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LONDON.
Former England all-rounder Trevor Bailey has died in a house fire, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed yesterday.
Bailey (87), who played 61 Tests during a 10-year international career, died early yesterday in a fire at his home, the ECB said in a statement.
Firefighters later said they had rescued Bailey’s wife, Greta, from the blaze. Bailey, who also enjoyed a 21-year career with Essex before finding success as a cricket writer and broadcaster, was known as “barnacle” following several stubborn stints at the crease.
Arguably his most famous innings came in the Lord’s Test against Australia in 1953, when along with Willie Watson, he helped stave off defeat which enabled England to retain the Ashes.
“Trevor Bailey was not only one of the finest all-round cricketers this country has ever produced, he was also someone who made an enormous contribution to the game as an administrator and as a writer and broadcaster,” ECB chairman Giles Clarke said in a statement yesterday.
“His loss will be deeply felt by everyone within the cricket community and we send our sympathies to his family and many friends within the game.”
ECB chief executive David Collier meanwhile, paid tribute to Bailey’s work as a pillar of BBC Radio’s Test Match Special.
“Everyone who met Trevor could not fail to be impressed by his deep love and knowledge of cricket,” Collier said.
“It was a passion that he was able to communicate to millions via radio as a member of the Test Match Special (TMS) commentary team and there will be very many cricket supporters in this country who will be mourning his loss in such tragic circumstances.”
Current TMS commentator and former England fast bowler Jonathan Agnew added on social networking site Twitter: “Desperate news re Trevor Bailey.
“Dogged batsman, aggressive bowler. Intelligent cricketer. — AFP