Cricket World Mourns the Loss of England Spin Legend Derek Underwood at 78

England’s cricket fraternity is in mourning following the death of the legendary spinner and ICC Hall of Famer, Derek Underwood, who passed away at the age of 78.

Underwood’s illustrious international career spanned over 15 years, during which he represented England in 86 Test matches and 26 One Day Internationals (ODIs). His record of 297 Test wickets remains unmatched by any other English spinner, placing him sixth overall in the country’s cricket history.

Underwood’s domestic career was dedicated solely to Kent, where he made his debut at the tender age of 17 in 1963.

In his remarkable career, Underwood played in 676 first-class games, claiming an impressive 2465 wickets. He also added another 572 wickets to his tally in 411 List-A games with his formidable left-arm spin, before retiring in 1987.

ECB chair Richard Thompson expressed his condolences, stating, “It is always a sad day when a great of the English game passes away.”

“Derek Underwood will be remembered as one of the finest spin bowlers this country has ever produced and his remarkable record is testament to his enduring skill,” he added.

According to the retrospective ICC Men’s Test Player rankings, Underwood held the No. 1 spot as the world’s top bowler from September 1969 to August 1973.

Underwood’s contributions to cricket extended beyond his playing career. He served as the President of Kent Cricket Club in 2006, the President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 2008, and was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009.