Cricket legend Bedser passes away at the age of 91

Bedser took 236 wickets in 51 Tests for England and also helped Surrey to eight County Championships, earning a reputation as one of the country's greatest cricketers. The ECB confirmed the news of Bedser's death in the early hours of Monday morning and it was the board's chairman, Giles Clarke, who led the tributes.

"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 said.

"His contribution to cricket in this country as a player and an administrator was immense and he will forever be associated with Surrey's famous County Championship-winning sides of the 1950s. All cricket lovers in England and Wales will mourn his death and our deepest sympathies go to his family for their loss."

Bedser took 1,924 first-class wickets in a career which lasted from 1949-1960. He played just two matches and never took a wicket before a seven-year break due to the Second World War but, on his return, Bedser immediately impressed, taking more than 100 wickets in his first full season at Surrey. He was swiftly selected for England, making his debut aged 28 in what was only his 13th first-class match and taking 11 wickets against India.

Bedser spearheaded England's attack for most of the following decade, helping them to an Ashes victory in 1953.

That same year, Micky Stewart first played with Bedser at county level, marking the beginning of a long friendship, and his former team-mate remembered Bedser yesterday. "This is obviously a very sad day for me and everybody who has been associated with Alec, both during his Surrey and England days," said Stewart.

"I first met him in my debut season with Surrey in 1953 when he was the senior professional and it was an honour and a great experience to play with him.

"He was an incredibly accurate medium-pace bowler with great control and I know he was extremely proud of the great Sir Don Bradman saying he was the finest bowler of his type that he played against.

"He was also great friends to myself and my family. Whenever there were moments of concern, Alec was always the first on the phone to see that everything was OK. Alec was the typical, traditional English professional cricketer and never quite understood all the fuss that goes on about the game today, both on and off the field.

"When he took his 11 wickets against India in 1946, the press rang at home to speak to his mother for her reaction. Her reply was, 'Well, isn't that what he's supposed to do as a bowler?'"

Bedser was an ever-present for Surrey and played a pivotal part in their dominance in the 1950s, helping the club to eight County Championships and taking more than 100 wickets a season on 11 occasions.

Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon added: "Sir Alec was an iconic figure in world cricket.

"He upheld all the great traditions of the game and represented an era that has had a lasting impact on the history of Test and county cricket.

"Along with his twin brother, Eric, he was one of the most recognisable characters in cricket across the globe. In our sadness at the passing of one of the world's greatest cricketers, we can also celebrate the end of an innings which brought pleasure to millions."

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major, a keen Surrey and England fan, added: "Alec Bedser was one of the greatest medium fast bowlers of all time.

"He was also one of the great thinkers about cricket and his wisdom was one of the great untapped resources of the modern game. As a young boy at the Oval, Alec was my bowling idol. In later years he became a friend I cherished greatly. Few people have served cricket better. None will be more missed."

Before his death, Bedser was the last man alive to have taken the wicket of Sir Donald Bradman, something he did six times, more than any other cricketer.

Bedser also twice dismissed the Australian legend for a duck and Bradman was heard to say of Bedser: "He probably worried me more than any other Englishman".

ICC president David Morgan spoke about Bedser's place in cricketing history, not just in England, but around the world.

"It was an honour and privilege to have known Sir Alec, whose contribution to cricket, not only in England and Wales but also globally, must never be underestimated," he said.

"He was an outstanding practitioner of seam bowling and some of his contemporaries believed him to be the greatest bowler they ever faced. He was a great servant of Surrey County Cricket Club as well as being an astute and insightful administrator.

"I kept in regular contact with him by telephone and the last time we spoke was just a few weeks ago. He was still a keen follower of the game and was up to date with the latest scores and developments. The game will mourn his passing."

After his retirement, Bedser served as a national team selector for 23 years and was chairman of selectors from 1969 to 1981.

In 1987 he was made president of Surrey and was knighted nine years later.