Tributes Pour In for Cricket Legend Ken Palmer, Who Passed Away at 87

Ken Palmer, a revered figure in the world of cricket, has passed away at the age of 87. Palmer's distinguished career saw him excel both as a player and an umpire, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.

Born on April 22, 1937, in Winchester, Palmer initially faced rejection from Hampshire but found his place with Somerset. He made his debut for the county at the age of 16 and quickly established himself as a talented right-handed batsman and fast-medium bowler. Throughout his career, Palmer played 302 matches for Somerset, scoring 7,567 runs and taking 837 wickets. His best bowling performance was an impressive nine for 57 against Nottinghamshire in 1963.

In 1965, Palmer made his sole appearance for England in a Test match against South Africa in Port Elizabeth. After retiring from playing, he became a respected international umpire, officiating in 22 Test matches and 23 One Day Internationals over a 31-year career. For his contributions to cricket, he was awarded an MBE in 2003.

Peter Robinson, a former Somerset teammate and close friend, described Palmer as a "gutsy cricketer" who always gave his best on the field. Robinson expressed regret that Palmer did not have more opportunities to play Test cricket for England.

Somerset County Cricket Club honored Palmer by flying their flag at half-mast and plans to pay tribute to him during their upcoming Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Kent Spitfires.

This news follows the recent hospitalization of another cricket legend, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, who underwent surgery after being diagnosed with throat cancer for the second time. Boycott's health reportedly worsened due to pneumonia following his surgery.