Cricket great Derek ‘Deadly’ Underwood left family more than £800,000 in his will

CRICKET great Derek Underwood left more than £800,000 in his will, probate documents reveal.

England’s most successful spinner — nicknamed Deadly — bequeathed the money to his family.

The star, who died in April aged 78, left £826,000, reduced to £823,000 after debts and costs were deducted.

Wife Patricia Cheeseman was given £50,000 in cash, as well as his home and car.

The remainder was given to his daughters, Fiona and Heather, from his marriage to first wife Dawn Sullivan.

Left-armer Derek took 297 wickets in 86 Tests between 1966 and 1982.

Before the use of covers Underwood was considered unplayable on wet pitches and inspired England to a famous win over Australia at The Oval after the crowd helped mop up the field.

Placid on and off the field, he was known as an unlikely ladies man.

Kent and England team-mate Brian Luckhurst joked that Derek was the only man his wife would leave him for.

Sir Geoffrey Boycott said of his friend: “I don’t know anybody that could play him or hit him after it had rained on those pitches.

“Derek was a one-off, brilliant, extraordinary bowler – unique. There was nobody else like him in English cricket.”

Flags flew at half-mast at grounds across the country to salute the left-armer who, although a spinner, bowled at speeds above 70 miles per hour.