{{short description|English cricketer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use British English|date=August 2012}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Ian Bedford | image = File:PI Bedford.jpg | caption = | country = England | fullname = Philip Ian Bedford | birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|2|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = Friern Barnet, Middlesex, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1966|9|18|1930|2|11}} | death_place = On the way to Wanstead Hospital, Wanstead, Essex, England | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right arm leg-spin | family = | club1 = Middlesex | year1 = 1947–1962 | columns = 1 | column1 = First-class | matches1 = 77 | runs1 = 979 | bat avg1 = 16.31 | 100s/50s1 = 0/3 | top score1 = 75 not out | deliveries1 = 7797 | wickets1 = 128 | bowl avg1 = 32.87 | fivefor1 = 5 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 6/52 | catches/stumpings1 = 45/0 | date = 30 January | year = 2016 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/9641.html Cricinfo }} '''Philip Ian Bedford''' (11 February 1930 – 18 September 1966) was an English first-class cricketer who had a sensational start to his first-class career with Middlesex in 1947 as a 17-year-old lower-order batsman and leg break bowler. In his first match, against Essex, he was the fourth spin bowler used in the Essex first innings, but took four wickets for 81 runs.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18174.html | title = Middlesex v Essex |date = 1947-07-19 |publisher = CricketArchive | accessdate = 2008-12-29}}</ref> He then took four for 65 in his second match against Nottinghamshire,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18190.html | title = Nottinghamshire v Middlesex|date = 1947-07-26 |publisher = CricketArchive | accessdate = 2008-12-29}}</ref> five for 53 in his third against Surrey<ref>{{cite web | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18258.html | title = Middlesex v Surrey |date = 1947-08-23 |publisher = CricketArchive | accessdate = 2008-12-29}}</ref> and five for 54 in his fourth and final match of 1947 against Lancashire.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18276.html | title = Middlesex v Lancashire |date = 1947-08-30 |publisher = CricketArchive | accessdate = 2008-12-29}}</ref>
He was less successful in subsequent seasons,<ref>{{cite web |title=First-Class Bowling in Each Season by Ian Bedford |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/27/27789/f_Bowling_by_Season.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=30 September 2022}}</ref> and returned to club cricket in 1951 while working for a construction company, until he succeeded John Warr as Middlesex captain in 1961 and 1962. He was a popular captain, who often declared boldly in an effort to achieve a result.<ref>Stephen Chalke, ''The Way It Was: Glimpses of English Cricket's Past'', Fairfield Books, Bath, 2010, pp. 96–97.</ref>
Bedford played in 77 first-class matches between 1947 and 1962, taking 128 wickets at an average cost of 32.87, with a personal best of 6/52.
He died following a brain aneurysm, while batting for Finchley C.C. at Buckhurst Hill in 1966. He was 36. He left a wife and four young daughters.<ref>J. W. Levy, "Ian Bedford", ''The Cricketer'', October 1966, pp. 19–20.</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Cricinfo|id=9641}} * {{Cricketarchive|id=27789}}
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box| |before=John Warr |title=Middlesex County Cricket Captain |years=1961–1962 |after=Colin Drybrough }} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedford, Ian}} Category:1930 births Category:1966 deaths Category:English cricketers Category:Middlesex cricket captains Category:Combined Services cricketers Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers Category:North v South cricketers Category:Gentlemen of England cricketers Category:Cricketers from the London Borough of Barnet Category:Deaths from aneurysm Category:Middlesex cricketers Category:20th-century English sportsmen