YORKSHIRE president Dickie Bird has paid tribute to former Yorkshire and England captain Brian Close, who passed away last night at the age of 84 following a period of ill-health.

Close leaves behind his widow Vivian, son Lance and daughter Lyn.

As well as captaining Yorkshire and England, he played football for Bradford City during the 1952/53 season.

Close became the youngest player ever to win a Test cap for England when he made his debut against New Zealand in 1949 as an 18-year-old.

“I was completely stunned when Jason Gillespie and Anthony McGrath came out this morning to tell me the sad news that Brian had passed away. I felt very stunned and very numb,” said Bird, watching Yorkshire in Championship action at Hampshire.

“I had a lump in my throat and there were a few tears because I have lost a damn good friend.

“I feel very sorry for Vivian, his wife, because she has had such a hard time recently because he hasn’t been well.

“He was a great captain. He led from the front and was never beat. He would come back from all odds. He was a brilliant bloke to play for. He was as straight as a gun barrel.

“What more can I say. He was a really good all-round cricketer. A good batsman, a good bowler and, of course, brilliant in the field.

“Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Wayne Daniel peppered him with short-pitched bowling. If I’d have been there as an umpire, I’d have stepped in and stopped it straightaway.

“But Closey was chesting them away, they tell me. He was a tough guy.

“He led from the front, and I thought he was a magnificent captain. We have lost a true legend of the game.

“He also played a tremendous part in pulling Somerset out of the doldrums and brought Viv Richards on and helped Ian Botham as a young man. He also brought Joel Garner to Somerset from the Lancashire League.

“Those three greats had a lot to thank Closey for.

“He was a character in many ways. He used to call me lad. He would have a cigarette on him and I’d say ‘would you like a Whiskey Brian?’ He said ‘yes, I would. Make it a double!’ He will be sadly missed.”