Geoff Edrich

{{Short description|English cricketer (1918–2004)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Geoff Edrich | image = | country = England | fullname = Geoffrey Arthur Edrich | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|7|13|df=yes}} | birth_place = Lingwood, Norfolk | death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|1|2|1918|7|13|df=yes}} | death_place = Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | heightft = | heightinch = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm medium | role = | 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.<ref>[http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/news/obituaries/a-stalwart-cricketer-with-plenty-of-guts-1.373956?referrerPath=news/obituaries "A stalwart cricketer with plenty of guts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309065017/http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/news/obituaries/a-stalwart-cricketer-with-plenty-of-guts-1.373956?referrerPath=news%2Fobituaries |date=9 March 2012 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Home of CricketArchive|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/22/22113.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=cricketarchive.com}}</ref> His highest score was 167 not out (followed by 84 in the second innings) for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire in 1954.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Home of CricketArchive|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/21/21209.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=cricketarchive.com}}</ref>

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".<ref>[http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/news/obituaries/a-stalwart-cricketer-with-plenty-of-guts-1.373956?referrerPath=news/obituaries "A stalwart cricketer with plenty of guts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309065017/http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk/news/obituaries/a-stalwart-cricketer-with-plenty-of-guts-1.373956?referrerPath=news%2Fobituaries |date=9 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>''Wisden'' 1955, pp. 814-38.</ref>

Edrich joined the Royal Norfolk Regiment and was taken prisoner at the Battle of Singapore.<ref> Taylor, R 2003 [https://www.far-eastern-heroes.org.uk/Changi_Ashes/ "Changi Ashes"]</ref> 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.<ref>''Wisden'' 2005, p. 1637.</ref> After his playing career he became the groundsman and coach at Cheltenham College.<ref>''Wisden'' 2005, p. 1638.</ref>

He died on 2 January 2004, aged 85.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1451286/Geoff-Edrich.html ''Daily Telegraph'' Obituary] *{{Cricinfo|id=12620}} *[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/29/29233/29233.html Geoff Edrich at CricketArchive]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edrich, Geoff}} Category:1918 births Category:2004 deaths Category:Military personnel from Norfolk Geoff Category:English cricketers Category:Lancashire cricketers Category:Norfolk cricketers Category:Commonwealth XI cricketers Category:British Army personnel of World War II Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Japan Category:People from Lingwood and Burlingham Category:North v South cricketers Category:Burma Railway prisoners Category:Cumberland cricketers Category:Royal Norfolk Regiment soldiers Category:British World War II prisoners of war Category:Cricketers from Norfolk Category:20th-century English sportsmen