Geoffrey Arthur Edrich was born in Lingwood, Norfolk, on 13 July 1918. He was an English cricketer who played 339 first-class matches for Lancashire between 1946 and 1958 as a right-handed batsman. Before his first-class career, he had played minor counties cricket for Norfolk (1937-1939), and after his first-class retirement he returned to the minor counties, this time playing for Cumberland (1960-1962).[1] Whilst at Cumberland, he was also professional for Workington, the Cumbrian club appearing in the North Lancashire League.[2]
He captained Lancashire to a win over Leicestershire at Old Trafford in 1956 in a match in which his team did not lose a single wicket, the first time this had happened. Leicestershire were bowled out for 108 and 122, and Lancashire (166 for 0 dec and 66 for 0) won by ten wickets. Geoff Edrich was listed at no. 3 in the batting order so didn't get to bat.
Geoff Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Bill, and also his cousin, John Edrich, all played first-class cricket. Though, unlike his brother Bill and cousin John, Geoff Edrich never played for England, he toured India in 1953/54 with a Commonwealth squad.[3]
Sergeant Geoff Edrich survived three years' captivity in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, during the Second World War, including a stint on the infamous Burma Railway.
He died on 2 January 2004, aged 85.