcestershire staff for 1958 and made his First-Class debut for Worcestershire v Derbyshire at Chesterfield in May 1959. During that season he made eight First-Class appearances taking 13 wickets @42.00 with a best innings analysis of 5-54 in his second appearance v Surrey at New Road. His victims were Micky Stewart, Ken Barrington, Eric Bedser, Jim Laker and Alec Bedser.
He was called to National Service and played regularly for United Services at Portsmouth. In 1961 he appeared in three First-Class games for Combined Services including one at Trent Bridge where he took 3-23 in the first innings. In August of that year he had second innings figures of 6-38 for The Army v RAF at Catterick Garrison, where a team-mate was Barry Stead.
Pratt joined the Notts staff for the 1962 season but despite playing in seven Championship games during that season, he achieved no success. Making his Notts debut v Hampshire at, ironically, the United Services, Portsmouth in June, he did not bat and failed to take a wicket. In his brief Notts career he scored 14 runs @2.80 and took four wickets @93.50 with best figures of 2-52 in his last First-Class game v Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College in August 1962. He remained on the Notts staff for 1963 but did not play any First-Class matches. His record for Notts Seconds was excellent; in 20 Second Eleven championship appearances in 1962 and 1963 he took 72 wickets @20.84, taking five wickets in an innings four times with a best of 6-62 versus Derbyshire Seconds at the Notts Police Ground at Carrington in 1963.
In total he appeared in 18 First-Class games and scored 50 runs @3.12 and took 23 wickets @49.60.
Pratt gave up professional cricket in the mid 1960's but still played locally in Hertfordshire and as Captain led his first teams to win the Home Counties and Cherwell Leagues for a number of years in the 1980s. He was still topping the bowling averages when he retired from cricket in 1988.
A natural sportsman, he took up golf and was soon playing off an 8 handicap.
May 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 432