Former England spinner David Allen dies aged 78

David Allen, the former England and Gloucestershire offspinner, has died at the age of 78.

Allen played 39 Tests for England in the 1960s, when he faced tough competition for a place from offspinners such as Fred Titmus, Ray Illingworth and John Mortimore, a team-mate at Gloucestershire. He took 122 Test wickets at an average of 30.97.

Allen also scored 918 Test runs, including five fifties, with a best of 88. But perhaps his best known batting feat at international level was to block out the final over from West Indies fast bowler Wes Hall, when Colin Cowdrey had come back in as last man at the non-striker's end after retiring hurt with a broken arm earlier in the innings, to ensure a draw in the Lord's Test of 1963.

Allen played for Gloucestershire from 1953 to 1972, taking more than 1200 wickets and scoring over 9000 runs in first-class cricket. He became Gloucestershire's president in 2011.

"Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is saddened to announce the death of former player and club president David Allen at the age of 78," said the county said in a statement. "Our sincere sympathy goes out to his family and friends."