E. W. Bastard

Edward Bastard
Personal information
Full name
Edward William Bastard
Born(1862-02-28)28 February 1862
Wilton, Taunton, Somerset, England
Died2 April 1901(1901-04-02) (aged 39)
Taunton, Somerset, England
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingSlow left-arm orthodox
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1882–1885Oxford University
1883–1885Somerset
First-class debut22 June 1882 Oxford University v Marylebone Cricket Club
Last First-class3 September 1885 Gentlemen v Players
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 37
Runs scored 278
Batting average 6.78
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 47
Balls bowled 7,075
Wickets 137
Bowling average 21.07
5 wickets in innings 8
10 wickets in match 2
Best bowling 8/54
Catches/stumpings 15/–
Source: CricketArchive, 22 April 2011

Edward William Bastard (28 February 1862 – 2 April 1901) was an English first-class cricketer who played for Oxford University and Somerset. Bastard was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, described in his Wisden obituary as Somerset's best bowler during his time with the club. Bastard was also part of the Oxford team often said to be the university's best ever.

His first-class career was confined to his university years, when he appeared for both Oxford and Somerset. Close to the top of the bowling averages for both teams in each season, his 62 first-class wickets in 1885 placed him among the 20 most prolific wicket-takers in the country. Somerset's temporary loss of first-class status in 1885 brought a premature end to Bastard's first-class career when he was 23. Although he continued to play for the side in second-class cricket until 1889, by the time Somerset resumed first-class cricket in 1891, Bastard had lost his place following the emergence of Sammy Woods and the acquisitions of Ted Tyler and George Nichols. He died at the age of 39 while engaged in scholastic work in Taunton.