Duncan Fearnley, bat-maker and Worcestershire legend, dies elderly 83

Initially from Pudsey, Fearnley moved to Worcestershire in 1960 after starting his profession in Yorkshire Seconds, and went directly to make 97 appearances as a left-handed batter throughout seven seasons, together with 687 runs and 4 half-centuries within the membership’s County Championship victory in 1964.

After departing the membership in 1968, he returned in 1972 because the 2d XI captain, in which level his Worcester-based bat production trade used to be thriving, with a number of of the best avid gamers of the technology the usage of his apparatus, together with Sunil Gavaskar, Ian Botham, Graham Gooch and Allan Border.

In 1986, Fearnley used to be named Worcestershire chair, and oversaw a golden technology for the membership that incorporated two County Championship titles, two Sunday League titles, the Shelter Assurance Cup, the Benson and Hedges Cup, and the NatWest Trophy over a length of simply twelve years.

He additionally served as Membership President from 2011 to 2013, and used to be due to this fact elected as an Honorary Vice-President.

“Duncan’s passing is an incredible loss,” Paul Pridgeon, Worcestershire’s performing chair, stated. “His contributions as a participant, an administrator, and a passionate supporter of the membership had been immeasurable. He used to be the guts and soul of Worcestershire CCC, leaving an indelible mark at the membership.

“His legacy as a bat-maker and his profound love for the membership will at all times be remembered. Nowadays, we’ve got misplaced a real cricketing legend.”