Fred Trueman dies
Fast bowler loses battle with lung cancer
England's greatest-ever fast bowler Fred Trueman has died from lung
cancer, aged 75.
Trueman made his Yorkshire debut in May 1949, and first played for England in June 1952, taking seven wickets in a match against India, including a second-innings haul of 4-27. He retired from first-class cricket in 1969, having taken more than 2,000 wickets.
He was the first bowler to claim 300 Test wickets, marking the milestone by having Australia's Neil Hawke caught at slip by Colin Cowdrey at the Oval. His final Test figures were 307 wickets in only 67 matches - an aggregate which stood as cricket's best until 1976 when it was surpassed by West Indies' Lance Gibbs.
He remains the third highest England Test wicket-taker of all time, behind Ian Botham (383) and Bob Willis (325).
Brian Close, Yorkshire captain throughout the county's success in the 1960s, led the tributes today.
"I captained many great cricketers, but none finer," Close said. "Yorkshire has lost a great cricketer and a great character. He was a great wit - a lovely fellow, and we all enjoyed his company and playing with him."
Close maintains there is no-one as good as Trueman in the modern game.
"He was better than they are now - he got through so much more work - 1100 overs in a season," said the former England captain. "He was a great out-swing bowler - a fast bowler who also made it go away off the pitch."
Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan said: "Yorkshire County Cricket Club sends its condolences to Fred's wife Veronica, family and friends. We are all deeply upset at this news."
Carrie Dunn
Saturday July 1, 2006
Guardian Unlimited
© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006
Fast bowler loses battle with lung cancer
England's greatest-ever fast bowler Fred Trueman has died from lung
cancer, aged 75.
Trueman made his Yorkshire debut in May 1949, and first played for England in June 1952, taking seven wickets in a match against India, including a second-innings haul of 4-27. He retired from first-class cricket in 1969, having taken more than 2,000 wickets.
He was the first bowler to claim 300 Test wickets, marking the milestone by having Australia's Neil Hawke caught at slip by Colin Cowdrey at the Oval. His final Test figures were 307 wickets in only 67 matches - an aggregate which stood as cricket's best until 1976 when it was surpassed by West Indies' Lance Gibbs.
He remains the third highest England Test wicket-taker of all time, behind Ian Botham (383) and Bob Willis (325).
Brian Close, Yorkshire captain throughout the county's success in the 1960s, led the tributes today.
"I captained many great cricketers, but none finer," Close said. "Yorkshire has lost a great cricketer and a great character. He was a great wit - a lovely fellow, and we all enjoyed his company and playing with him."
Close maintains there is no-one as good as Trueman in the modern game.
"He was better than they are now - he got through so much more work - 1100 overs in a season," said the former England captain. "He was a great out-swing bowler - a fast bowler who also made it go away off the pitch."
Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan said: "Yorkshire County Cricket Club sends its condolences to Fred's wife Veronica, family and friends. We are all deeply upset at this news."
Carrie Dunn
Saturday July 1, 2006
Guardian Unlimited
© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006
