John Edrich came from a famous cricketing family, but had to make his own way in the game. In 1966 his efforts for Surrey and England saw him named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
With more than a hundred first-class centuries, Edrich more than lived up to his early promise. He played in 77 Tests, making 5,138 runs at 43.54.
Among the pioneers of enterprising batsmanship during the past decade, the name of John Edrich, the solid, diminutive Surrey left-hander, stands high. He loves to hit the ball. A firm in St. Neots makes his bats which his county colleagues call “The Brown Bombers” because they were recommended by Tony Brown, of Beddington. A product of the famous family of Norfolk cricketers, John is a young cousin of William John Edrich, whose stirring deeds for Middlesex and England will always be associated with his illustrious partner, Denis Compton.
John Hugh Edrich was born at Blofield, near Norwich, on June 21, 1937, and in due course became the fifth member of the family to appear in county cricket. He learned his cricket at his home on a concrete pitch and says as far back as he can remember he always had a bat in his hand. His father first bowled to him when he was around the age of five. From the time he was eight until he was 17 he was educated at Bracondale School, Norwich. He was only 14 when he played for Blofield village on Saturdays and South Walsham on Sundays, for whom he hit his first hundreds. In those days he also kept wicket and at Easter attended the cricket coaching classes at Britannia Barracks, Norfolk, conducted by C.S.R Boswell, the Norfolk and former Essex player.
At one time captain of Norfolk colts, Edrich made his first step into bigger cricket in 1954 when he played for Norfolk in the Minor Counties competition and showed sufficient consistency to head their batting with an average of 34.28, top score 56.
Edrich has enjoyed many profitable opening partnerships for Surrey with his captain, M.J. Stewart – with whom it should be added he first played for England. Both study each other; if one is going well, the other will let him have the major share of bowling, or if one is in difficulty the other will do his utmost to shield him over a troublesome period. Sometimes, the left-hander, is better suited to deal with a certain type of bowler or vice-versa. Still, only 28, Edrich should remain a star for Surrey and England in the game to which he has dedicated his life.
