Alec Bedser

[Matt79]

RIP - a great gent of the game by all accounts, and from what you read probably the only bowler who could honestly say he came out ahead or at least even with Bradman. The best exponent of medium pace ever?

 

[wpdavid]

RIP - a great gent of the game by all accounts, and from what you read probably the only bowler who could honestly say he came out ahead or at least even with Bradman. The best exponent of medium pace ever?

Cue Bedser vs Barnes thread

An absolute great of the English game. Goodness knows what his final figures would have been if WW2 hadn't delayed his test debut until he was 28 (I think!).

He was chairman of selectors when I first watched the game. It can't have been a role he found easy - the culture of the game and the guys who played it were unrecognisable from his days as a player. Plus he was faced with having to find a decent side from the steadily declining standards of players available.

91's a good knock by any standards, but it's still sad to lose one of our few remaining contacts with an era that we'll never see again.

 

[Zinzan]

Anyone have any clue as to why his twin-bro Eric never played a test, seems peculiar looking at his record as an all-rounder

Eric Bedser | Cricket Players and Officials | Cricinfo.com

 

[archie mac]

Anyone have any clue as to why his twin-bro Eric never played a test, seems peculiar looking at his record as an all-rounder

Eric Bedser | Cricket Players and Officials | Cricinfo.com

The story goes that they both bowled medium fast, but decided that they could not both play for Surrey with the same style, so they tossed a coin and one bowled spin. With Laker, Lock, Wardle ect around only Alec played Test cricket

Also Tate would have been close to being the greatest medium pacer of them all

 

[fredfertang]

Anyone have any clue as to why his twin-bro Eric never played a test, seems peculiar looking at his record as an all-rounder

Eric Bedser | Cricket Players and Officials | Cricinfo.com

Eric played second fiddle to Jim Laker at Surrey and, unlike today, England had a few other decent spinners too - I don't think, though I may be wrong, that Eric even got a Test trial - he never toured with England either as part of the touring side although he travelled with them in 50/51 and did play occaionally in the minor matches

 

[G.I.Joe]

The story goes that they both bowled medium fast, but decided that they could not both play for Surrey with the same style, so they tossed a coin and one bowled spin. With Laker, Lock, Wardle ect around only Alec played Test cricket

Also Tate would have been close to being the greatest medium pacer of them all

That's so sad for Eric, tbh.

 

[The Sean]

RIP – great bowler, and from what I can tell a true gent as well. I know time stops for no one, but it does seem that we’re losing too many of these great old cricketers.

 

[zaremba]

Cue Bedser vs Barnes thread

Bedser v Barnes v Tate?
I'd love to see that actually. But now might not be the time for it.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

I don't think, though I may be wrong, that Eric even got a Test trial

He might have wished he didn't

I like this thread. "Bedser was really superfine, 14 wickets for 99"

Apparently he fell ill during the Ashes tour of 1954-55 too? Who knows etc...

 

[archie mac]

He might have wished he didn't

I like this thread. "Bedser was really superfine, 14 wickets for 99"

Apparently he fell ill during the Ashes tour of 1954-55 too? Who knows etc...

Shin splints from memory. It was a sad end to his career as Hutton went with Tyson and Bedser. It was the same fate that befell Tate in 1932-33 as Jardine went with Larwood and Voce

 

[The Sean]

Shin splints from memory. It was a sad end to his career as Hutton went with Tyson and Bedser. It was the same fate that befell Tate in 1932-33 as Jardine went with Larwood and Voce

Or Statham, perhaps?

 

[archie mac]

Or Statham, perhaps?

Well spotted

 

[Days of Grace]

Hey guys,

Here's some cool videos I found on Bedser:

YouTube - Lord Kitchener - Alec Bedser Calypso

YouTube - Sir Alec Bedser celebrates his 90th birthday

 

[vic_orthdox]

Rip.

 

[Craig]

One of my favourite stories of Sir Alec, is that he and Eric would be playing in a club/village match, and Alec would be bowling, and then half way through an over, Eric would walk up to him to have a chat, and then Alec would give Eric the ball, without telling the batsmen or the umpires that Eric would be bowling, and Eric would finish off the over. The umpire noted what skill it was of Alec to be bowling seam and then switch to spin mid over and bowl with considerable ability.

I'm not sure if their team was in on the prank or note. Sir Alec didn't say.