Cricket is mourning the loss of Kent and England legend Mike Denness.

Denness, the only Scot to captain England, has died after a lengthy fight against cancer, at the age of 72.

In the last week of his year as Kent president - and less than four months after being awarded an OBE in the new year’s honours list - tributes have been paid to his career "chock-full of high achievement, all accomplished with the style and flair he showed with the bat."

A statement released by Kent County Cricket Club, said: "Under a tough and often uncompromising exterior, as a player and in his wider life, lay a sensitive man.

"His OBE was for services to sport, and he indeed served the game he loved with distinction and care."

Denness played 28 Tests for England between 1969-1975, but will be best remembered in Kent for the six domestic trophies he secured as captain between 1972 and 1976.

He also helped win the John Player League three times, the Benson and Hedges Cup twice, and the Gillette Cup in 1974.

When appointed OBE, Denness said: “I never expected this and it really is a great honour.

"This completes a thrilling year, during which I have served as Kent Cricket president."

During his career he also led England in 19 of his 28 Tests.

Mike Denness’s close friend, and Kent Cricket President for 2013, Bob ‘the cat’ Bevan MBE said: “Michael Henry Denness was the finest cricketer ever born in Scotland by a considerable distance.

"Both on and off the field he epitomised the cricketing term 'playing a straight bat'.

"He was a man of the utmost honesty and integrity. The cricketing counties of Kent and Essex, the whole world of cricket and my wife and I, personally, have lost one of our greatest friends.“