Bill Edrich

The Many Lives of England's Cricket Great

Leo McKinstry

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Hardback

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English

Bloomsbury Sport
18 July 2024

Biography: sport; Cricket

CRICKET LEGEND. WARTIME HERO. FOOTBALL STAR. WILD MAN.

'A triumph. Leo McKinstry superbly draws together the many strands of a fascinating but flawed figure' – LAWRENCE BOOTH, WISDEN

'Bill Edrich shines through these pages. A wonderful book that needed to be written' – HENRY BLOFELD, OBE

'McKinstry’s biography will fascinate cricket lovers' – THE TIMES

Bill Edrich's story is one of cricket victories, explosive controversies, wartime glory and a life lived to the fullest.

571 first-class matches from 1934 to 1958. 36,965 runs. 29th on all-time lists. 86 centuries. 479 wickets. Bill Edrich was one of the biggest cricket stars of his time along with Denis Compton and Len Hutton. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1940 and played football for Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur during the 1930s.

In the first biography for 30 years, award-winning writer Leo McKinstry recounts Edrich's audacity both as a cricketer and an RAF pilot. Edrich’s flying prowess brought him a promotion to Squadron Leader and won him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) after his part in a courageous daylight raid over Cologne in August 1941.

The same action-filled intensity applied to his turbulent private life. A man of keen amorous enthusiasms, he was married five times but rarely allowed his ardour to be inhibited by any wedding vows. Equally unrestrained was his fondness for alcohol and partying, though this trait brought him into conflict with both the cricket and the judicial authorities. After one particularly exuberant display of intoxication during a home Test match, he even lost his place in the England team, only to return for the famous Ashes triumph of 1953.

A history of cricket victories, explosive controversies, wartime glory and a life lived to the fullest, this compelling biography reveals the story of one of cricketing’s greatest characters.

By: Leo McKinstry
Imprint: Bloomsbury Sport
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781399407847
ISBN 10: 1399407848
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 18 July 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction 1. Crossing the Rope: 1932–1934 2. All-rounder: 1934–1937 3. Testing Times: 1938–1939 4. The Shadow of War: 1939–1941 5. Combat Operations: 1941-1945 6. Victory: 1945–1947 7. Triumph and Collapse: 1947–1948 8. Legendary Charm: 1948–1950 9. Test Exile: 1951–1953 10. Trials and Tribulations: 1954–1958 11. On the Back Foot: 1959–1963 12. Fading Light: 1963–1971 13. Close of Play: 1971–1986 Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

Leo McKinstry writes for the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph and The Sun and has been a columnist and feature writer for the Daily Express for the last 19 years. McKinstry has also produced major biographies of two great batsmen, Geoff Boycott and Jack Hobbs. Among his other books are award-winning biographies of the footballing brothers Jack and Bobby Charlton and the World Cup-winning manager Sir Alf Ramsey.

Reviews for Bill Edrich: The Many Lives of England's Cricket Great

A fascinating story… Great research, beautifully written and I loved it. -- Sir Geoffrey Boycott Bill Edrich shines through these pages… a wonderful book that needed to be written -- Henry Blofeld, former 'Test Match Special' commentator It's Bill Edrich to a T. An excellent book, no doubt about that. -- Dickie Bird, English former cricketer and international cricket umpire What an extraordinary life. What an extraordinary man. In Leo McKinstry, Edrich has the biographer his remarkable story deserves. -- Richard Whitehead, former deputy books editor, 'The Times' A triumph. Leo McKinstry superbly draws together the many strands of a fascinating but flawed figure. -- Lawrence Booth, 'Wisden Cricketers' Almanack' editor