The cricket world was in mourning today for former Yorkshire Cricket Club captain Phil Carrick who died at Airedale Hospital, Steeton, last night after losing his battle against leukaemia.

Mr Carrick, 47, of West Morton, near Keighley, was the last Yorkshire captain to lead his side to a major trophy when he lifted the Benson and Hedges Cup at Lord's in 1987 following the narrow defeat of Northamptonshire.

He lived with his wife Ellie and daughters Emma, 19, and Philippa, who was 18 yesterday. He had been in hospital for the past few weeks.

It is almost exactly two years since the death of his colleague and close friend David Bairstow who Mr Carrick succeeded as Yorkshire captain in 1987.

In the first of Mr Carrick's three seasons in charge, Yorkshire beat Northamptonshire at Lord's to lift the Benson & Hedges Cup and this remains their most successful moment over the past 30 years.

Although he was born in Bramley, he was as closely associated with the Bradford district, as Mr Bairstow had been.

And he developed his cricket with Bradford League club Farsley, where former England captain Ray Illingworth also learned his trade.

Mr Carrick, known throughout the cricketing world as Fergie, made his Yorkshire debut in 1970 and by the time he retired in 1993 he had earned his place as one of Yorkshire's leading all-rounders with 1,018 first class wickets and 9,994 runs.

Only 12 bowlers in Yorkshire's history had a larger haul of wickets than the left-arm spinner and it was always a bitter disappointment to him that he failed by just six runs to complete the rare double of 10,000 runs and 1,000 wickets.

Mr Carrick was the first Yorkshire player to say publicly that the club should accept overseas players and his controversial views were one reason why he lost the captaincy in 1989.

Upon retirement from first class cricket, he captained Pudsey Congs.

Yorkshire's current captain David Byas said last night: "David Bairstow was my first captain and Carrick my second and to lose them both at such an early age is a double tragedy."

Mr Illingworth said: "He loved his cricket and it is a terrible shock for his family."

Yorkshire cricket committee member Geoff Cope said: "Ever since he was a young schoolboy, Phil's ambition was to wear the white rose of Yorkshire."

Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell said: "All the players will be stunned by the news. They have been visiting him regularly over the past few months."

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