Geoff Edrich

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Geoff Edrich
Personal information
Full name
Geoffrey Arthur Edrich
Born(1918-07-13)13 July 1918
Lingwood, Norfolk
Died2 January 2004(2004-01-02) (aged 85)
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1937–1939Norfolk
1946–1958Lancashire
1960–1962Cumberland
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 339
Runs scored 15,600
Batting average 34.82
100s/50s 26/80
Top score 167*
Balls bowled 786
Wickets 5
Bowling average 79.80
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 1/8
Catches/stumpings 332/–
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 Battle 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[edit]

  1. ^ "A stalwart cricketer with plenty of guts" Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  3. ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  4. ^ "A stalwart cricketer with plenty of guts" Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Wisden 1955, pp. 814-38.
  6. ^ Taylor, R 2003 "Changi Ashes"
  7. ^ Wisden 2005, p. 1637.
  8. ^ Wisden 2005, p. 1638.

External links[edit]