Edward Bastard

Edward Bastard

Personal information
Full name	Edward William Bastard
Born	(1862-02-28)28 February 1862 Wilton, Taunton, Somerset, England
Died	2 April 1901(1901-04-02) (aged 39) Taunton, Somerset, England
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Slow left-arm orthodox
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1882–1885	Oxford University
1883–1885	Somerset
First-class debut	22 June 1882 Oxford University v Marylebone Cricket Club
Last First-class	3 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 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.

Edward William Bastard was born in Wilton, a parish just outside Taunton, the second son of Henry Horlock Bastard. He was educated at Sherborne School, and played for the school cricket team. Although he was later known as a bowler, Bastard occasionally opened the batting for the school, as he did against Clifton College in 1881. During his time at Sherborne, he also played some games for Dorset.

On completion of his studies at Sherborne School, Bastard attended Wadham College, Oxford University. He played in the Freshmen's Trial in May 1882, and collected four wickets in each innings, conceding just 35 runs from his 29 overs. His side, LML Owen's XI won by 79 runs. He played in two matches against the university's first team during his freshman year, opening the bowling for both the Freshmen side and the "Next XVI". He made his debut in first-class cricket that June, appearing for the university against the Marylebone Cricket Club. He claimed one wicket during the match, in which the university lost by an innings. Bastard appeared three times in first-class cricket for the university in 1883, and according to Geoffrey Bolton, author of History of the O.U.C.C, "was lucky to be chosen this year" to play in the University match against Cambridge University. Bastard was wicketless against Lancashire, and although he took three wickets in each innings against the MCC, John Foord-Kelcey took more wickets at a better average. Nevertheless, Bastard was preferred for the contest against Cambridge, thus gaining his Blue. Bastard claimed a wicket in each innings of the match, which Cambridge won by seven wickets. Bolton attributes the loss to a combination of the weather and Oxford's loss of the toss, which resulted in Cambridge batting first on a good batting pitch. Rain followed, and when Oxford batted, the pitch was described by Bolton as "really nasty".