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Phil Edmonds
Philippe-Henri Edmonds (born 8 March 1951) is a former cricketer who represented England at international level and Middlesex at county level. After retiring he became a successful, albeit controversial, corporate executive. He was a part of the English squad which finished as runners-up at the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
Edmonds played most of his cricket as a lower-order right-handed batsman, and bowled slow left-arm orthodox spin. Possessing a textbook action and a pace bowler's temperament – he was known to bowl the odd bouncer when riled – he was also able to use his height (standing over six feet tall) to flight the ball above the batsman's eye line. Edmonds was renowned as one of the most entertaining and colourful characters in the game, whose mood could range from abrasive to charming, and remained a strong-minded and free-spirited individual throughout his career.
Edmonds was born in Lusaka. His father was a British businessman and his mother was from Belgium. Whilst living in Lusaka he was educated at Gilbert Rennie High School, which in his biography he later said had magnificent academic and sporting facilities. He moved to England in 1966 and completed his secondary education at the Skinners' School and then Cranbrook School in Kent before enrolling at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, as a student of land economy.
Edmonds made his first-class debut for Cambridge University against Warwickshire on 24 April 1971. He opened the batting, making 10 and 3, and bowled without success as Warwickshire won by 109 runs. However, in the following match, against Leicestershire, he recorded his first 5-wicket haul in an innings, taking 5/50, and backed this up with 4/48 in the second innings to help Cambridge University to a seven-wicket win. After taking 7/56 in the first innings of the annual University Match against Oxford University, finishing the match with his first 10-wicket haul in a first-class match, Edmonds made his debut for Middlesex in a thrilling match against Essex at Lord's Cricket Ground on 4 August. He bowled solidly, returning figures of 2/51 and 3/42, and was the last batsman in with Middlesex still needing 16 runs off the final two overs to win. In the end, Middlesex ran out of time and had to defend the final ball to escape with a draw, which they managed.
Edmonds made his debut for England in the third Test of the 1975 Ashes series at Headingley. Defending a first innings of 288, England managed to dismiss Australia for 135, with Edmonds taking a stunning 5/28. His first Test wicket was Greg Chappell, caught by Derek Underwood, and then he trapped Ross Edwards in front next ball to be on a hat-trick. However, the match had to be abandoned after vandals ruined the pitch, and the result was declared a draw.
At county level, Edmonds' Middlesex career coincided with that of John Emburey. The left- and right-arm spin combination was a powerful contribution towards Middlesex's success in the 1980s. They also combined at England level, although the pair often competed for the same place in the Test team.
After playing for Eastern Province in the Currie Cup competition during the 1975–76 season, Edmonds returned to England and straight into the English county season. Although Edmonds was more renowned for his exploits with the ball, he could also deliver on occasion with the bat when needed. One such instance was the county match against Northamptonshire early in Middlesex's championship-winning 1976 season. In the second innings of that match, Middlesex appeared on the verge of losing by an innings when Edmonds came to the crease. He proceeded to bat aggressively but also sensibly, supported by Mike Gatting and Fred Titmus. By the time Edmonds was dismissed on 93 – at that time his highest first-class score – made in 90 minutes with 12 fours and four sixes, Middlesex had built a 136-run lead. He then took two catches to help hinder Northamptonshire's run chase, turning what earlier looked like a sizeable defeat into a draw. Edmonds went further with the bat later that season in a match for T N Pearce's XI against the touring West Indies cricket team, recording his first first-class century, 103 not out. Edmonds also starred with the ball in this game in a rare defeat for the West Indies on this tour (although admittedly they had rested fast bowlers Andy Roberts and Michael Holding for the game), taking 9 for 98 in the match.
From his 1975 debut Test until his last one, against Pakistan in 1987, Edmonds only played 51 out of a possible 126 Tests for England. Whilst this could in part be attributed to playing form and the afore-mentioned competition for the spinner spot with his Middlesex teammate John Emburey, his confrontational and outspoken nature also meant that he did not always convey a good impression to the national selectors. During England's 1984–85 tour of India, England were playing India in Calcutta, and the hosts played at a snail's pace towards an inevitable draw. Edmonds, fielding at square leg, produced a copy of The Daily Telegraph and proceeded to read. He contributed more significantly in this Test series however by taking 14 wickets as England surprisingly beat India, also taking 15 wickets in each of two series against Australia as England regained the Ashes in 1985 and retained them in 1986–87.
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Phil Edmonds
Philippe-Henri Edmonds (born 8 March 1951) is a former cricketer who represented England at international level and Middlesex at county level. After retiring he became a successful, albeit controversial, corporate executive. He was a part of the English squad which finished as runners-up at the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
Edmonds played most of his cricket as a lower-order right-handed batsman, and bowled slow left-arm orthodox spin. Possessing a textbook action and a pace bowler's temperament – he was known to bowl the odd bouncer when riled – he was also able to use his height (standing over six feet tall) to flight the ball above the batsman's eye line. Edmonds was renowned as one of the most entertaining and colourful characters in the game, whose mood could range from abrasive to charming, and remained a strong-minded and free-spirited individual throughout his career.
Edmonds was born in Lusaka. His father was a British businessman and his mother was from Belgium. Whilst living in Lusaka he was educated at Gilbert Rennie High School, which in his biography he later said had magnificent academic and sporting facilities. He moved to England in 1966 and completed his secondary education at the Skinners' School and then Cranbrook School in Kent before enrolling at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, as a student of land economy.
Edmonds made his first-class debut for Cambridge University against Warwickshire on 24 April 1971. He opened the batting, making 10 and 3, and bowled without success as Warwickshire won by 109 runs. However, in the following match, against Leicestershire, he recorded his first 5-wicket haul in an innings, taking 5/50, and backed this up with 4/48 in the second innings to help Cambridge University to a seven-wicket win. After taking 7/56 in the first innings of the annual University Match against Oxford University, finishing the match with his first 10-wicket haul in a first-class match, Edmonds made his debut for Middlesex in a thrilling match against Essex at Lord's Cricket Ground on 4 August. He bowled solidly, returning figures of 2/51 and 3/42, and was the last batsman in with Middlesex still needing 16 runs off the final two overs to win. In the end, Middlesex ran out of time and had to defend the final ball to escape with a draw, which they managed.
Edmonds made his debut for England in the third Test of the 1975 Ashes series at Headingley. Defending a first innings of 288, England managed to dismiss Australia for 135, with Edmonds taking a stunning 5/28. His first Test wicket was Greg Chappell, caught by Derek Underwood, and then he trapped Ross Edwards in front next ball to be on a hat-trick. However, the match had to be abandoned after vandals ruined the pitch, and the result was declared a draw.
At county level, Edmonds' Middlesex career coincided with that of John Emburey. The left- and right-arm spin combination was a powerful contribution towards Middlesex's success in the 1980s. They also combined at England level, although the pair often competed for the same place in the Test team.
After playing for Eastern Province in the Currie Cup competition during the 1975–76 season, Edmonds returned to England and straight into the English county season. Although Edmonds was more renowned for his exploits with the ball, he could also deliver on occasion with the bat when needed. One such instance was the county match against Northamptonshire early in Middlesex's championship-winning 1976 season. In the second innings of that match, Middlesex appeared on the verge of losing by an innings when Edmonds came to the crease. He proceeded to bat aggressively but also sensibly, supported by Mike Gatting and Fred Titmus. By the time Edmonds was dismissed on 93 – at that time his highest first-class score – made in 90 minutes with 12 fours and four sixes, Middlesex had built a 136-run lead. He then took two catches to help hinder Northamptonshire's run chase, turning what earlier looked like a sizeable defeat into a draw. Edmonds went further with the bat later that season in a match for T N Pearce's XI against the touring West Indies cricket team, recording his first first-class century, 103 not out. Edmonds also starred with the ball in this game in a rare defeat for the West Indies on this tour (although admittedly they had rested fast bowlers Andy Roberts and Michael Holding for the game), taking 9 for 98 in the match.
From his 1975 debut Test until his last one, against Pakistan in 1987, Edmonds only played 51 out of a possible 126 Tests for England. Whilst this could in part be attributed to playing form and the afore-mentioned competition for the spinner spot with his Middlesex teammate John Emburey, his confrontational and outspoken nature also meant that he did not always convey a good impression to the national selectors. During England's 1984–85 tour of India, England were playing India in Calcutta, and the hosts played at a snail's pace towards an inevitable draw. Edmonds, fielding at square leg, produced a copy of The Daily Telegraph and proceeded to read. He contributed more significantly in this Test series however by taking 14 wickets as England surprisingly beat India, also taking 15 wickets in each of two series against Australia as England regained the Ashes in 1985 and retained them in 1986–87.
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