MICHAEL DENNESS OBE

Born in North Lanarkshire and raised in Ayr, where he lived close to the local club ground at New Cambusdoon, he won 10 caps for Scotland between 1959 and 1967 but it was his signing for Kent in 1962 that led to his career progressing in English cricket.

He scored more than 1,000 runs in the 1963 season with Kent – the first of more than 30,000 domestic runs he would chalk up during his 20 years at the crease. After taking the captaincy in 1972, Michael led Kent to the John Player League three times (1972, 1973, 1976), the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1973 and 1976 and the Gillette Cup in 1974.

He made his England debut in the final Test against New Zealand at The Oval in 1969. He became vice-captain on the 1972-73 tour of India and captain in 1973. He played for England in 28 Tests, 19 as captain.

In total, he made 501 appearances as a professional player, scoring 33 first-class hundreds and a best of 195, and six one-day centuries with a top score of 188 not out. He also took two wickets with his occasional bowling.

After retiring as a player in 1980, Michael became a committee member at Kent. He was elected president from 2012-13 and was awarded the OBE for services to sport shortly before his death in April 2013.