Former English batsman John Edrich has died at the age of 83.
The left-hander has played 77 tests in England, making 12 centuries and finishing with 43.54 averages.
A Surrey legend, he made 39,790 first-class runs overall from 564 matches, including 103 centuries – one of only 25 men to compile 100 first-class tons.
Cause Of Death
He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2000 but lived much longer than the seven years he was given at the time and died of natural causes at his home in Scotland.
Edrich believed that the mistletoe injections he had received since 2005 had extended his life and enabled him to cope with a rare form of leukemia.
Career Performances
He made his Test debut against the West Indies at Old Trafford in 1963 and ended up facing the same opponents on the same pitch 13 years later.
The opener top scored 24 in the second innings of his final Test in 1976 as England were knocked out 126 by West Indies bowlers in an uneven field and lost by 425 runs.
His bravery was demonstrated in that final Test match at the age of 39, as he and his opening teammate Brian Close, 45, defended for 80 minutes at the end of Saturday’s game against a terrific throw-in by Andy Roberts, Wayne Daniel and Michael Capture.
Hitting without helmets or chest shields, Edrich was unbeaten at 10 and Close each in the end and they took 54 points in the next day’s game before the first one came out last in the Test – released by Daniel.
Close, released by Roberts 20 years ago, also never played for England again. They are the only England players to reach 20 in the innings.
Edrich, awarded a MBE for services to cricket in 1977, compiled his career-high innings of 310 not out against New Zealand at Headingley in 1965.
He hit 52 fours – the highest number in any Test innings – as well as five sixes in an innings that lasted eight minutes short of nine hours.
One of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1966, he was admired for his defence and temperament but was also renowned for his cut shot and was prolific through the mid-wicket area.
He held Surrey for five seasons and led England once, when Mike Denness dropped to Australia in 1974-75.
His 33 defeat in that Test was impressive especially as he had broken ribs in the first ball he faced from Australia’s fast-paced striker Dennis Lillee.
Reactions
“With the passing of John, we have lost a striking and fearless player – one of the few selected to have won more than 5,000 runs in England,” said Tom Harrison, chief executive officer of England and Wales Cricket Board.
“His duels with some of the world’s best fast bowlers were legendary, and it’s a testament to his ability that his 310 not out against New Zealand in 1965 remains the fifth-highest Test score by an English batsman.”
Edrich played in the first one-day, opening the batting with regular Test teammate Geoffrey Boycott playing Australia in the MCG in January 1971.
He hit the first boundary with a new format, a trademark piece in the middle of the wicket, on his way to the innings of the 82nd innings in 119 balls as England made 190 overs at 39.4.
Edrich played six more ODIs, scoring 37.16 with 90 points and 68.61 strikes.
Born in Norfolk, he played for Surrey for 20 years from 1958 and his 29,305 runs are the fourth highest in history.
Surrey fans voted for Edrich to open the batting alongside Sir Jack Hobbs in their ‘Greatest XI’ and the John Edrich Gates at the Pavilion End of the Kia Oval is a permanent reminder of his service to the county.
“John Edrich was truly one of the greatest players to ever play for our club and his passing is an incredibly sad moment for us all,” said Surrey chairman Richard Thompson.
“From watching his brave and charismatic batting to sitting alongside him in our committee room and learning about the game, to have been able to call John a friend was a high honour.”
