Born on 6 March 1857 in Coddington, Edwin Mills was a hard-hitting left-hand batsman and left-arm fast bowler and younger brother of John Mills (1855-1932) who represented Notts between 1875 and 1881. Edwin was a lace machine fitter who was living with his family at Wollaton when he made his First-Class debut for Notts against Gloucestershire at Clifton College in August 1878. His noteworthy innings for the County included 59 v MCC (Lord’s) in June 1882, when Notts, needing 164 to win at the start of the second innings, collapsed to 54-7; Mills and William Barnes added 99 for the eighth wicket, Notts winning by one wicket at 8 minutes to 8 in semi-darkness. His other innings of note was 74 v Surrey at the Oval in August 1883, during which he and John Selby put on 147 for the ninth wicket. His best match with the ball was also against Surrey at Trent Bridge in June 1881 where he took 10-152 in the match (7-97, 3-55); during that season, when the leading Notts players went on strike, Mills took 31 wickets @19.09 in nine matches. He also took five wickets in an innings v MCC at Lord’s in June 1883 (5-29). His last First-Class game for Notts was against Yorkshire in July 1884. In 29 First-Class games for the County he scored 616 runs @15.40 and took 54 wickets @18.96.
Losing his place in the Notts team, Mills threw in his lot with Surrey but in three seasons, 1885 to 1887, made only seven First-Class appearances - owing in some part to his increasing bulk. His best performance was 5-33 v Yorkshire at the Oval in August 1887. He had the unusual distinction of representing North v South in 1883 and South v North in 1886. In 43 First-Class games he scored 919 runs @15.31 and took 87 wickets @20.32. Edwin Mills umpired three First-Class matches between 1885-88.
His first professional engagement was for the Bolton Club, in Lancashire, in 1882 and from 1883 until 1888 he was on The Oval ground staff. While engaged in London he lived at Croydon.
He died on 25th January 1899 aged 41 years at Cossall, Nottinghamshire.
June 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 163