Godfrey Evans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Godfrey Evans

Evans in 1951
Personal information
Full name	Thomas Godfrey Evans
Born	(1920-08-18)18 August 1920 Finchley, Middlesex, England
Died	3 May 1999(1999-05-03) (aged 78) Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
Nickname	Godders
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right arm leg break
Role	Wicket-keeper-Batsman
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 315)	17 August 1946 v India
Last Test	20 June 1959 v India
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1939–1967	Kent
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 91 465 Runs scored 2,439 14,882 Batting average 20.49 21.22 100s/50s 2/8 7/62 Top score 104 144 Balls bowled 0 287 Wickets – 2 Bowling average – 122.50 5 wickets in innings – 0 10 wickets in match – 0 Best bowling – 2/50 Catches/stumpings 173/46 816/250
Source: CricInfo, 15 August 2022

Thomas Godfrey Evans (18 August 1920 – 3 May 1999) was an amazing English cricketer. He played for Kent and the England national team. Many people, including the famous Wisden, called him one of the best wicket-keepers ever. A wicket-keeper is like a catcher in baseball, but in cricket!

Godfrey Evans made 219 "dismissals" in 91 Test matches. A dismissal is when a batsman is out. He also made 1066 dismissals in all his first-class matches. He was the first wicket-keeper to reach 200 Test dismissals. He was also the first Englishman to score 1000 runs and make 100 dismissals in Test cricket. Later, he reached 2000 runs and 200 dismissals. In 1951, he was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year, which is a big honor!

Godfrey Evans: Early Life and Cricket Beginnings

Godfrey Evans was a talented athlete when he was young. He was good at many sports. At Kent College, Canterbury, he was captain of the cricket, football, and hockey teams. He was also a very good boxer and won all his amateur and professional fights.

When he was 17, the Kent cricket team asked him to choose. He had to pick between cricket and boxing. He chose cricket! In 1937, he worked at the Dover cricket ground. He even operated the scoreboard when Kent made 219 runs in just 71 minutes. They beat Gloucestershire that day.

Godfrey played his first match for Kent on 22 July 1939. It was against Surrey at Blackheath. He scored 8 runs, and the match ended in a draw. His cricket career was paused by World War II. During the war, he served in the Royal Army Service Corps. After the war, he had a strong season in 1946. This led to him being called up to play for England.

Playing for England: Godfrey's Test Career

First Big Matches and Tours

Evans played his first Test match for England in 1946 against India. He joined the team for the third Test at The Oval. The match was affected by rain. He didn't get to bat or make any dismissals.

After this, Evans was chosen for a big tour to Australia in 1946/47. He played his first match against Australia in the second Test at Melbourne. Australia scored a lot of runs, 659 for 8 wickets. But Evans, as wicket-keeper, didn't let any "byes" through. Byes are runs scored when the ball misses the bat and the wicket-keeper. Wisden said he "kept wicket magnificently."

He continued his excellent keeping in the third Test. He didn't let any byes through in Australia's first innings of 365 runs. In the fourth Test, Evans helped Denis Compton save the game. England was struggling at 255 for 8 wickets. Evans batted defensively, scoring 10 runs but staying at the crease for 133 minutes. This allowed Compton to score his second century of the match.

After the Australia tour, England went to New Zealand. Rain affected their only Test match. But in a tour match against Otago, Evans scored his first "first-class" century. He scored 101 runs.

Always in the Team!

In 1947, South Africa toured England. Evans played in all five Test matches. He scored 209 runs and made 14 dismissals. In the first Test, he scored his first Test "fifty" (50 runs) with 74 runs. In the fifth Test, he scored 45 and 39 not out. His 39 not out came quickly in 29 minutes.

England toured the West Indies in 1948. Evans was the main wicket-keeper and played all four Tests. He scored 128 runs and made seven dismissals. Wisden noted that he was a "spectacular wicket-keeper."

During the 1948 Ashes series against Australia, Evans played every match again. He scored 188 runs and made 12 dismissals. He famously missed two chances to dismiss Australian batsmen. These chances were for Arthur Morris and Donald Bradman. Both went on to score many more runs, helping Australia win the match.

A Small Setback and Big Comeback

On the tour of South Africa in 1948/49, Evans was left out of the team. This was after playing 22 Test matches in a row, which was a record for a wicket-keeper. He had scored only 49 runs in five innings. He was replaced by Billy Griffith for two matches.

But Evans quickly got his spot back! He returned for the home series against New Zealand in 1949. In that four-Test series, which ended in all draws, Evans scored 61 runs and made 12 dismissals.

In 1950, the West Indies toured England. In the first Test, Evans scored his first Test century (100 runs). England was struggling at 88 for 5 wickets. Evans and Trevor Bailey put together a partnership of 161 runs. Evans scored 104 runs, including 17 fours. Wisden said he "neglected no opportunity to hit hard."

In the third Test, Evans scored another fifty, 68 runs. This came after he had let through only two byes in West Indies' large score of 558. England lost that match. A broken thumb stopped Evans from playing in the fourth Test. His replacement, Arthur McIntyre, didn't score many runs. England lost the series 3-1.

Battling Australia Again: The Ashes

Evans was back in the England team for the 1950/51 Ashes series in Australia. In the first match, Evans made two amazing catches. One was off Neil Harvey and the other off Sam Loxton. The catch off Loxton was especially acrobatic. Evans dived headfirst to catch the ball inches from the ground.

In the second Test, England was 126 for 7 wickets. Evans, batting at number nine, scored 49 important runs. This helped England get a lead in the first innings. This was his first time on the winning side in an Ashes Test. It was also Australia's first loss after the war.

Wisden praised Evans after the series. They said he "did not miss one Test catch." They also said he caught some balls that became chances only because of his "lightning mental reaction plus acrobatic agility."

The tour ended with two Tests in New Zealand. In the second Test, Evans let through 30 byes. This was the most byes he ever conceded in a Test innings.

A Special Year: Wisden Cricketer of the Year

In 1951, Godfrey Evans was chosen as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year. This award recognized his great performances in the 1950 season. The other four players who received the award were from the West Indies team.

However, the 1951 home Test series against South Africa was not good for Evans. He scored only seven runs in the first three Tests. His wicket-keeping was also not as good as usual. He was left out of the team for the last two Tests.

Evans was asked to tour India that winter, but he said no. He felt that playing too much cricket had made him lose his good form.

Amazing Batting Skills

Evans returned to the Test team in 1952 to play against India. In the first Test, he scored 66 runs in 97 minutes. This was a very important innings. England was 182 for 5 wickets when he came to bat. England won that match.

The second Test at Lord's was a big one for Evans. In India's first innings, he made a "brilliant stumping." This was his 100th dismissal in Test cricket! He was the first English wicket-keeper to reach this milestone. In England's turn to bat, Evans scored his second Test century, 104 runs. He scored so quickly that he almost reached 100 before lunch! He shared a 159-run partnership with Tom Graveney. England won the match.

Evans continued his great batting in the third Test. He scored over 50 runs for the third time in a row. He scored 71 runs in just 78 minutes. England won this match easily, winning the series. Evans finished the series with 242 runs and eight dismissals.

Winning the Ashes!

In the 1953 Ashes series against Australia, Evans played a key role. In the first Test, he took two catches. The match was a draw because of rain. The second Test was also a draw. Evans helped England bat through the final day to save the match.

The third Test was also a draw, but it was exciting for Evans. He made three dismissals. However, he also dropped two chances to dismiss Neil Harvey and Alan Davidson. Harvey went on to score 122 runs after being dropped. Evans also scored a quick 44 not out in 39 minutes.

After four draws, the fifth and final Test was the decider. England won by eight wickets to win the Ashes! Australia had held the Ashes since 1934. Evans finished the series with 117 runs and 16 dismissals.

Keeping the Ashes Trophy

England toured the West Indies in 1953/54. England lost the first two Tests but came back to draw the series 2-2. Evans missed the fourth Test due to an injury. But he returned for the fifth Test. He batted for 142 minutes, scoring 28 runs. This was his longest innings in terms of time. He shared a 108-run partnership with Len Hutton. This helped England build a big lead.

In 1954, Pakistan toured England. They caused a surprise by beating England in the final Test. This made the series a draw. Evans scored 25 and 31 in the first and third Tests. In the fourth Test, he took three catches. One catch, to dismiss Abdul Kardar, was his 131st dismissal in Tests. This made him the Test record holder for dismissals, passing Bert Oldfield's total of 130.

Evans went on his third tour to Australia in 1954/55. He missed the first Test because of sunstroke. He returned for the second Test. In the third Test, he scored 20 and 22 runs. He also took five catches. One amazing catch was to dismiss Neil Harvey. Neville Cardus described it: "Evans dived full length to the right, clutching the ball in his out-stretched glove."

In the fourth Test, Evans scored 37 runs in 36 minutes. He helped England win the match and keep the Ashes! The final Test was a draw due to heavy rain. Wisden praised Evans, saying he was "always brimful of energy" and "an inspiration to the whole team."

Another Ashes Victory!

After the Ashes, there was a two-Test series in New Zealand. Evans didn't score many runs in these matches.

In 1955, South Africa toured England. Evans played the first three matches before an injury forced him to miss the last two. In the first Test, he made his 150th Test dismissal. In the second Test, Evans made seven dismissals. This was a record for his Test career. During the third Test, Evans broke his little finger. Even with his hand in a cast, he batted at number eleven and scored 36 runs! He helped increase South Africa's target.

Australia toured in 1956. Evans played in every match as England won the series 2-1. He scored 115 runs. His highest score was 47 runs in just 29 minutes. England won the match and kept the Ashes. Evans made nine dismissals in the series.

Reaching Big Milestones

England toured South Africa in 1956/57. Evans played in all five Tests. In the second Test, he scored 62 runs. He reached 2,000 Test runs in this innings. He was only the second wicket-keeper to do this. England lost the final Test on a very difficult pitch. Evans scored 21 runs and made six catches. He only let through one bye in those tough conditions! Wisden called it "an extraordinary performance by an extraordinary man." Evans made 20 dismissals in the series, a career record for him.

In 1957, the West Indies toured England. England won the series easily. Evans played in all five Tests, scoring 201 runs and making 15 dismissals. In the second Test, he scored 82 runs in 115 minutes. He shared a huge partnership of 174 runs with Colin Cowdrey. This was an English record for that wicket. In the fourth Test, Evans made his 200th Test dismissal. He was the first person to reach this amazing milestone!

New Zealand toured England in 1958. England won the series 4-0. Evans played in every match. His batting was not great, but he broke another record. By playing the fifth Test, he made his 86th Test appearance. This passed the previous record held by Wally Hammond.

Final Matches for England

Evans went on his fourth tour to Australia in 1958/59. It was a tough tour for England, as they lost 4-0. Evans played three Test matches. He missed the third and fifth matches due to a finger injury. He scored only 27 runs in six innings. Wisden noted that Evans, along with other experienced players, showed a "decline in power."

In 1959, India toured England. Many experienced players were dropped from the team. But Evans stayed. In the first Test, he scored 73 runs very quickly. Wisden described it as "daring hitting." In the second Test, Evans missed four stumpings. However, he otherwise kept well and didn't let any byes through. Evans was later dropped from the team to help "team building." His England Test cap number was 315.

Godfrey's Cricket Records

Here are some of Godfrey Evans's records in Test cricket:

Life After Cricket

Evans at an England vs Australia veterans match at The Oval in 1980

After he stopped playing professional cricket, Godfrey Evans ran a pub called the Jolly Drover. It was in Hill Brow, Hampshire. He had muttonchop whiskers, which he admired on his grandfather! The pub was decorated with cricket photos. Evans loved to share stories about his cricket days.

He also became a cricket expert for the bookmakers Ladbrokes. He famously offered odds of 500 to 1 for England to win against Australia in 1981. This was the match where Ian Botham and Bob Willis made an amazing comeback to win!

Evans even played himself in a TV show called Outside Edge. He also appeared as himself in a 1956 episode of Hancock's Half Hour called "The Test Match." He was with Colin Cowdrey and Frank Tyson.

Godfrey Evans passed away on 3 May 1999. He was survived by his wife, Angela, and their daughter, Abigail.