Eddie Paynter
An English cricketer whose explosive batting and astonishing average against Australia made him a giant of the Ashes.
1901–1979 (age 78)·English cricketer·Birthday: November 5·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Edward Paynter emerged from the Lancashire coalfields to become one of England's most formidable and clutch batsmen. His Test career, though not lengthy, was defined by a ferocious appetite for runs, particularly against the old enemy, Australia. Paynter's story is punctuated by dramatic moments, none more so than his famous 1933 innings at Brisbane, where he rose from a hospital bed, stricken with tonsillitis, to score a match-winning 83. A left-hander with a compact, powerful style, he was also a brilliant fielder in the covers. His statistical legacy is staggering; he retired with a Test average second among Englishmen of his era, a quiet testament to a player who delivered when the pressure was most intense.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Eddie was born in 1901, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1901
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1901Born
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Started school
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Became a teenager
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Could drive
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could vote
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Turned 21
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1931Turned 30
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1941Turned 40
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 50
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 60
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 70
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Died at 78
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
Key Achievements
- Retired with a Test batting average of 59.23, one of the highest in cricket history.
- Averaged an extraordinary 84.42 in Test matches against Australia.
- Played a legendary innings of 83 at Brisbane in 1933 while seriously ill, helping England secure an Ashes victory.
- Was a key member of England's Ashes-winning teams in 1932-33 and 1934.
Did You Know?
He worked in a coal mine as a young man before his cricket career took off.
He once hit a six that broke a clock on the Lord's pavilion.
Despite his high average, he only played 20 Test matches for England.
“I got my runs by watching the ball closely and hitting it hard.”
