Ralph Dellor dies aged 69

Broadcaster Ralph Dellor, a former editor of Cricinfo, has died aged 69. In a wide and varied 50-year career in cricket, Dellor commentated for the BBC's Test Match Special programme, authored many books, and coached the Norwegian national team.

Dellor began his career in 1970 with BBC local radio, going on to work on Grandstand and Match of the Day as well as TMS. He also wrote for the Daily Telegraph, became the ICC's first media consultant and, more recently, took on the job of "Voice of Lord's" as MCC's PA announcer.

Widely liked and respected within cricket, he covered numerous other sports and developed a line in after-dinner speaking. Between 1984 and 1988 he was editor of the Cricketers' Who's Who and in 2000 he won the Jack Fingleton Award as cricket commentator of the year.

A keen cricketer and golfer, he was an ECB-accredited coach and led Norway to the European Trophy in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

Dellor was director of cricket operations at Cricinfo between 2000 and 2003, which involved commentating on the 2000 Women's World Cup in New Zealand. He left to set up his own business, Sportsline Media, with Cricinfo colleague Stephen Lamb.

Dellor was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, for which he had been undergoing treatment.