Former England bowler Bedser dies

Former England bowler Alec Bedser, who took 236 wickets in a glittering England Test career, has died aged 91.

The former Surrey seamer passed away late on Sunday following a brief illness. England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Giles Clarke led the tributes to Bedser.

"Sir Alec Bedser deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest England bowlers of all time, a master of the craft of seam bowling and a true legend of the game," Clarke told the governing body's website (www.ecb.co.uk).

Bedser, who became a national team selector for 23 years following his retirement, took 1,924 first-class wickets in a 21-year career from 1939 to 1960.

He made his England debut against India in 1946 and took 11 wickets in each of his first two Tests.