Monday 14 September 2015 14:01, UK
Former England and Yorkshire captain Brian Close has died at the age of 84, the county champions have announced.
Close played 22 Test matches for England between 1949 and 1976 and is best known for his fearlessness against fast bowling, particularly against the West Indies in his final international appearance at the age of 45.
He became the youngest player ever to win a Test cap for England when he made his debut against New Zealand in 1949 as an 18-year-old.
The famously brave batsman went on to lead his country seven times in his 22 Tests, and also captained his native Yorkshire to four county championship titles.
A statement from Yorkshire CCC read: "It is with deep sadness that former Yorkshire & England star Brian Close has passed away."
Close played in 536 first-class matches for Yorkshire between 1949 and 1970, before a six-year spell at Somerset. He scored 22,650 runs with 33 centuries and captured 967 wickets for Yorkshire, and took 564 catches, the majority from his specialist short-leg position.
He captained Yorkshire from 1963-1970 when he led them through one of the most successful periods in their history, winning the Gillette Cup twice alongside the aforementioned four county championship titles.
"Brian Close was an all-time great, both of Yorkshire and England," said Yorkshire president Harold 'Dickie' Bird OBE.
"He will go down as one of the bravest cricketers of all time. He would stand at short-leg, about a yard away from the bat, and would never flinch if the ball hit him. He would take it in his stride and carry on.
"As a captain, his record speaks for itself. He is Yorkshire's most successful post-war captain - winning the County Championship on four occasions and will always be regarded as one of the best skippers in the game.
"He led from the front and never took a back step. He commanded huge respect from his fellow players. He had the ability to get the best out of every player under his stewardship with his fearless and brave approach to the game."
Close remained a life member at Yorkshire and was president from 2008-2010. He was also a popular former president of the Yorkshire CCC Players' Association.
He leaves a widow, Vivienne, and a son and a daughter.
