TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Worcestershire county cricketer who has died.

David Humphries, who played more than 300 games in his career, has died aged 66 after a lengthy illness.

The club paid tribute to their former wicketkeeper, sending its condolences to Mr Humphries' wife Lorraine.

Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group chairman Paul Pridgeon said: “It is a sad day. Myself and David were room-mates all the way through his Worcestershire career.

“He was a very good keeper and also an extremely hard-hitter of the ball. When he came into bat, opponents would put the fielders all around the boundary. He was capable of hitting the ball out of the park.

“David was also a gentle, affable soul, one of the good guys, and never happier than with a cigarette and a pint, an old-fashioned sort of cricketer and a very good one.”

When he ended his cricketing career, David became a member of Worcestershire Golf & Country Club at Boughton Park for 28 years.

Alveley-born, Mr Humphries played 170 First Class and 157 List A matches and was a hard-hitting left-handed batsman in addition to being an excellent performer behind the stumps.

He played for Shropshire and then spent three years with Leicestershire before moving to Blackfinch New Road for the 1977 season and spending eight years with the County.

David scored his maiden First Class century against visiting Warwickshire the following season and his career best performance with the bat came in 1984 with 133 not out against Derbyshire at Blackfinch New Road.

His highest aggregate of dismissals in a campaign was 57 in 1979 including eight in a match at Derby.