THE family of former Kent cricketer Graham Cowdrey hope he will make a full recovery and return to work next month after suffering a slight heart attack.

The 43-year-old, who now works in public relations and odds setting for on-line spread betting firm Cantor Spreadfair, was taken ill near his home in Newmarket after Christmas and hospital tests later confirmed he had suffered a slight attack.

Graham’s brother, the ex-Kent and England captain Chris Cowdrey, confirmed the news this week, saying: “Yes, sadly Graham did have a slight attack and it was a great shock for us all.

“He is on the mend, though, and with a couple of lifestyle changes, he should be fine. I think he’ll probably have to cut out smoking though.”

Graham Cowdrey retired from first-class cricket in 1997 after banking record profits from a Kent benefit season and having enjoyed a career spanning 179 matches, in which he scored almost 9,000 runs at an average of 34.73.