THE man who became known to a modern generation of players as Mr Kent, former England cricketer Brian Luckhurst, has died. He was 66.

The county’s president for 2004/05, the ex-opening batsman celebrated 50 years service with the club last year but was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus shortly after taking office.

Having joined the club at the age of 15, Luckhurst went on to play 335 first-class matches from 1958 to 1976 before retiring to become 2nd team skipper, club coach and more latterly manager of the Ames Levett Sports Centre.

He made a surprise return to first team duty in 1985 when Kent found themselves one short against the Australian tourists and made a sentimental 336th appearance for the club he served as man and boy.

As a brave and dependable opening batsman, Luckhurst played 21 Tests for England and made five unofficial appearances for an England XI against the Rest of the World XI in 1970.

An outstanding all-round fieldsman, he was a highly-effective limited overs player who contributed enormously to Kent’s years of glory. Indeed, many of his limited overs records for the county still stand.

In announcing the sad loss, Kent chairman Carl Openshaw said: "Brian Luckhurst has been at the heart of Kent cricket for the past 50 years, firstly as an outstanding player, then in a variety of administrative capacities and finally as an immensely popular President.

“Throughout that time, he was always caring, loyal and totally committed to Kent and, in turn, he was loved, admired and respected by everyone involved at the club. Our thoughts and our deepest sympathy are with his wife, Raye, and his family.”

Details of funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

FACTFILE

Name: Brian William Luckhurst
Born: February 5, 1939 in Sittingbourne
Teams: Kent and England
Position: Right-handed top-order batsman and left-arm spinner
Overall first-class career: 389 matches, 22,303 runs, highest score 215, average 38.12, hundreds 48
Kent career: 336 matches, 19,096 runs, highest score 215, average 37.96, hundreds 39, 50s 100, 350 catches, wickets 61 at 42.9 each
Test career: 21 matches, 1,298 runs, highest score 131, average 36.05
One-day internationals: Three matches, 15 runs, average 5
Limited-overs career: 153 matches, 5,485 runs, highest score 142, average 40-62

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*The KM Group's cricket correspondent Mark Pennell spoke to KM-fm's Simon Watts about the man who had been associated with Kent cricket since he was 15...