Raymond Illingworth CBE (8 June 1932 – 25 December 2021) was an English cricketer, cricket commentator and administrator. , he was one of only nine players to have taken 2,000 wickets and made 20,000 runs in first-class cricket. He played for Yorkshire (1951–1968 and 1982–1983), Leicestershire (1969–1978) and England (1958–1973) and was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1960. Early years Illingworth was born in Pudsey, West Riding of Yorkshire on 8 June 1932. As a teenager he played at Farsley Cricket Club. During his young age as a teenage boy he had assisted his local club ground, Bradford League Club for domestic club matches by preparing grounds. His father was a cabinet-maker and joiner. His father also worked shifts at a munitions factory during the World War II. His father then returned to the business of cabinet making and Ray often helped his father with the repairs, upholstery and French polishing. He left school at the age of 14 and started playing for Farsley Cricket Club main XI shortly after the end of World War II in 1945. He did turn up for Farsley First XI at the age of 13. He was known for his knock of unbeaten 148 in a Priestley Cup final which was contested as part of Bradford Premier League. He was called up to join the national service at the age of 18 when he was on the verge/brink of potentially being selected to county cricket level. He also went onto ply his trade playing for the RAF and for the Combined Services during the time when he was serving in the national service. Playing style Illingworth was a keen student of the game. He had a realistic approach, and "only liked to gamble on certainties." As a bowler, he was not a sharp spinner of the ball, relying on accuracy and subtle variations of flight, but his arm ball was particularly effective, many of his victims being caught at slip, playing for spin that was not there. In county cricket, he took 2072 wickets. He bowled 408 balls without reward in three Tests against New Zealand in 1973 but conceded only 1.91 runs an over in his Test career. His middle-order batting was based around stern defence; a fifth of his innings, mostly from number 6 or 7 in the order, finished not out. He scored 24,134 first-class runs in all, with