Former England and Kent cricketer Derek Underwood has died aged 78.
He remains the country’s most successful spin bowler, claiming a career haul of 297 wickets in 86 Test appearances from 1966 to 1982.
Underwood, with his brisk left-arm spin, is also sixth in England’s all-time list of leading wicket-takers.
He played for his home county of Kent for 24 years before retiring in 1987 and had 10 seasons where he took 100 or more wickets.
He spent his whole county career there and claimed 2,523 scalps across three decades, winning three County Championships, two One-Day Cups, three National Leagues and three Benson & Hedges Cups.
“Te Kent Cricket family is in mourning following the passing of one of its greatest-ever players,” the county’s chair Simon Philip said.
“Derek was an outstanding contributor to both Kent and England, winning trophies for club and country and etching his name in the history books forevermore.”
‘He will be sorely missed’
The chair also said his induction into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame “shows the esteem in which he was held in world cricket”, adding: “He will be sorely missed by everyone at Kent Cricket.”
Underwood first played for his country at Test level as a 21-year-old against the West Indies at Trent Bridge in July 1966 and made his final international appearance against Sri Lanka in Colombo in February 1982.
During his Test career, he claimed 17 five-wicket hauls and six 10-wicket hauls.
He was also capped 26 times in one-day internationals, taking 32 wickets.
