Jock Edwards, a New Zealand cricket international renowned for his big-hitting batting, has died aged 64.
Central Districts Cricket Association posted a message of heartfelt condolences on Facebook on Monday for the Nelson cricket stalwart.
Edwards was a wicketkeeper-batsman who played six tests and eight one-day internationals for New Zealand in the 1970s and 80s as well as 67 first-class matches and 31 one-layers for Central Districts.
He was also a member of the Nelson side that held on to the Hawke Cup for 14 matches between February 1979 and February 1983.
Among his accomplishments is the time he hit a delivery from Ewen Chatfield into the lake at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.
Edwards garnered a reputation as a big hitter and in 2011 he told the Nelson Mail that while some coaches had tried to rein him in, he “didn’t listen to them”.
“I remember when I opened against India in a one-day international, I was out to Bishan [Singh] Bedi for 41 and Glenn Turner [the other opening batsman] was still on three or four at the other end,” Edwards said.
“I also remember opening with Graeme Lowans against Marlborough and I reached 100 and Graeme was 13.”
He also shared that the biggest six he’d ever hit was one he hit “out of Trafalgar Park” in Nelson that “ended up in Blenheim”.
“The ball landed on a TNL truck in Trafalgar St and the driver found it when he got to Spring Creek.”
