Former England captain Ray Illingworth has died at the age of 89. He had been battling esophageal cancer.
'We are deeply saddened to learn that Ray Illingworth has passed away. Our thoughts are with Ray’s family and the wider Yorkshire family who held Ray so dear to their hearts,' tweeted Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Illingworth's career spanned over three decades. For England, he scored 1,836 runs and took 122 wickets in 61 Tests. He also led them 12 occasions. Under his captaincy England regained the Ashes in 1970/71, in Australia, after defeating Bill Lawry's Australia 2-0.
He was also a part of the first ever ODI match, played in 1971 at Melbourne Cricket Ground. He took three wickets in that game.
The series defeat against West Indies in 1973 brought an end to his international captaincy, but Illingworth then left Yorkshire to lead Leicestershire to their maiden County Championship title, in 1975. He had earlier led his boyhood club Yorkshire to the Championship title thrice.
'Ray was a superb cricketer, and his deep love, passion and knowledge for the game meant he continued to contribute long after his playing days had finished,' said ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison.