Peter Lever was 'never the same' after bowling short ball that almost killed Ewen Chatfield: David Lloyd

Peter Lever, the English fast bowler whose delivery almost killed Ewen Chatfield in February, 1975 was reportedly "never the same" after the incident.

According to Stuff.co.nz, that's the claim by one of Lever's friends and team mates as the sport digests the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.

David Lloyd, a former England cricketer, umpire, coach and now commentator, wrote a column on the Daily Mail saying that the Chatfield incident affected Lever's game and continues to trouble him till date.

Chatfield fell on the ground after being hit in the left temple by a short ball from Lever.

Lloyd wrote that mercifully for everyone, Ewen pulled through, but Peter was never the same bowler after that.

He added that Peter was a thoughtful chap, and the fact that Chatfield came so close to dying was tough for him to deal with.