Edwin Evans (cricketer)

Edwin "Ted" Evans (26 March 1849 – 2 July 1921) was an Australian cricketer who played in six Test matches between 1881 and 1886.

Edwin Evans

Personal information
Born	(1849-03-26)26 March 1849 Emu Plains, Colony Of New South Wales, Australia
Died	2 July 1921(1921-07-02) (aged 72) Walgett, New South Wales, Australia
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm slow
International information
National side	Australia (1881–1886)
Test debut (cap 26)	31 December 1881 v England
Last Test	12 August 1886 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1874/75–1887/88	New South Wales
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 6 65 Runs scored 82 1,006 Batting average 10.25 12.26 100s/50s 0/0 0/2 Top score 33 74* Balls bowled 1237 11,603 Wickets 7 201 Bowling average 47.42 16.69 5 wickets in innings 0 18 10 wickets in match 0 4 Best bowling 3/64 7/16 Catches/stumpings 5/– 61/–
Source: CricketArchive, 12 October 2022

Born in Emu Plains, New South Wales, and educated at Newington College in Sydney from 1865 to 1866,^[1] Evans was an off spinner with an ability to consistently land the ball wherever he wanted to. He was successful for New South Wales in first-class cricket from 1875 to 1887. He toured England and New Zealand with the Australian team in 1886. His best first-class bowling figures were 7 for 16 when New South Wales dismissed Victoria for 34 in December 1875.^[2]

In 1900, Tom Horan as "Felix" wrote in The Australasian: "Alfred Shaw used always refer to Ted Evans as the 'most genuine cricketer' he'd ever met...Lord Harris's comment in 1878 was that he had never played against a finer bowler than Evans. As a fieldsman he was magnificent, and in batting he proved a hard nut to crack, his defence being admirable."^[3] Evans was noted as having "a beautiful delivery, quick rise from the pitch, and in the words of Lord Harris 'an accuracy worthy of Alfred Shaw'".^[4] However, when called up for the national team his accuracy deserted him, and he failed to make a serious impact.

After a career as a farmer, kangaroo shooter, and inspector of free selections, Evans died in Walgett, New South Wales, in 1921, aged 72.^[5] He was married twice, and had 16 children.^[6]