BILL EDRICH

BILL EDRICH 
by Leo Mckinstry. 

Bill Edrich grew up in a cricket loving family. A most gifted player for one so young, he would finish top scorer in his first ever match for his home county of Norfolk against non other than India's touring side. He was just sixteen-years-old at the time.
Bill was also a talented footballer who would eventually play for Tottenham Hotspur during the winter months. Yet it would always be his cricketing career, playing for both Middlesex & England, that he would be most remembered for.

Unfortunately for one so talented, his troubled personal life would often restrict both his England career & any chance of becoming his country's captain.
Though decades before the infamous Irishman, there are clearly similarities to that of the footballer, George Best. All night partying & drinking & a need for female company lead to many negative headlines & marriage break-ups. Even in his twilight cricketing years, when he returned to captain Norfolk, the younger players struggled to keep up with him at social gatherings.

In between all this he served as a pilot in Bomber Command, showing tremendous leadership & bravery on operations, which lead to both promotions & commendations.
His war would end sooner than expected as he was deemed 'unfit to fly'. It is not known what the reasons for this were, but the stresses of the operations taking their toll, can not be ruled out. 
Living each day as your last in wartime seemed to go far beyond the second world war, for Bill.

Bill was a talented sportsman who received so much praise for his sporting achievements. When facing the most hostile bowling, he would show such calmness & determination in equal measure. Yet off the pitch he would prove to be quite reckless on occasions.
In the end it was too much for many of his wives, as well as for the England cricket selectors.
A life certainly well lived, but so much of it wasted away. 

It is easy to appear bias when it comes to Leo McKinstry's books. I have six others on my shelves. Yet I started with raised expectations and I'm pleased to report that I certainly wasn't disappointed. 
Bill's story is a truly fascinating tale. The narrative moves at a pace & often told with great humour. With Mr Mckinstry at the helm, it was definitely in a safe pair of gloves. 🏏

The hardback edition is available now, published by Bloomsbury Sport.
I thank Bloomsbury for this review copy.

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