Tributes to iconic cricket figure Alec Bedser

MARYLEBONE Cricket Club has paid tribute to the former England bowler Sir Alec Bedser, who died on April 4 aged 91. Sir Alec was elected an honorary life member of the club in 1961 and appears three times on the Lord s honours boards. He took 7-49 on his

MARYLEBONE Cricket Club has paid tribute to the former England bowler Sir Alec Bedser, who died on April 4 aged 91.

Sir Alec was elected an honorary life member of the club in 1961 and appears three times on the Lord's honours boards.

He took 7-49 on his debut against India in 1946, and also 5-105 against Australia in 1953. In total he took a remarkable 39 wickets in the series, as England reclaimed the Ashes. Sir Alec became the 24th honorary life vice-president of MCC in 1999 and sat on the committee from 1981 to 1984 and the cricket committee from 1963 to 1990.

Keith Bradshaw, MCC secretary and chief executive, said: "Sir Alec was a close personal friend to me but he was also cherished by the whole club. Both as a player and an administrator he gave so much to the game, and we will miss him dearly.

"He was an iconic figure in the post-war era, and one that the cricketing world will be all the poorer without."

Sir Alec was knighted in 1997 and also was awarded a CBE in 1982 and an OBE in 1964. MCC's flag is flying at half-mast.