So close, yet so far apart
It was one legendary toss of a coin which spelt out Eric Bedser's destiny
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
The Cricketer International
It was one legendary toss of a coin which spelt out Eric Bedser's destiny. For Eric and Alec Beder, twins almost joined in-the-hip, their lives couldn't have been more different. David McKie, in his moving obituary of Eric in The Guardian portrays a special sibling relationship without a trace of envy.
"Romantic egalitarians, a tribe to which I belonged in those days (and still do) grieved on Eric's behalf, even if Eric himself never displayed the mildest sign of resentment; and grieved even more for the knowledge that Eric's diminished role seemed to have turned on the toss of a coin."
And there is also an article we have found from The Cricketer in July 1943 about the emerging talents that they were at the time and their early days.
"Umpires, too, have had their problems. Once, when Alec was run out in a match, Eric followed in, but the umpire refused to allow him to bat “again” until Alec was recalled from the pavilion for purposes of comparison."
Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo