Derek Underwood, a former bowler for England, died on Monday at the age of 78. His old team, Kent County Cricket Club, said the news. Underwood played 86 test matches for England and took 297 wickets, making him the sixth most successful spin bowler in English history and the country’s all-time leader in wickets. In his 16 years as an international player, he has 17 five-wicket hauls.
England’s top spinner Underwood dies at 78
In the past, the ICC ranked him as the best bowler in the world for almost four years, from 1969 to 1973. Underwood was born in Kent and played for his hometown club for 24 years before quitting in 1987. In 10 of those years, he took 100 wickets or more.
“Seeing Derek work his magic on a wet wicket was an honour for everyone who got to see it,” Kent Cricket chair Simon Philip said in a statement.
“His induction into the ICC Hall of Fame shows the esteem in which he was held in world cricket.”
He was also president of Kent Cricket and the Marylebone Cricket Club after he stopped playing cricket.
“Derek also made substantial contributions off the field as well as on it and he will be sorely missed by everyone at Kent Cricket,” Philip said.
