Middlesex and England keeper John Murray dies

John Murray, the former Middlesex and England wicketkeeper, has died at the age of 83. Murray was taken ill at Lord's on Tuesday, after Middlesex's victory over Warwickshire, and passed away later that evening.

Acknowledged as one of the game's finest keepers - his record of 1527 first-class dismissals remains second on the all-time list - Murray played 21 times for England during the 1960s. He made his only Test hundred against West Indies at The Oval in 1966.

A stylist with the bat and gloves, he played more than 650 times for Middlesex, scoring 17,519 runs during a 24-year career.

"Losing JT is a devastating blow to Middlesex Cricket," John Emburey, the club's president, said. "He is undoubtedly the finest wicketkeeper in the history of the club and would be one of the first names on any team sheet when picking an all-time Middlesex XI. What he achieved is unlikely to be repeated.

"He was not only a very fine cricketer, but was a fine man - loyal and committed to Middlesex Cricket. He was a Middlesex man through and through and he continued to serve the club magnificently after retirement as a Committee man, confidant and, most of all supporter. In many ways, it was fitting that his last day was spent at Lord's enjoying a Middlesex victory.

"He will be sorely missed by all at Middlesex, in particular those players that he formed such a close relationship with in the early years of his career.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone associated with Middlesex go out to his family and friends at this desperately sad time."