Trevor Bailey is dead

Former England all-rounder Trevor Bailey has died after a fire at his home this morning. He was 87.



England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), chairman Giles Clarke led the tributes to Bailey, who earned 61 Test caps between 1949 and 1959 and played county cricket for Essex for more than 20 years.



Clarke says Bailey was not only one of the finest all-round cricketers this country has ever produced but he was also someone who made an enormous contribution to the game as an administrator and as a writer and broadcaster.



Bailey was found dead by firefighters after the blaze in Westcliff, Essex, shortly after 6 a.m.



Firefighters said an investigation into the cause of the blaze was under way.



Essex fire service divisional officer Bob Wahl says the fire-fighters were able rescue a woman, understood to be Bailey's wife Greta, from the residence.