Basil D'Oliveira

Not only a great cricketer but a truly exceptional man, the passing of Basil D'Oliveira is a sad thing of course but with at least something of a merciful release about it as his Parkinson's disease had meant a long and difficult eight years during which visitors had been discouraged because he simply didn't know who they were.

Neither are obituaries likely to give his precise dates as he had lied about his age in order to play for England because he thought he might be too old and didn't make his debut until he was (possibly) 36. So, although his age is being given as officially 80, it seems he was 83 or 84.

Somewhere about here must be the autograph I got in Worcester in about 1985 but the best story I heard on the radio this morning was from a contributor who had also been an autograph hunter.

The lad approached Geoff Boycott and asked for the usual bit of useless scribble and received in return a customary helping of Boycott candour. D'Oliveira overheard the exchange, came over and apologized, took the pen and paper into the dressing room and got autographs from the whole England team. Hopefully still without the dreadful Yorkshireman.

They simply don't make them like Dolly anymore.