Alec Bedser

Sir
Alec Bedser
Bedser (right) with his twin brother Eric in 1946
Personal information
Full name
Alec Victor Bedser
Born(1918-07-04)4 July 1918
Reading, Berkshire, England
Died4 April 2010(2010-04-04) (aged 91)
Woking, Surrey, England
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight arm medium-fast
RelationsEric Bedser (twin brother)
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 311)22 June 1946 v India
Last Test12 July 1955 v South Africa
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1939–1960Surrey
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 51 485
Runs scored 714 5,735
Batting average 12.75 14.51
100s/50s 0/1 1/13
Top score 79 126
Balls bowled 15,918 106,062
Wickets 236 1,924
Bowling average 24.89 20.41
5 wickets in innings 15 96
10 wickets in match 5 16
Best bowling 7/44 8/18
Catches/stumpings 26/– 289/–
Source: CricketArchive, 7 January 2009

Sir Alec Victor Bedser CBE (4 July 1918 – 4 April 2010) was an English professional cricketer, primarily a medium-fast bowler. He is widely regarded as one of the best English cricketers of the 20th century.

Bedser played first-class cricket for Surrey from 1939 to 1960 alongside his identical twin brother Eric. He took 1924 first-class wickets in 485 matches. He played Test cricket for England from 1946 to 1955, taking 236 wickets in 51 Test matches. He passed Clarrie Grimmett's world record for Test wickets in 1953. He held the record until his final tally was passed by Brian Statham in 1963.

After retirement as an active cricketer, Bedser became the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and was the president of Surrey County Cricket Club. He was knighted in the 1997 New Year Honours.