English cricketing great Cowdrey dead

London: English cricketing great Colin Cowdrey has died after a long illness, the Press Association reported on Tuesday. Former Kent and England captain Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge, 67, had suffered a stroke in July.Cowdrey's son Chris said that the legendary batsman died at his home in the early hours, the Press Association reported. Chris Cowdrey, currently in Pakistan covering England's tour for a radio station, said, "Obviously the whole family is deeply saddened by the news. It came as a great shock as he was recovering well from a recent stroke."Lord Cowdrey was the fourth highest-scoring England player in Test history, with 7,264 runs from his 114 Tests, starting on the 1954/55 tour of Australia and finishing there 20 years later. He scored 22 Test centuries.He still held the Test record for the highest fourth wicket partnership with Peter May of 411, set against Australia in Sydney in 1946-7, and also finished with 107 first class hundreds to his name and 42,719 runs at an average of 44.82.He was also a reliable slip fielder taking 120 catches, a then Test record for a non-wicketkeeper.Lord Cowdrey had three sons by his first wife, Penny, two of whom played for Kent - Chris, who also played for England, and Graham.After a divorce he married Anne, a daughter of the Duke of Norfolk.Copyright @2000 AFP. All rights reserved