An inquest has recorded a verdict of accidental death on former England all-rounder and BBC Test Match Special commentator Trevor Bailey.

The 87-year-old died in a fire at his home in Westcliff, Essex in February. His wife Greta was rescued from the Crowstone Road flat.

The inquest was heard by Essex coroner Peter Dean at Southend Court House.

Mr Bailey won 61 cricket Test caps between 1949 and 1959. He was regarded as one of England's great all-rounders.

He played county cricket for Essex for more than 20 years and scored 1,000 runs and took 100 wickets in a year several times.

At the time of Mr Bailey's death, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke said: "Trevor Bailey was not only one of the finest all-round cricketers this country has ever produced, he was also someone who made an enormous contribution to the game as an administrator and as a writer and broadcaster."

Former prime minister Sir John Major also paid tribute.

"One of my abiding memories as a small boy is of Trevor Bailey and Willie Watson batting at Lord's to save the Test match against the Australians," he said.

Read More...........
Reproduced under licence from BBC News © 2011 BBC