Edward English

Edward Apsey English (1 January 1864 – 5 September 1966) was an English cricketer. English was a right-handed batsman, although his bowling style is unknown. He was born at Dorking, Surrey.

English made his first-class debut for Hampshire against Lancashire at Old Trafford in the 1898 County Championship. English represented Hampshire in eighteen first-class matches from 1898 to 1901, his final appearance coming against Surrey at The Oval in the 1901 County Championship.[1] In his eighteen first-class matches, he scored 565 runs at an average of 18.83, with a highest score of 98 against Surrey in 1898,[2] which was one of two half-centuries he made in first-class cricket.[3]

After English's first-class career came to an end he continued to play club cricket until he was 65. His Wisden obituary states that at the age of 82 he hit a hole-in-one at Alton golf course, and continued to play the game until aged 91. At 93 he reached the final of the Alton Conservative Club snooker championship.[4]

English died at Higher Ball Farm, Tiverton, Devon, on 5 September 1966. At the time of his death he was the oldest surviving first-class cricketer. He is one of four Hampshire players known to have lived to the age of 100, the others being George Deane, Neil McCorkell and John Manners.[5]