Former England pacer Sir Alec Bedser dies at 91

London, Apr 5 (ANI): One of England's greatest cricketers, Sir Alec Bedser, who rebuilt the England cricket team following the Second World War and played a pivotal role in the side regaining the Ashes in 1953, has died at the age of 91.

Bedser died at around 8.30 on Sunday evening at a hospital in Woking after falling ill last month, according to a close friend.

In December last year he became the oldest surviving England Test cricketer following the death of Arthur McIntyre.

He was also, until his death, the last man alive to have taken the wicket of Donald Bradman, the legendary Australian batsman whom he twice dismissed for a duck, in a Test match, The Telegraph reports.

Bedser, a right-arm medium-fast bowler, played 51 matches and took 236 wickets in a career spanning 11 years.

At the time of his retirement, he had taken more wickets in Test cricket than any other cricketer.

With identical twin brother Eric, who died four years ago, he played club cricket for the dominant Surrey side of the 1950s, taking 1924 first-class wickets in 485 matches.

He helped the club to eight County Championships between 1950 and 1958, and took 100 wickets in a county season eleven times, figures that place him high among the game's greats.

After retiring from playing cricket in 1960, Bedser served as a national team selector for twenty-three years and was chairman of selectors from 1969 to 1981. (ANI)