The Greatest Teams

Eddie Paynter      

Full name Edward Paynter

Born November 5, 1901, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire

Died February 5, 1979, Keighley, Yorkshire (aged 77 years 92 days)

Major teams England, Lancashire

Batting style Left-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm medium

Edward Paynter
Batting and fielding averages
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 6s Ct St
Tests Insights on test 20 31 5 1540 243 59.23 4 7 4 7 0
First-class 352 533 58 20075 322 42.26 45 95 160 0
Bowling averages
Tests Insights on test 20 - - - - - - - - - - - -
First-class 352 3105 1371 30 3/13 45.70 2.64 103.5 0 0
Career statistics
Test debut England v New Zealand at Manchester, Aug 15-18, 1931 scorecard
Last Test England v West Indies at Manchester, Jul 22-25, 1939 scorecard
Test statistics
First-class span 1926 - 1945

Wisden Obituary
Eddie Paynter, who died at Keighley on February 5 aged 77, was a left-handed batsman who averaged 84.42 for his seven Tests against Australia, a figure which no other Englishman can approach. This in itself would entitle him to a place among the great, but his figures become even more remarkable if his innings are analysed. In three of these matches he came to the rescue at a grave crisis. On the first occasion, the third Test in 1932-33, he came in at 186 for 5, not a good score by the standards of Tests in Australia in those days, and made 77, adding 96 with Verity for the eighth wicket. In the fourth Test at Brisbane, he was taken to hospital with tonsillitis and doubtless, had all gone well with England, would not have batted. But all did not go well, and at 216 for 6 he emerged from the pavilion, refused Woodfull's offer of a runner, was still there at the close, and returned to bed in hospital. Next morning, he was not out until he had scored 83 in nearly four hours. On this occasion he and Verity put on 92 for the ninth wicket. Normally quick on his feet and a fine driver, he had conserved energy by waiting for opportunities to hit the ball to leg, preferably to the boundary. Few innings in history have so captivated the imagination of the public. Moreover, Paynter insisted on fielding for a couple of hours before retiring and then, as if to show that he was none the worse, in a brief second innings he finished the match with a 6.

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Eddie Paynter

Eddie Paynter

© The Cricketer International

Mar 13, 1939

Eddie Paynter pulls through midwicket on his way to a second-innings 75, South Africa v England, 5th Test, Durban, March 13, 1939

Eddie Paynter pulls through midwicket

© ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Mar 1939


The MCC team which toured South Africa unbeaten in 1938-39

© Wisden Cricket Monthly


Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1938