Ex England Captain Brian Close passes away

Brian Close during his younger days

Dennis Brian Close, the former captain of England, Yorkshire and Somerset and an admired character in the cricketing world, has died at the age of 84. He passed away at his home near Bradford on Sunday, reported ESPNcricinfo.

Close was an all rounder who was a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium/ off break bowler, he was known for his nerve and doggedness at the crease and on the field. He debuted against New Zealand for England in 1949 at the age of 18 years and 149 days which sill makes him England's youngest debutant. Such was his reputation that he was famously recalled as a 45-year-old to face down West Indies' fearsome attack in 1976.

Close also relished the challenge of fielding in close, particularly at forward short-leg. Seemingly impervious to pain himself, he used to say to anyone who flinched, or rubbed a bruise: "How can the ball hurt you? It's only on you for a second."

He played over 22 Tests for England, during which he captained the side seven times. He also led Yorkshire to four Championship titles, including their hat-trick of victories from 1966-68.

Close had a falling out with Yorkshire which led to his sacking and he played at Somerset for the remainder of his career. His links with Yorkshire remained strong, and he served as the club's president between 2008 and 2010. He was a life member and even in his 80s could be spotted in the stands - usually chatting to Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott - when England played at Headingley.

A brave fielder and a true legend

Dickie Bird a close friend, speaking at the Ageas Bowl where Yorkshire were playing Hampshire in the Championship, said that Close had been unwell but his death came as a shock.

"I was completely stunned when Jason Gillespie and Anthony McGrath came out this morning to tell me the sad news that Brian had passed away," he said. "I felt very stunned and very numb. I had a lump in my throat and there were a few tears because I have lost a damn good friend.

Bird also voiced his emotions about what a great player and captain he was, "He was a great captain. He led from the front and was never beat. He would come back from all odds. He was a brilliant bloke to play for. He was as straight as a gun barrel.

"He was a really good all-round cricketer. A good batsman, a good bowler and, of course, brilliant in the field,” Bird said.

England didn’t see much of his batting prowess, but he relished playing fast bowlers that too at a time when, helmets and batsman protection wasn’t at its best. He was unafraid of being hit and was left with bruises all over his body after his final Test at Old Trafford in 1976.

"Michael Holding and Andy Roberts peppered him with short-pitched bowling," Bird said. "If I'd have been there as an umpire, I'd have stepped in and stopped it straightaway. But Closey was chesting them away, they tell me. He was a tough guy.

"He led from the front, and I thought he was a magnificent captain. We have lost a true legend of the game."

Close scored over 35,000 runs in his first-class career which included 52 hundreds, and also took 1171 wickets bowling medium pace and off spin. Close has also taken more than 800 catches, making him one of the most prolific outfielders in history.

He was the captain of Yorkshire from 1963 to 1970, during which he won two Gillette Cups in addition to his Championship success. It was then that he was handed the England captaincy but, despite winning six Tests out of seven, he lost the job, in 1967, after a controversial Championship match between Yorkshire and Warwickshire in which Close was accused of time wasting.

Former England & Yorkshire cricket captain Brian Close dies aged 84 http://t.co/CQm3U6rz3d pic.twitter.com/3xpX952sdP

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) September 14, 2015

Courage,Bravery,Madness .. This is Brian Close aged 45... https://t.co/SlIBzkc4AV #Legend #RIPClosey

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 14, 2015