Eric Bedser
Template:Infobox Historic Cricketer
Eric Arthur Bedser (July 4, 1918 - May 24, 2006) was a former cricket player for Surrey County Cricket Club, and is the identical twin brother of Alec, widely regarded as one of England's top bowlers of the 20th century.
Bedser was an all-rounder, a useful right-handed batsman and right-arm off-spin bowler.
He was born in Reading, Berkshire just minutes before his brother. Throughout their life they were regarded as 'inseparable', and together began playing cricket together at age seven for local school sides and Woking Cricket Club.
The twins were spotted by Surrey coach Alan Peach in 1938 and joined the Surrey county squad staff at The Oval, making their first-class debuts together the following year. The pair were called up for duty with the Royal Air Force in 1939 and served variously throughout the war, both being demobilised in 1946.
There is a famous story that when Eric and Alec were first selected for Surrey, they agreed they couldn't both be fast bowlers, as at that time they were. A flip of the coin saw Alec win the toss, and Eric consequently took up off-spin bowling, for which he became very adept in a Surrey county team that was dominated by famous spinners such as Jim Laker and Tony Lock. [1]
Bedser enjoyed a successful first-class career, although he was never called into the England national team, and so his record will always be lacking when compared with Alec's, who played in 51 Test matches.
In a first-class career that lasted twenty-three years, Bedser played in 457 matches for Surrey, scoring 14,716 runs at the useful batting average of 24.00, and taking 833 wickets at the good bowling average of 24.95.
After retiring from playing cricket he went into business with his brother, co-operating a successful stationery firm among other business interests.