Eddo Brandes

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Eddo Brandes

| image =

| country = Zimbabwe

| fullname = Eddo André Brandes

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|3|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Port Shepstone, Natal Province, South Africa

| nickname =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right arm fast

| role = All-Rounder,Coach

| international = true

| internationalspan = 1987-1999

| testdebutdate = 18 October

| testdebutyear = 1992

| testdebutagainst = India

| testcap = 2

| lasttestdate = 8 December

| lasttestyear = 1999

| lasttestagainst = Sri Lanka

| odidebutdate = 10 October

| odidebutyear = 1987

| odidebutagainst = New Zealand

| odicap = 14

| lastodidate = 18 December

| lastodiyear = 1999

| lastodiagainst = Sri Lanka

| club1 = Mashonaland Country Districts

| year1 = 1994–1996

| club2 = Mashonaland

| year2 = 1996–2001

| columns = 4

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 10

| runs1 = 121

| bat avg1 = 10.08

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 39

| deliveries1 = 1,996

| wickets1 = 26

| bowl avg1 = 36.57

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 3/45

| catches/stumpings1 = 4/–

| column2 = ODI

| matches2 = 59

| runs2 = 404

| bat avg2 = 13.03

| 100s/50s2 = 0/2

| top score2 = 55

| deliveries2 = 2,828

| wickets2 = 70

| bowl avg2 = 32.37

| fivefor2 = 2

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 5/28

| catches/stumpings2 = 11/–

| column3 = FC

| matches3 = 60

| runs3 = 1,151

| bat avg3 = 16.68

| 100s/50s3 = 1/2

| top score3 = 165*

| deliveries3 = 9,437

| wickets3 = 179

| bowl avg3 = 28.60

| fivefor3 = 10

| tenfor3 = 1

| best bowling3 = 7/38

| catches/stumpings3 = 28/–

| column4 = LA

| matches4 = 126

| runs4 = 1,173

| bat avg4 = 16.52

| 100s/50s4 = 0/4

| top score4 = 55

| deliveries4 = 6,200

| wickets4 = 164

| bowl avg4 = 28.19

| fivefor4 = 4

| tenfor4 = 0

| best bowling4 = 5/28

| catches/stumpings4 = 23/–

| date = 11 November

| year = 2009

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/55267.html Cricinfo

}}

Eddo André Brandes (born 5 March 1963) is a Zimbabwean former cricketer who played in 10 Tests and 59 ODIs from 1987 to 1999, spanning four World Cups. In the days when a number of Zimbabwean players were amateurs with other full-time professions, Brandes was a chicken farmer.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecricketpaper.com/features-and-columns/1273/where-are-they-now-zimbabwes-1992-world-cup-win-over-england/ |title=Where are they now? Zimbabwe's 1992 World Cup win over England |website=Thecricketpaper.com |date=19 January 2016 |access-date=3 April 2021}} Brandes was the first Zimbabwean player to take a hat-trick in the ODI format.

Early life

Brandes was born on 5 March 1963, in Port Shepstone, Natal Province, South Africa.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/55267.html|title = Eddo Brandes profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos}} He was the son of a German father and a South African mother. He and his family moved to Rhodesia the year after he was born, and he grew up on a farming property.{{cite news|url=https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1094166/-i-think-we-got-test-status-too-late|title=I think we got Test status too late|work=The Cricket Monthly|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=28 May 2017|first=Scott|last=Oliver|accessdate=5 March 2022}}

International career

Although selected for the 1983 Cricket World Cup squad, Brandes did not make his official One Day International debut until the 1987 Cricket World Cup in Zimbabwe's opening match against New Zealand in a close 3 run defeat at the Niaz Stadium, being run out without facing a ball, attempting a single with Iain Butchart and pulling his quadriceps muscle before he could complete the run.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/reliance-world-cup-1987-88-60876/new-zealand-vs-zimbabwe-4th-match-65094/full-scorecard |title=4th Match, Hyderabad (Deccan), October 10, 1987 | website=cricinfo.com |access-date=4 September 2023}}

Brandes first win with Zimbabwe at a World Cup came in 1992 against England at the Lavington Sports Ground in Albury, Australia. Defending 134, Brandes bowled a ten-over unbroken spell, taking four wickets for 21 runs, including England captain Graham Gooch and one-time Zimbabwe player Graeme Hick, in a famous nine-run victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/benson-hedges-world-cup-1991-92-60924/england-vs-zimbabwe-35th-match-65152/full-scorecard |title=35th Match, Albury, March 18, 1992, Benson & Hedges World Cup | website=cricinfo.com | access-date=4 September 2023}} He played for Zimbabwe in a further two World Cup tournaments.

Brandes Test match debut came in 1992 against India in Harare, but his involvement was limited to two overs after injuring himself in his opening spell.{{cite web| title=Only Test, Harare, October 18-22, 1992, India tour of Zimbabwe |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-zimbabwe-1992-93-62304/zimbabwe-vs-india-only-test-63583/full-scorecard | website=cricinfo.com | access-date=4 September 2023}}

He took a hat-trick in an ODI against England in January 1997 that is still regarded as the highest by total average of the batsmen dismissed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/hat-trick-heroes-235231|title=Hat-trick heroes|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=17 November 2021}} Only two months short of his 34th birthday at the time, he remains the oldest player to have taken an ODI hat-trick.

Brandes final ODIs and Test matches were in 1999, having taken 96 wickets and scored 521 runs over his international career span.{{Cite web|title=Eddo Brandes |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/eddo-brandes-55267 |website=espncricinfo.com |access-date=4 September 2023}}

Brandes gained fame for his noted and oft-quoted exchange with Glenn McGrath. After McGrath became frustrated at being unable to dismiss him, the bowler asked, "Why are you so fat?" to which Brandes replied, "Because every time I shag your wife, she gives me a chocolate biscuit."{{cite news|title=50 greatest sporting insults|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/australasia-travel/australia/50-greatest-sporting-insults-n98fsnwzw8p|access-date=2018-03-09|newspaper=The Times|date=2007-08-01}}

In February 2020, he was named in Zimbabwe's squad for the Over-50s Cricket World Cup in South Africa.{{cite web |url=https://www.over50scricket.com/world-cup-scores-squads-news |title=2020 over-50s world cup squads |website=Over50scricket.com |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163511/https://www.over50scricket.com/world-cup-scores-squads-news |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=13612;team=6724;type=tournament |title=Over-50s Cricket World Cup, 2019/20 – Zimbabwe Over-50s: Batting and bowling averages |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 March 2020}} However, the tournament was cancelled during the third round of matches due to the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketworld.com/over-50s-world-cup-in-south-africa-cancelled-due-to-covid-19-outbreak/62521.htm |title=Over-50s World Cup in South Africa cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreak |website=Cricketworld.com |access-date=15 March 2020}}

After cricket

As of 2003, Brandes had moved to Australia to pursue a coaching career and was formerly coaching the Sunshine Coast Scorchers who play in the XXXX Gold Brisbane Grade Competition. As of 2009, he runs a tomato farm on the Sunshine Coast.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eddo-brandes-on-life-as-a-farmer-435368|title=From fowl to fruit|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=17 November 2021}}