TRIBUTES have been paid from far and wide to one of Gloucestershire’s greatest cricketers, Tom Graveney, whose death was announced on Tuesday.

The legendary batsman’s passing comes a week after his brother, Ken, also died.

Graveney, who was 88 when he died, Graveney made 11 centuries in 79 Tests for England between 1951 and 1969, scoring 4,882 runs at an average of 44.38 for his country, while finishing his career with 122 first-class hundreds in all.

He captained England once, in a drawn Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley in July 1968. Graveney's county cricket career was spent at first with Gloucestershire, from 1948 to 1960, and latterly at Worcestershire, from 1961 to 1970, and he also had a spell in Australia with Queensland before retiring in 1972.

A statement from Gloucestershire said: "Gloucestershire Cricket is deeply saddened by the news that former Gloucestershire captain and England player Tom Graveney has died at the age of 88."

The England and Wales Cricket Board led tributes, with its chairman Colin Graves saying: "I count myself privileged to have seen Tom Graveney bat.

"He was one of the game's great stylists; a batsman whose name became synonymous with elegance and whose perfectly executed cover drive will live long in the memory of those who saw it.

"He was also a true gentleman; someone who served our county game with distinction and who, later in life, gave back much to the game he so dearly loved by becoming MCC president.

"We send our condolences to his family, and to all his many friends and former colleagues within the world of cricket, both in this country and overseas."

Nephew David Graveney is a former England chairman of selectors.

Graveney's former counties also paid their respects.

Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale said: "Tom has been a major figure in Worcestershire's history and everyone at the club is saddened by today's news and our thoughts go out to the Graveney family at this sad time.

"He was one of the stalwarts of our first two Championship triumphs and will be hugely missed by everyone at Worcestershire CCC and by cricket as a whole."

Former England fast bowler Bob Willis paid tribute to Graveney on Sky Sports, saying: "I had the privilege of playing against him in his last first-class season in 1970.

"Elegance is the word to describe him - he was always immaculately turned out whether he was on or off the field and he really did grace a cricket ground's presence when he was out in the middle."

A message from the Lord's Twitter account read: "Deeply saddened to hear of the death of former @englandcricket captain and MCC President Tom Graveney."

Former England spinner Ashley Giles tweeted: "Very sad to hear that the great Tom Graveney has died. Such a lovely man."

BBC radio cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew wrote: "Never saw Tom Graveney bat, but he is synonymous with a golden era of England batsmen. Loved a chat in the bar and lived for cricket. RIP."