Former England and Kent spinner Derek Underwood has died at the age of 78, the county have announced.

Underwood was capped 86 times by England in Test matches during a playing career which began in 1963 and ended in 1987, and his 297 wickets are the sixth-most by a player in the national team’s history.

At domestic level, he was one-club player and took 2,523 wickets across his three decades playing for Kent, where he won three County Championships, two One-Day Cups, three National Leagues and three Benson & Hedges Cups.

“The 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.

“Watching Derek weave his unique magic on a wet wicket was a privilege for all who were able to witness it. His induction into the ICC Hall of Fame shows the esteem in which he was held in world cricket.

“An advocate for growing our game worldwide whilst protecting our sport’s rich heritage, Derek also made substantial contributions off the field as well as on it, and he will be sorely missed by everyone at Kent Cricket.”

More to follow…

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