Geoff Edrich
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Geoffrey Arthur Edrich | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 July 1918 Lingwood, Norfolk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2 January 2004 (aged 85) Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1937–1939 | Norfolk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1946–1958 | Lancashire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1960–1962 | Cumberland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 19 January 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Geoffrey Arthur Edrich (13 July 1918 – 2 January 2004) was an English first-class cricketer born in Lingwood, Norfolk, who played in 339 matches for Lancashire between 1946 and 1958 as a right-handed batsman. Before his first-class career, he had played Minor Counties cricket for Norfolk (1937–1939), and after his first-class retirement he returned to the Minor Counties, this time playing for Cumberland (1960–1962). Whilst at Cumberland, he was also professional for Workington Cricket Club.[1]
He captained Lancashire to a win over Leicestershire at Old Trafford in 1956 in a match in which his team did not lose a single wicket, the first time this had happened in a first-class match. Leicestershire were bowled out for 108 and 122, and Lancashire (166 for 0 declared and 66 for 0) won by ten wickets.[2] His highest score was 167 not out (followed by 84 in the second innings) for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire in 1954.[3]
Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Bill and also his cousin, John Edrich, all played first-class cricket. Though, unlike his brother Bill and cousin John, Geoff Edrich never played for England, he toured India in 1953/54 with a Commonwealth XI, scoring 641 runs at an average of 40.06 and playing in three of the "Unofficial Tests".[4][5]
Edrich joined the Royal Norfolk Regiment and was taken prisoner at the Fall of Singapore.[6] He survived three years' captivity in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, during the Second World War, including a stint on the infamous Burma Railway.[7] After his playing career he became the groundsman and coach at Cheltenham College.[8]
He died on 2 January 2004, aged 85.
References
- ^ "A stalwart cricketer with plenty of guts" Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lancashire v Leicestershire 1956
- ^ Nottinghamshire v Lancashire 1954
- ^ "A stalwart cricketer with plenty of guts" Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Wisden 1955, pp. 814-38.
- ^ Taylor, R 2003 "Changi Ashes"
- ^ Wisden 2005, p. 1637.
- ^ Wisden 2005, p. 1638.
External links
- Daily Telegraph Obituary
- Geoff Edrich at ESPNcricinfo
- Geoff Edrich at CricketArchive