ECB Chairman Colin Graves paid tribute to Doug Insole CBE whose death at the age of 91 was announced earlier today.
Insole played nine Tests for England and scored more than 25,000 First Class runs including 54 centuries over the course of a 17-year career with Essex whom he captained from 1950-1960.
A graduate of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, he captained the university’s cricket side and was also a fine amateur footballer, playing for Corinthian Casuals in the 1956 FA Amateur Cup final.
After retiring from cricket, he became one of the post-war game’s most prominent administrators serving as England Chairman of Selectors in the 1960s and later becoming Chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board, the forerunner of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
He was appointed MCC President in 2006 and was also a former Chairman of the European Cricket Council.
Graves said: “This is very sad news for all Doug’s many friends and colleagues across the game – especially at Essex the county he captained so successfully and which held such a special place in his affections.
“As well as serving cricket with great distinction as an administrator, Doug made an outstanding contribution to the England team - as a player, a selector, and as team manager on two Ashes tours of Australia.
“He retained a strong connection with the England team in his later years and greatly enjoyed meeting members of the current team at the special celebratory dinner for past and present England players held at Lord’s earlier this year. "