Former England ‘keeper Evans is dead

LONDON, MAY 3: Godfrey Evans, a spectacular and outstandingly successful wicketkeeper for Kent and England in the 1940s and 1950s, died t...

LONDON, MAY 3: Godfrey Evans, a spectacular and outstandingly successful wicketkeeper for Kent and England in the 1940s and 1950s, died today following a heart attack, family friends said. He was 78.

Evans was England’s automatic choice as ‘keeper from 1946 until 1959, playing in 91 Tests. He had 219 dismissals and was also a talented lower order batsman, scoring 2,439 Test runs which included two centuries.

A great entertainer on the field whose enjoyment of life made him a good companion off it, Evans ranks high in a great tradition of Kent wicketkeepers.

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He followed his county team-mate Les Ames into England side at the end of 1946 season and was subsequently an inspiration to Alan Knott, who was Kent and England ‘keeper in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Evans always stood up to bowlers unless they were really fast, proving particularly effective against the fast-medium pace of Alec Bedser in Tests, and he pulled off some athletic catches at his brilliant best.

Bedser, who toured with Evans toAustralia in 1946-47, rated him as England’s greatest-ever wicketkeeper. “We knew each other for 60 years and we were great mates,” said Bedser, a seam bowler who won 51 caps.

“To me he was easily the best wicketkeeper that I know of to have represented England. To me he was so quick with his hands. He was magnificent, and I had wonderful admiration for his ability.

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“He was always jovial and would do anything to help anyone,” Bedser said. “He was great company and there was no jealousy in him.”

A nimble batsman, he could score swiftly and also defend resolutely, as he demonstrated by going 95 minutes without scoring against Australia in the fourth Test of the 1946-47 series in Adelaide.