- Evans, Godfrey
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▪ 2000English cricketer who brought a unique flamboyance, agility, and infectious enthusiasm to his role as the top wicket keeper in the immediate post-World War II era, for Kent (1939–69) and for England in 91 Test matches (1946–59). “Godders” made 1,066 first-class dismissals (816 catches and 250 stumpings), including 219 in Tests (173 catches and 46 stumpings), but he was also a reliable batsman, with 14,882 runs (average 21.22), including 2,439 in Tests (average 20.49), and two centuries. At the crease he was perhaps best known for his stand against Australia in Adelaide in 1947 when he batted for a record 97 minutes without a run as he stoically helped his partner, Denis Compton, score a century and save the match. In 1960 Evans was made a C.B.E. and published his autobiography, The Gloves Are Off (b. Aug. 18, 1920, Finchley, Middlesex, Eng.—d. May 3, 1999, Northampton, Northamptonshire, Eng.).
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Universalium. 2010.