Jock Edwards: Difference between revisions

'''Graham Neil Edwards''' (27 May 1955 – 6 April 2020)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=309358|title=One of New Zealand cricket's first big-hitting batsmen has died|website=NZCity|date=6 April 2020|accessdate=6 April 2020}}</ref> was a New Zealand [[cricket]]er. He played eight [[Test cricket|Test matches]] and six [[One Day International]]s for [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]].

Edwards was born in [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]], and attended [[Nelson College]].<ref>''Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006'', 6th edition</ref>

 

He was a short, stocky wicketkeeper who was a good enough batsman to make his Test debut against [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] in 1976–77 as a specialist. He was brought back in 1977–78 as a wicketkeeper-batsman and made 55 and 54 on his comeback against England at Auckland. That won him selection for the England tour in 1978 where his performances were disappointing – one member of the BBC commentary team said that Edwards was "the worst wicketkeeper I've ever seen ... he's made mistakes you'd have the 3rd XI 'keeper at school running round the pitch for".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lewis|first1=Paul|title=Keeper decision is Wright|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10780224|publisher=NZ Herald|accessdate=19 October 2015}}</ref> But the genial Edwards kept his spirits up and was a popular tourist. He returned for three home Tests against India in 1980–81 where he chipped in with useful runs, but the emergence of [[Ian Smith (New Zealand cricketer)|Ian Smith]] signalled the end of his international career.

 

Edwards played [[first-class cricket|first-class]] and [[List A cricket]] for [[Central Districts cricket team|Central Districts]] from 1973–74 to 1984–85. His highest first-class score was 177 [[not out]] against [[Wellington cricket team|Wellington]] in 1980–81, which was also his most successful season, with 812 runs at an average of 47.76.<ref>{{cite web |title=Central Districts v Wellington 1980–81 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/40/40900.html |website=CricketArchive |accessdate=8 April 2020}}</ref> He was also a prominent player in the [[Hawke Cup]] for [[Nelson cricket team|Nelson]] for many years, scoring 236 against North Canterbury in his last match, including six sixes and 29 fours.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pine |first1=Jason |title=Remembering Nelson cricket legend Jock Edwards |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12323240 |accessdate=8 April 2020 |work=NZ Herald |date=7 April 2020}}</ref>

 

After retiring from cricket he ran a pub in [[Murchison, New Zealand|Murchison]], then worked as a gate-keeper at [[Port Nelson, New Zealand|Port Nelson]]. He had several minor heart attacks before undergoing surgery for a [[Coronary artery bypass surgery|triple bypass]] in 2007. He died on 6 April 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Millmow |first1=Jonathan |title=Edwards has problems but few regrets |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/9488143/Edwards-has-problems-but-few-regrets |accessdate=8 April 2020 |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=7 December 2013}}</ref>  

==External links==

[[Category:New Zealand Test cricketers]]