Former England skipper Ray Illingworth passed away on Saturday (December 25, 2021) at the age of 89.
"We are deeply saddened to learn that Ray Illingworth has passed away," wrote Yorkshire County Cricket Club on Twitter. "Our thoughts are with Ray's family and the wider Yorkshire family who held Ray so dear to their hearts."
Illingworth played 61 Tests where he picked up 122 wickets at an economy rate of 1.91. In three ODIs that Illingworth featured in, he had four scalps to his name. Talking about Illingworth’s batting, he notched up over 1800 Test runs including a couple of tons during the course.
Illingworth was a part of 787 FC matches, where he scored 24134 runs including 22 centuries and 105 fifties and also picked up 2072 wickets. In a 32-year long career, he achieved the feat of double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets six times and also led Yorkshire to three County Championship titles.
He had revealed that he was receiving treatment for esophageal cancer in November 2021.
The England players donned the black arm bands during the third Ashes Test in Melbourne as a a mark of respect and tribute towards Illingworth.