Former England bowler Graham Dilley dies aged 52

Former England fast bowler Graham Dilley has died at the age of 52 after a short illness.

He played 41 Tests and 36 one-day internationals for England during a 10-year international career which included two Ashes series victories.

Dilley is best known for supporting Ian Botham in a 117-run partnership which helped England to a famous Ashes win at Headingley in 1981. After retiring because of injury, the father of four became head coach at Loughborough University.

English Cricket Board chief executive David Collier said: "Graham made a life-long contribution to the game of cricket and we are deeply saddened by the sad news. He will be fondly remembered both as a player and a coach."

Botham was shocked to hear the news that his friend had passed away.

"We only heard a few days ago how ill Graham was," he told Sky Sports News.

"They were saying it was very serious and they were talking maybe two weeks and he's gone in less than two days. We're all shocked that this can happen to someone who's 52. Very shocked."

And Botham, who joined Worcestershire at the same time as Dilley in arguably the county's most successful period during the late 1980s, paid tribute to his former team-mate.

"I've got so many fond memories of him. He ran in to bowl in the Caribbean, first ball, and the heel fell off his boot. Typical Graham he's only brought one pair with him on an England tour so there was panic there, but he was a fantastic cricketer who had a lot of talent.

"He was plagued with injuries, his neck and knees, which probably stopped him playing a lot more for England, but on his day he was the best.