His sister, Yvonne Rainsford is a Zimbabwean cricketer who was also a member of the first Zimbabwe women's cricket team when they made their international debut in 2006.
[2] Rainsford represented the Zimbabwe Under-19 cricket team at the 2004 Under-19 World Cup, taking four wickets in six games at an average of 38.00, with a best of 2/37.
[3] He is primarily a right-arm medium-fast seam bowler with a 22.03 first-class average whose yorker-bowling skill is well documented.
During the 2006 Zimbabwean tour of Bangladesh, Rainsford left the tour early to fulfil a club contract in England with North London side Harefield CC.
Edward Rainsford was ruled out of the World Cup 2011 due to an ankle injury, having to return home prematurely on that count.