John Edrich: Tenacious batsman who dominated cricket matches with the power of self-discipline

John Edrich was told, in August 2000, that he had seven years to live. He was then 63 and took the news with the courage and aplomb for which his Norfolk family have been renowned: “I hadn’t seen a doctor for about 10 years. But I’d been feeling tired for a while. Having taken blood tests, they discovered leukaemia. It was quite a shock. You can’t fight it.”

The cricketer, who would live for another 20 years, was a cousin to Bill (Middlesex and England), Brian (Kent and Glamorgan), Eric and Geoff (both Lancashire) and as the last first-class player in this extraordinary clan, he epitomised all their qualities. A left-handed batsman and, at the start, right-arm medium-pace bowler, he first learnt to bat on a concrete pitch in his home village of Blofield and could remember his father bowling to him at five years old. By 14 he was playing for the village, and occasionally keeping wicket, and at 17 appeared for Norfolk, seeking a professional career.

He should, and could have gone to Middlesex but Bill’s father advised against it on the grounds that the Middlesex captain might be placed in a difficult position by complaints about favouritism. It was a remark that cost Middlesex a major player and brought Surrey a windfall for after playing for the Combined Services during his national service he then joined Surrey in 1958 and five years later began a 12-year career as an England opening batsman. He made his county debut in the last match of 1958, the last of Surrey’s seven seasons as champions.

In his second championship match, he scored a century in each innings against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 1959. He added two more centuries in his next three matches. Averaging 52 for that summer, he still had to wait for the selectors to notice him, such was the strength of England’s batting in those days, and had in fact scored 24 centuries before making his Test debut.

He was, like many outstanding batsmen, of below medium height but superbly balanced and immensely strong in the forearm and wrist. He also had great powers of concentration, enormous self-discipline with a tenacity to match. Dismissing John Edrich at any time between 1959 and 1978 made any bowler’s day.

In style John Edrich was powerful when playing off his toes, good with the late cut and a vigorous driver through cover. As an opener he only occasionally had the luxury of opening up his full armament but when he did he could do serious damage to a tiring attack: in his top score, 310 against New Zealand at Headingley in 1965, he hit five sixes, including some spectacular lofted straight drives, and 52 fours. In that same season, he hit a total of 49 sixes; few opening batsmen have hit the ball as hard or lofted it so often. He was always a safe, reliable fielder, often at gully.

John Edrich was unlucky with injuries, breaking the first finger of his left hand no less than four times in his career, which may have delayed his England selection – his first appearance coming against the West Indies in 1963. He arrived in a grand manner the following year by scoring 120 against Australia in his first Test at Lord’s, the first of his seven centuries against the oldest foe.

He and Geoffrey Boycott might have become one of the great Test opening partnerships for in technique and talent they could match Hobbs and Sutcliffe or Greenidge and Haynes but Boycott’s self-imposed exile from the England team – he missed 30 Tests in the mid-1970s – and temperamental differences prevented the making of history. While “Edie” was not given to telling tales in public, his account of “Batting with Boycott”, as a private party piece, was a hilarious experience.

Ironically both players reached their 100th century in the same year, 1977, and, typically, Boycott’s arrived with a worldwide fuss, made against Australia at Headingley; Edrich’s came on a quiet day at the Oval, against Derbyshire. He always looked a player very happy with his lot, serene and satisfied.

One of Edrich’s greatest moments came in the third Test of the 1976 series against West Indies, played at Old Trafford. England, dismissed for 71 in the first innings, were faced with a target of 552 to win when they began their second innings with 80 minutes to the close of the third day.

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Edrich was partnered by another left-hander, the 45-year-old Brian Close and the pair faced one of the most intimidating barrages in cricket’s history, from Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Wayne Daniel. The umpires, Lloyd Budd and Bill Alley, came in for a storm of criticism. West Indies captain Clive Lloyd conceded later that “our fellows got carried away” and two very bruised and battered England openers, unbeaten at the close, 21-0, were national heroes. Close’s right side, photographed in every newspaper, was dotted with plum-coloured swellings and Edrich is reported to have taken one glance at his partner, when stripped in the dressing room, and collapsed with laughter, calling, “All that Closey, and you’re one not out.”

Surrey appointed Edrich captain from 1973 to 1977, although the only honour was the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1974. He retired from Surrey in 1978, a year after being awarded an MBE. He was briefly an England selector in 1981. England coach Ray Illingworth, who had the highest opinion of Edrich, engaged him as a batting coach for the national team.

He could appear a reserved, rather shy man, but he had much quiet charm and made friends very easily, keeping them forever.

John Hugh Edrich, cricketer, born 21 June 1937, died 23 December 2020