Desmond Eagar
Encyclopedia
Edward Desmond Russell Eagar (born 8 December 1917 in Cheltenham
, Gloucestershire
; died 13 September 1977 at Kingsbridge
, Devon
) was an English
cricketer
who as secretary and captain of Hampshire
was instrumental, through organisation, captaincy and recruitment, in raising the county team from perennial also-rans to the point where, in the seasons after he retired from playing, it was runner-up and then, in 1961, the champions in the County Championship
for the first time in its history. As a cricketer, he was a right-handed middle-order batsman who bowled occasional slow left-arm orthodox spin.
Eagar played for Gloucestershire
from 1935-1939. He briefly played for Oxford University
from 1938-1939. During the Second World War no first-class cricket was played in England. It was therefore seven years before Eagar resumed his county career with Hampshire
, for whom he played for between 1946–1957, captaining the side for those eleven years.
Eagar retired from first-class at the end of the 1958 County Championship Season after playing for the Marylebone Cricket Club
. Eagar died in 1977 in Kingsbridge, Devon at the age of 59.
The cricket photographer Patrick Eagar is his son.
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
; died 13 September 1977 at Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is a market town and popular tourist hub in the South Hams district of Devon, England, with a population of about 5,800. It is situated at the northern end of the Kingsbridge Estuary, which is a textbook example of a ria and extends to the sea six miles south of the town.-History:The...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who as secretary and captain of Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
was instrumental, through organisation, captaincy and recruitment, in raising the county team from perennial also-rans to the point where, in the seasons after he retired from playing, it was runner-up and then, in 1961, the champions in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
for the first time in its history. As a cricketer, he was a right-handed middle-order batsman who bowled occasional slow left-arm orthodox spin.
Eagar played for Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
from 1935-1939. He briefly played for Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
from 1938-1939. During the Second World War no first-class cricket was played in England. It was therefore seven years before Eagar resumed his county career with Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
, for whom he played for between 1946–1957, captaining the side for those eleven years.
Eagar retired from first-class at the end of the 1958 County Championship Season after playing for the Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
. Eagar died in 1977 in Kingsbridge, Devon at the age of 59.
The cricket photographer Patrick Eagar is his son.
External links
- Desmond Eagar at Cricinfo
- Desmond Eagar at CricketArchive