English cricketing great Colin Cowdrey dead

English cricketing great Colin Cowdrey died after a long illness

Former England and Kent captain Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge, 67, had suffered a stroke in July. Cowdrey played 114 Tests for England, starting on the 1954/55 tour of Australia and finishing there 20 years later.

Cowdrey, 67, scored 42,719 runs (42.89) in a first-class career that ran from 1950-76. He scored 107 centuries and was the first cricketer from any country to appear in 100 Tests. Only Graham Gooch (118) and David Gower (114) have appeared more times for England, for whom he stands fourth in the list of scorers with 7,624 (44.06).

One of England's best post-war batsmen he scored 7,624 Test runs at an average of 44.06 including 22 centuries and was also a reliable slip fielder taking 120 catches, a then Test record for a non-wicketkeeper.

He led Kent to the championship in 1970 and the Gillette Cup in 1967. He also captained England but never, to his keen disappointment, in Australia, where he toured six times. He was knighted in the 1992 New Year's honours list and became a life peer three years ago.

Mail Cricket Editor