Fred Ridgway
Encyclopedia
Frederick Ridgway is an English
former cricket
er, who played in five Tests
for England on the 1951/1952 tour of India
, where he and Brian Statham
shared the opening pace bowling duties.
er, Ridgway, although not appearing a likely successful pace bowler because of his slight build, was the mainstay of Kent's
opening attack for a decade after World War II
, except on the rare occasions that Jack Martin
could get away from business. Ridgway did not play regularly in 1946, but the following year he jumped into prominence with twelve for 86 on a rain-affected pitch against Yorkshire
.
Though 1948 was badly affected by injury, 1949 proved to be Ridgway's best year, for he took 105 wickets for 22.88 runs each, which ranked him as the fourth-best pace bowler in the country after Bedser
, Gladwin
and Les Jackson
. Ridgway's most notable performance was on the featherbed Trent Bridge
wicket, where he took six for 79 in the first innings, and paved the way for an easy Kent victory. Apart from teammate Doug Wright
in the second innings, no visiting bowler at Trent Bridge bettered those figures all year, but Ridgway's most notable feat that year was his striking consistency: with only one haul of eight or more in a match he still took ninety wickets in twenty county games. Moreover, playing against Sussex
, Ridgway "shared in a record partnership of 161 for the ninth wicket" with Brian Edrich
. This partnership, just under half the total of 379, was made in a losing cause.
Although Ridgway did not play in any of the Tests that year, he was regarded as a contender for honours but, in 1950, injury again took its toll. However, career-best figures of eight for 39, against Nottinghamshire
at the tail end of the season, was followed by an impressive 1951, where he took over ninety wickets and, with Alec Bedser
amongst others declining to tour India, Ridgway was a natural choice, and was one of seven players who made their Test debut that trip where he opened the bowling with Brian Statham
.
Despite not doing badly in the less important games, Ridgway was clearly out of his element in the harsh Indian conditions, and in the following years his bowling rapidly declined to the mediocre, typically totalling only around sixty-five wickets a season for over twenty-six runs each. However, with support at last coming from David Halfyard
, Ridgway improved in 1956 with eighty-two wickets and, two years later, had his second-highest aggregate with ninety-eight wickets for 14.26 runs apiece, lifting Kent to their highest County Championship
position since 1947.
Nonetheless, at the age of thirty-six, it was only to be expected that Ridgway's slight built would not be able to sustain long spells of pace bowling. Injuries that had already wiped out most of his 1955 season restricted him severely in 1959 and 1960, after which he retired from first-class cricket.
Ridgway now lives in retirement in Barming
, Maidstone
, Kent
.
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...
former cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er, who played in five Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
for England on the 1951/1952 tour of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he and Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
shared the opening pace bowling duties.
Life and career
As a county cricketCounty cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
er, Ridgway, although not appearing a likely successful pace bowler because of his slight build, was the mainstay of Kent's
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
opening attack for a decade after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, except on the rare occasions that Jack Martin
Jack Martin (cricketer)
Jack Martin was an English cricketer, who played in one Test in 1947, taking the single wicket of South African captain Alan Melville. In a fifteen year career, Martin turned in a meagre forty four first-class appearances, largely when his holidays allowed...
could get away from business. Ridgway did not play regularly in 1946, but the following year he jumped into prominence with twelve for 86 on a rain-affected pitch against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
.
Though 1948 was badly affected by injury, 1949 proved to be Ridgway's best year, for he took 105 wickets for 22.88 runs each, which ranked him as the fourth-best pace bowler in the country after Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
, Gladwin
Cliff Gladwin
Clifford Gladwin was an English cricketer, who played for Derbyshire from 1939 to 1958, and in eight Tests for England from 1947 to 1949...
and Les Jackson
Les Jackson
Les Jackson was an English cricketer. A fast or fast-medium bowler renowned for his accurate bowling and particular hostility on uncovered wickets, he played county cricket for Derbyshire from 1947 to 1963, and was regularly at, or near the top of, the English bowling averages...
. Ridgway's most notable performance was on the featherbed Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
wicket, where he took six for 79 in the first innings, and paved the way for an easy Kent victory. Apart from teammate Doug Wright
Doug Wright (cricketer)
Douglas Vivian Parson Wright, better known as Doug Wright was an English cricketer. A leg-spinner for Kent and England from 1932 to 1957 he took a record seven hat-tricks in first class cricket. He played for Kent for 25 years and was their first professional captain from late 1953 to 1956...
in the second innings, no visiting bowler at Trent Bridge bettered those figures all year, but Ridgway's most notable feat that year was his striking consistency: with only one haul of eight or more in a match he still took ninety wickets in twenty county games. Moreover, playing against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
, Ridgway "shared in a record partnership of 161 for the ninth wicket" with Brian Edrich
Brian Edrich
Brian Robert Edrich was an English cricketer. He was a left-handed middle-order batsman and a right-arm off break bowler. He also acted as assistant coach of Glamorgan. Born in Cantley, Norfolk, he died at Padstow in Cornwall, aged 86...
. This partnership, just under half the total of 379, was made in a losing cause.
Although Ridgway did not play in any of the Tests that year, he was regarded as a contender for honours but, in 1950, injury again took its toll. However, career-best figures of eight for 39, against Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
at the tail end of the season, was followed by an impressive 1951, where he took over ninety wickets and, with Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
amongst others declining to tour India, Ridgway was a natural choice, and was one of seven players who made their Test debut that trip where he opened the bowling with Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
.
Despite not doing badly in the less important games, Ridgway was clearly out of his element in the harsh Indian conditions, and in the following years his bowling rapidly declined to the mediocre, typically totalling only around sixty-five wickets a season for over twenty-six runs each. However, with support at last coming from David Halfyard
David Halfyard
David John Halfyard was an English cricketer. Halfyard was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium. He was born at Winchmore Hill, Middlesex.-Kent and accident:...
, Ridgway improved in 1956 with eighty-two wickets and, two years later, had his second-highest aggregate with ninety-eight wickets for 14.26 runs apiece, lifting Kent to their highest County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
position since 1947.
Nonetheless, at the age of thirty-six, it was only to be expected that Ridgway's slight built would not be able to sustain long spells of pace bowling. Injuries that had already wiped out most of his 1955 season restricted him severely in 1959 and 1960, after which he retired from first-class cricket.
Football
Fred Ridgeway was also an accomplished footballer, playing as a semi-professional in the post war period for Ramsgate FC in the Kent League.Ridgway now lives in retirement in Barming
Barming
Barming is a civil parish in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. It lies to the west of Maidstone, the county town, and had a population of 2234 persons . The eastern end of the parish is part of the built-up area of Maidstone, although the remainder is much more rural...
, Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.