Ed Giddins

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Ed Giddins
picture =
batting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm fast-medium
tests = 4
test runs = 10
test bat avg = 2.50
test 100s/50s = -/-
test top score = 7
test balls = 444
test wickets = 12
test bowl avg = 20.00
test 5s = 1
test 10s = -
test best bowling = 5/15
test catches/stumpings = -/-
FCs = 147
FC runs = 534
FC bat avg = 5.28
FC 100s/50s = -/-
FC top score = 34
FC balls = 25376
FC wickets = 478
FC bowl avg = 28.37
FC 5s = 22
FC 10s = 2
FC best bowling = 6/47
FC catches/stumpings = 22/-
debut date = 19 August
debut year = 1999
last date = 15 June
last year = 2000
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/13362.html

Edward Simon Hunter Giddins (born July 20, 1971, Eastbourne, Sussex) is a former English cricketer who played in 4 Tests from 1999 to 2000.

During his career, he has been banned for cocaine use, no-balled for throwing, and suspended for five years for placing a bet on his county to lose a match.

A wet-wicket specialist, Giddins could get the ball to swing both ways with a busy action. He played one Test in 1999, and, in his second, the following summer, promptly won the man of the match award against Zimbabwe at Lord's. Two less successful Tests later he was dropped from the squad.

He joined Warwickshire in 1998 after a drugs scandal cost him his job at Sussex and earned him an 18-month ban (Giddins raised money while serving his drugs ban by setting up a business selling Christmas trees with his team-mate Nadeem Shahid) but his form fell away after England dropped him in 2000, and he moved to Surrey, and then Hampshire.

Giddins retired early during the 2003 season. In his first Test he fought with Phil Tufnell and Alan Mullally for the No. 11 spot - and won. He was once nominated as one of Britain's most eligible bachelors, prepared for one summer with a trip up the Amazon, and spent £10,000 of his own money one winter to try and improve his fitness and international chances.

Giddins will be remembered as much for his off-field activities as for his achievements on it.

He has recently turned to poker to earn his living and appeared on the poker chat show Heads Up with Richard Herring to discuss his career.

Giddins has also appeared on the BBC reality TV show Arrange Me a Marriage

Sky Poker

Giddins is currently working for Sky Poker as an analyst. One of his traits is that he knows poker odds extremely well, and is often ribbed for this.

ee also

*List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

External links

* [http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=29006 Ed Giddins Hendon Mob poker tournament results]