Edwin Frederick Schreiber (31 May 1936 â 7 October 2010) was a South African cricketer who played first-class cricket for Border from 1954 to 1967.
Edwin Schreiber, an off-spin bowler, was the mainstay of the Border spin attack from 1954âÂÂ55, when he made his debut as an 18-year-old, until 1961âÂÂ62. He bowled well for Border against the touring MCC in 1956âÂÂ57 and Australians in 1957âÂÂ58. In the 1957âÂÂ58 season he was the second-most successful South African bowler (behind Hugh Tayfield), with 38 wickets at an average of 21.92.
He was widely expected to take Tayfield's place as South Africa's principal Test spinner when Tayfield retired after the 1957âÂÂ58 series, but Tayfield returned after taking only the 1958âÂÂ59 season off while Schreiber's form fell away from its peak.
Schreiber was a very economical bowler, conceding only 1.88 runs per over in his first-class career. In 1958âÂÂ59 he took 11 for 103 off 72.4 overs in the match against North-Eastern Transvaal. His best innings figures were 8 for 67 against Eastern Province in 1957âÂÂ58. He was a magnificent fielder, especially at cover. In a club match for Buffaloes against Queenstown he ran out four batsmen in one innings with direct hits.