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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Edward Desmond Russell Eagar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 December 1917 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 13 September 1977 (aged 59) Kingsbridge, Devon, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Slow left-arm orthodox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1935–1939 | Gloucestershire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1938–1939 | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1946–1957 | Hampshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1952–1958 | Marylebone Cricket Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 13 August 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Edward Desmond Russell Eagar (8 December 1917 – 13 September 1977) was an English amateur first-class cricketer who played county cricket for Gloucestershire and Hampshire. Eagar debuted for Gloucestershire whilst still a schoolboy at Cheltenham College, before his matriculation to the University of Oxford, where he played first-class cricket for Oxford University Cricket Club. Following service in the Second World War with the South Wales Borderers, Eagar was appointed as captain and secretary of Hampshire in 1946. Eagar was instrumental, through organisation, captaincy and recruitment, in raising the county team from perennial also-rans to the point where, in the seasons after he retired from playing, it was runner-up and then, in 1961, the champions in the County Championship for the first time in its history. His career spanned from 1935 to 1958, encompassing 363 first-class matches. His 31 years as secretary of Hampshire made him the longest serving secretary in first-class cricket.
Following the end of his playing career, Eagar commentated on cricket matches for BBC Radio and Southern Television. He was an authority on cricket history and wrote extensively on the subject, contributing to several books. He spent fifteen years as the field hockey correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph, having played field hockey while at university.