Edgar Willsher

Edgar Ned Willsher was an English cricketer known for being a catalyst in the shift from roundarm to overarm bowling. A lefthanded bowler, and useful lowerorder batsman, Willsher played first class cricket for Kent between 1850 and 1875. He took over 1300 firstclass wickets, despite only having one lung. He led a tour of Canada and the United States in 1868, and after retiring from his playing career became an umpire.

Willsher was born at Little Halden Farm, in Rolvenden, Kent. His older brother, senior by over ten years, William Willsher, would go on to have an inauspicious career with Kent three years before Edgars own debut when, in 1847, he appeared in one first class match, scoring a pair at number eleven and not bowling. Edgar Willsher made his own debut onJuly 1850 at the Kennington Oval against Surrey. He took four wickets in Surreys first innings, but was not required to bat again as Kent were dismissed successively for 52 and 84 when following on after Surreys 248. Willsher waited over a year for his next game, against the All England Eleven onJuly 1851. This time Kent secured a draw, with Willsher taking four wickets in a match truncated by rain. He played only one other game in 1851, finishing the season with only eleven wickets though they were taken at an economical 17.50 runs per wicket. He gradually became a more regular feature of the Kent side from 1853, with thirtynine app

Source: Wikipedia