Mistletoe cure gave Ashes hero John Edrich new lease of life

HUW TURBERVILL: Edrich, one of England's most famous Ashes warriors, put his longevity down to a miracle cure

John Edrich, one of England’s most famous Ashes warriors, put his longevity down to a miracle cure.

Edrich, who has died aged 83, was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 60, and given seven years to live. Chemotherapy didn’t work. As a last resort he was put in touch with a Dr Geider near where he lived, in Aberdeen. He prescribed mistletoe therapy, in tablet form. Within three weeks he felt better.

The genial Edrich told me all about it when I met him at Reigate Heath Golf Club, where he retained membership, seven years ago, to preview the 2013 Ashes.

The left-hander was stocky, immensely determined, and knew his own game brilliantly, playing to his strengths – cutting and punching through midwicket. He won 77 Test caps, and is 22nd on England’s Test run-scorers with 5,138 at 43.54, scoring 12 centuries. His record against the Australians was even better, though: 32 Tests were against them, with seven centuries and an average of 48, and in Australia he averaged 55.

Fifty winters ago he scored two centuries and averaged 77 in the Tests, and his superb partnership with Sir Geoff Boycott was fundamental to England’s 2-0 series victory under Ray Illingworth.

His Ashes debut came in 1964, although it was postponed by a Test as he stood on the ball at Trent Bridge. He missed the match – shades of Glenn McGrath in 2005 – but returned in the next to score 120 at Lord’s. “It was just one of those days when everything went right for me,” he told me. “It was shortly after the Queen arrived – it was thrilling.”

His achievements against Australia at The Oval in the final Test of the summer of 1968 were somewhat overshadowed. He made 164, putting on 121 with a certain Basil D’Oliveira, who made 158. “I recall telling him in our stand that if he scored a century he must have a chance of going on the tour [to his native South Africa].” Alas Edrich was proved wrong – initially at least. “Basil was incredibly hard done by.” When he finally was selected as a replacement, the furious South African government cancelled the tour.

Later his bravery against West Indies in the summer of 1976 – opening famously with Brian Close – was admirable.

He was born in Blofeld, Norfolk, part of a famous cricketing family (he retained a hint of the accent when we met). After a superb career with Surrey he moved to Jersey, and then to near Balmoral, where for three seasons he coached Aberdeenshire.

He became an England selector and then batting coach between 1993—97. Fellow Southpaw Jack Russell was a doting pupil: “How long can you coach me?” he asked.

Edrich was not a fan of the bullish mantra that had gripped Test batsmen: Tests last five days, he believed, so use them.

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