LANCASHIRE mourned one of its greatest cricketing sons before yesterday's match at Worcester with a minute's silence for Brian Statham (left), who died aged 69 at the weekend.

Statham had been suffering from leukaemia in addition to osteoporosis, and died peacefully at his home.

"As far as I am concerned he was one of the greatest," said Fred Trueman, Statham's new ball partner in 36 Tests for England. "It's a very sad day for the club," added Lancashire chairman Jack Simmons.

Statham, who made his Lancashire debut on his 28th birthday in 1950, took 1,816 wickets in 430 first class matches for the county at an average of 15.12.

He made his England debut on the 1950-51 tour of New Zealand and played 70

Tests in all, the last in 1965, claiming 252 wickets at 24.84. In 1966 he was awarded the CBE for his services to cricket, the first bowler to be recognised, and eventually he was elected to the Lancashire committee and was president of the club in 1997-98.

"He was a tremendous servant oft his club and a wonderful president," added Simmons. "A special ambassador who got involved and was interested in all grades of cricket.

"He had suffered with his health for a long time and I know that he was often in pain.

"But he never complained and never made a fuss. He was like that as a player and he was so unassuming and laid back that I really don't think he appreciated he was one of the great names in cricket."

Statham's death, which folows that of Sir Cyril Washbrook last year, robs Lancashire of a second post war colossus, who will always be fondly remembered as Gentleman George for those supporters lucky enough to have seen him play.