History of Bucks CCC

was a left-arm bowler, converted from pace to spin, who was to become a legend of the minor counties game. Edwards had started with Surrey and had opposed Bucks in the second of their matches against that county’s Second Eleven in 1908, though without bowling a ball! The next year he played a fuller part, though it was his colleagues that routed Bucks. His career at Surrey was stuttering and after the 1911 season it came to an end as the county sought to make economies and dispensed with his services and those of EHD Sewell, who had been their coach. That autumn, through the offices of Sewell, Edwards was in discussion with Bucks and soon began a period of qualification. He took up residence in Slough and spent his winter working at Stoke Poges Golf Club. In the summer he tended the ground at Marlow Cricket Club, playing when required for the club, for Slough and in Bucks Club and Ground fixtures. The county minutes record that Edwards was to be offered ‘£3 and no expenses per county match, and half a guinea with expenses for Club and Ground matches.’ There is a further reference to a three-cornered agreement between Marlow Cricket Club and the County Club to secure Edwards’ services for Bucks, an agreement which Marlow was later felt to have repudiated and which led to solicitors being consulted. The Marlow Club was subsequently requested to make a contribution to the legal costs. Meanwhile Edwards had been obliged to write in for money that was owing to him. It was not a promising start, but Edwards was still able to take the field for the county for the first time on 16 July 1914. His first two matches, which brought him just three wickets at a cost of 50 each, gave little indication of what lay in store. 39 EHD Sewell brings hope