It was typical of Mike Edwards that his final appearance at The Kia Oval should be devoted to others.
When Surrey were finally able to pay tribute in November 2021 to greats John Edrich and Robin Jackman – they had died within a day of each other almost 11 months earlier only for the pandemic to constantly delay commemorations – there were a number of tributes from former colleagues and members.
None were warmer than from Edwards, making a rare appearance at his old home ground, given he was effectively housebound by then, living with one of his three sons.
“The knees have gone. Too much ducking when [Pat] Pocock was bowling,” was his typically sardonic explanation.
His contribution, as both player and then administrator, has been enormous, former team-mate Roger Harman noting: “Mike’s done a huge amount for Surrey cricket over many years and much of it was unheralded.”
Having attended Alleyn’s School and then studied at Cambridge University – making his first-class debut for Surrey in 1961 while still a student – it took until 1966 for Edwards to establish himself in the county side. His break came when he moved up to open, striking a profitable alliance with Edrich which would see them enjoy 17 partnerships of 100 or more over the following seasons.
In that 1966 season Edwards scored both his maiden first-class century and passed 1,000 in a summer for the first time.
A steady – sometimes dogged – right-hander, Edwards had another component to his game as an agile and brave close fielder. That came to the fore in 1967 when he snapped up 53 catches, a fine feat for a non-wicketkeeper, spending part of the following winter on a Commonwealth Tour of Pakistan.
That gave him the opportunity to play under former Australian skipper Richie Benaud and years later he recalled an incident during the series: “Benaud was brilliant in the way he picked up things so quickly. He noticed that one of the Pakistani batsmen wasn’t scoring on the offside, so he steadily moved all the fielders onto the legside. The batsman still couldn’t get a run, even though there were no fielders there. He ended up in such a state that he got himself out.”
An established member of Micky Stewart’s developing side, Edwards would pass 1000 for the season on five occasions, although by the time the County Championship was won in 1971 his form was beginning to wane. Despite a modest revival in 1973, he retired after the following summer.
Edwards had never been anyone’s idea of an average cricketer. He had been highly active in the Cricketers Association – which became the PCA – first as treasurer (1968-70) and then as chairman. That ended in 1973 when he resigned on a matter of principle, following a vote by members to accept a donation from South Africa. Never one to hide his left-of-centre views, he maintained that the PCA “is the only union where the workers are more right wing than the employers”.
Like many of his generation, Edwards could not live on proceeds of the game and established himself as teacher at Tulse Hill School, where he became head of economics, took charge of the sixth form and rose to deputy Head..
But his close involvement with cricket remained, taking charge of the Surrey Young Cricketers (U19) in a highly profitable partnership with David Fletcher, a doyen of the buccaneering 1950s county side. Much of the county side which won three County Championships from 1999-2002 plus sundry limited overs titles would develop through that YCs team.
And he returned to the game full time when he was appointed as Surrey’s cricket development officer in 1990, later director of cricket development, organising coaching in hundreds of schools around the county with a small team, also playing a role in the ECB’s working party on racial equality.
While running the YCs he spotted Adam Hollioake’s leadership potential, making him captain, while the Edwards humour and outlook on life were never far from the surface.
He was a master at fending off the attentions of pushy parents, giving particularly short shrift to one who called him at home late one evening wanting to debate the batting order. And walking around the boundary one day during a tense finish he delivered the following verdict.
“You know what we need now?”
A bowling change sprang to mind.
“An incomes policy.”
Two seasons in the mid-1990s as the overall director of cricket, his responsibilities extended to include first-class cricket, were a less happy experience at a difficult time in Surrey’s history. He was relieved to be able to concentrate on development, supervising the increasing activities of the Surrey Cricket Board (now the Foundation) in overseeing recreational and development around the county.
Before retiring – which was brought forward by ill health – he was able to write in Surrey’s 2002 yearbook: “The range and depth of cricket activity in the county and the steady flow of talented players into the first-class game reflects the hard work and energy of very many volunteers, coaches, teachers and parents and this will ensure that Surrey remain at the top of the cricket tree.”
We’re reflecting on the career of Mike Edwards as part of our Cricket in Retirement campaign.
Throughout the campaign we want to show how the community of cricket can be of benefit as people leave the world of work and enter their retirement years.
We don’t want to limit those stories to former professional players though, so if you, or anyone you know, has a story you would like to tell, or would like to simply share your experiences of the positive impact cricket has had in your retirement years, please email retirement@surreycricket.com with your name, age and a bit about why cricket is such an important part of your life.
To read more about the campaign click here
