The master of movement

Former England bowler Alec Bedser,who took 236 Test wickets in a glittering England career spanning 51 matches,died at the age of 91 on Sunday.

The former Surrey seamer passed away late on Sunday following a brief illness and International Cricket Council (ICC) president David Morgan led the tributes.

It was an honour and privilege to have known Sir Alec whose contribution to cricket not only in England and Wales but also globally must never be underestimated, Morgan said in an ICC news release.

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He was an outstanding practitioner of seam bowling and some of his contemporaries believed him to be the greatest bowler they ever faced. The game will mourn his passing.

Bedser dismissed Australian batting great Sir Donald Bradman six times more than any other player including twice for ducks.

True legend

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke described the former Surrey player as a true legend of the game.

Sir Alec Bedser deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest England bowlers of all time,a master of the craft of seam bowling, Clarke told the ECB website. Bedser,who had spells as England manager and chairman of selectors following his retirement,took 1,924 first-class wickets in a 21-year career from 1939-60. He made his England debut against India in 1946 and took 11 wickets in each of his first two tests. Bedsers twin brother Eric,who also played for Surrey but was uncapped by his country,died in 2006.