| Geoff Edrich | |
| Country: | England |
| Fullname: | Geoffrey Arthur Edrich |
| Birth Date: | 13 July 1918 |
| Birth Place: | Lingwood, Norfolk |
| Death Place: | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm medium |
| Club1: | Norfolk |
| Year1: | 1937–1939 |
| Club2: | Lancashire |
| Year2: | 1946–1958 |
| Club3: | Cumberland |
| Year3: | 1960–1962 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 339 |
| Runs1: | 15,600 |
| Bat Avg1: | 34.82 |
| 100S/50S1: | 26/80 |
| Top Score1: | 167* |
| Deliveries1: | 786 |
| Wickets1: | 5 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 79.80 |
| Fivefor1: | 0 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 1/8 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 332/– |
| Date: | 19 January |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/12620.html Cricinfo |
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.