Career highlights included an innings he played for New South Wales at Brisbane in 1940–41 when he made 81 with all but 7 of them coming in boundaries.

[3] He played only two first-class matches after that tour, spending the rest of his career as a professional in league cricket.

Teammates Keith Miller and Dick Whitington regarded him as one of the best all rounders in the world and a certainty for Australian Test selection.

Pepper appealed for leg before wicket against Australian captain Don Bradman in a match against South Australia.

His Wisden obituary noted that "A Manchester Evening News correspondent said he could not imagine any match involving Pepper pursuing a peaceful course", but added that usually "there was more humour than anger".

[8] He established a successful packaging business in Bury in Lancashire, and bought residences in Blackpool and the south of Spain.