![\"Norman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Norman-Gifford.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe left-arm spinner took 2,068 first-class wickets during a three-decade career, playing for Worcestershire before moving to Warwickshire in 1983<\/p>\n
Norman Gifford(Image: )<\/p>\n
Tributes have been paid to a cricketing legend who has died aged 85.<\/p>\n
Norman Gifford MBE represented England in 15 Test matches spanning 1964 to 1973, before leading his nation in two one-day internationals during 1985 at the remarkable age of 44.<\/p>\n
The England and Wales Cricket Board shared an obituary of Mr Gifford, saying the crafty left-arm spinner secured an extraordinary 2,068 first-class wickets across a 30-year playing career, during which he skippered both Worcestershire and Warwickshire<\/a> before hanging up his boots aged 48.<\/p>\n Read more: Coventry named among Midlands cities set to be covered by 500-mile snow bomb<\/a><\/p>\n Read more: Parents demand action near Coventry school over ‘dangerous parking’<\/a><\/p>\n Gifford secured his New Road deal after spotting an advertisement in a cricket publication inviting trials at the club. After making the journey from his home county of Lancashire, he became an enduring and influential presence both on the pitch and beyond.<\/p>\n He proved instrumental in Worcestershire’s historic consecutive County Championship victories in 1964 and 1965, later steering the county to a third championship triumph in 1974. The subsequent year saw him recognised as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year, whilst 1978 brought an MBE in recognition of his contributions to cricket.<\/p>\n He also guided the Pears to their maiden Sunday League crown in 1971, subsequently returning to serve as President in 2017 before receiving appointment as a Life Honorary Vice-President two years afterwards.<\/p>\n His career took him to Worcestershire’s rivals Warwickshire for a five-year spell beginning in 1983. During this period, England recalled him for an ODI series in Sharjah where, aged 44 years and 359 days, he established himself as international cricket’s oldest ODI debut captain.<\/p>\n A spokesman for Worcestershire County Cricket Club said: \u201cEveryone at Worcestershire County Cricket Club would like to offer their sincere condolences to the family, who are all in our thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n CoventryLive has a number of newsletters to help you keep up to date with what’s important.<\/p>\n There’s a Coventry newsletter that goes out twice a day, morning and evening, with all the latest headlines.<\/p>\n Plus we have a dedicated Warwickshire newsletter which goes out once a day. And there’s a crime and courts newsletter you can also sign up for – this goes out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can sign up to receive these free to your email inbox here<\/a>.<\/p>\n