John Murray, the former England and Middlesex wicket-keeper batsman passed away on Tuesday at the age of 83.
Murray watched Middlesex beat Warwickshire at Lord’s in a County Championship match on Tuesday, but fell ill thereafter. He died later that evening.
Murray, considered among the most graceful wicket-keepers in the game, played 21 Tests for England, and scored a century against West Indies in 1966.
He truly made his mark in the first-class circuit. He played 635 games, most of them for Middlesex, and scored 18,872 runs. He claimed more than 1500 dismissals as a wicket-keeper, the second highest on the all-time list – only Bob Taylor, with 1649 dismissals, has claimed more.
John Emburey, the Middlesex president, said: “Losing JT is a devastating blow to Middlesex Cricket. He is undoubtedly the finest wicket-keeper 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.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone associated with Middlesex go out to his family and friends at this desperately sad time.”
