brbr571 first-class matches from 1934 to 1958. 36,985 runs. 29th on all-time lists. 86 centuries. 479 wickets. Bill Edrich was one of the biggest cricket stars of his time along with Denis Compton and Len Hutton. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1940 and played association football for Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur during the 1930s.brbrIn the first biography for 30 years, award-winning writer Leo McKinstry recounts Edrich's audacity both as a cricketer and RAF pilot. Edrich's flying prowess won him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and a promotion to Squadron Leader after his part in a courageous daylight raid over Cologne in August 1941.brbrAfter the war, Edrich's life took a few wrong turns as he married an impressive five times and repeatedly clashed with the cricket hierarchy. As a consequence, he was left out of the tour of Australia in 1950'51 which ended up costing the team greatly. Edrich redeed himself a few years later as he drove the victory home in the 1953 Ashes and helped to bring back the trophy in his last tour of Australia in 1954'55.brbrA history of cricket victories, explosive controversies, wartime glory and a life lived to the fullest, this compelling biography reveals the story of one of cricketing's greatest characters.p