Edward William Bastard (28 February 1862 – 2 April 1901) was an English first-class cricketer who played for Oxford University and Somerset.

Close to the top of the bowling averages for both teams in each season, his 62 first-class wickets in 1885 placed him among the 20 most prolific wicket-takers in the country.

[3] On completion of his studies at Sherborne School, Bastard attended Wadham College, University of Oxford.

[5] He played in the Freshmen's Trial in May 1882, and collected four wickets in each innings, conceding just 35 runs from his 29 overs.

[6] He played in two matches against the university's first team during his first year, opening the bowling for both the Freshmen side and the "Next XVI".

[7] He appeared six further times in 1883, against county opposition, and in all matches that season, collected 52 first-class wickets at an average of 30.20.

[11] In 1883, he also made his highest first-class score, making 47 runs during Somerset's second innings against Hampshire.

Among his wickets was the tourists captain Billy Murdoch,[15] who later that summer scored 211 runs against England in the third Test.

[21] The following season, Bastard returned to play for Oxford University, along with most of the successful team of the previous year.

[18][22] The team came to rely upon the bowling of Bastard and Alfred Cochrane, both slow left-arm bowlers.

Facing Hampshire in Taunton, Bastard claimed eight wickets in the first innings, and a further three in the second as Somerset recorded their only win of the year.

In the Hampshire response, a contemporary match report recorded that Bastard "did a capital performance in the first innings of Hants, taking eight of the ten wickets at a cost of only 59 runs".

[37] However, the additions of Sammy Woods, Ted Tyler and George Nichols resulted in Bastard bowling less frequently, and he made his final appearance for the county in August 1889 against the MCC.

[38] He was described by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack as "the chief bowler in the Somersetshire eleven before the County became first-class.