| William Bedster | |
| Birth Date: | 1734 |
| Birth Place: | Walberton, Chichester, Sussex |
| Club1: | England XI |
| Type1: | FC |
| Debutdate1: | 8 September |
| Debutyear1: | 1777 |
| Debutfor1: | England |
| Debutagainst1: | Hampshire XI |
| Lastdate1: | 13 August |
| Lastyear1: | 1794 |
| Lastfor1: | MCC |
| Lastagainst1: | Oldfield |
| Source: | https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/william-bedster-535118 CricInfo |
| Date: | 23 June |
| Year: | 2022 |
William Bedster (1734 – 1805) was an English cricketer who played during the late 18th century.
Bedster was born in 1734 at Walberton near Chichester in Sussex.[1] [2] He made his first appearance in first-class cricket in 1777, playing in an England side against a Hampshire XI. In a career which lasted until 1794 he played in 59 matches which have been given first-class status, scoring 1,335 runs and taking at least 26 wickets. He played for a wide variety of sides, appearing most frequently for England and Middlesex sides in first-class matches.[2]
Bedster was employed as a butler for five years by Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville at his Mount Felix estate at Walton-on-Thames.[3] [4] [5] During this time he played for Chertsey Cricket Club.[6] He was frequently used as a given man by other sides. After his playing career was over, Bedster moved to Chelsea where he was an innkeeper.[3] He died in 1805.[1] [2] A road in Molesey in Surrey is named after him.[3]