A keeper with outstanding natural gifts, Keith Piper was a key figure in the golden age of Warwickshire cricket. He helped them win an unprecedented treble in 1994, the double the following season and, when Brian Lara recorded his historic innings of 501 at Edgbaston in 1994, Piper was at the other end making an accomplished century of his own.

So impressed was Lara by Piper's talents that he tried to persuade him to qualify for West Indies. But it was not to be.

And perhaps, had his batting been more reliable, he might have graduated to international cricket. But in in an era dominated by Alec Stewart and Jack Russell, Piper had to be content with a place on two England A tours.

His skills with the gloves never deserted him, but did not help himself in the battle for international recognition with his lifestyle choices. After serving a drugs ban in 1997, he tested positive for cannabis in the opening round of matches in 2005, an episode that effectively ended his career. He retired at the end of the season and became Warwickshire's Second XI coach before taking voluntary redundancy at the end of 2008.
George Dobell