Cricket world in mourning.

THE cricketing world is mourning the loss of legendary statistician and broadcaster Bill Frindall after his death from Legionnaire's disease.

Frindall was the Test Match Special (TMS) scorer from 1966 and was christened 'The Bearded Wonder' by late commentator Brian Johnston for his encyclopaedic knowledge of cricket facts.

It is believed he contracted the disease in Dubai, where he had been on a tour with the Lord's Taverners.

The 69-year-old's death will come as a sad loss to countless cricket fans around the world.

His astonishing ability to recall the most obscure and arcane snippets of cricket trivia was as much a part of the TMS experience as the runs, wickets and discussions about cake.

Jonathan Agnew, the BBC cricket correspondent and Frindall's colleague in the commentary box, said he brought scoring alive for many listeners.

"The weird world of cricket scoring to many people is incredibly dull but Bill made it interesting, he made it lively," he said.

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BEARDED WONDER: Bill Frindall