Botham and Gatting pay tribute at Dilley service

Ian Botham was at the service for his England team-mate in Worcester (PA)

Former England captains Sir Ian Botham, Mike Gatting and Andrew Flintoff led the tributes in Worcester Cathedral yesterday to the bowler Graham Dilley, who died last month.

Dilley appeared in 41 Tests and is remembered for his match-changing partnership with Botham in the 1981 Ashes Test at Headingley, as well as helping win the 1986-87 series under Gatting.

Gatting said: "Everyone will remember him for 1981 but there are many more memories. Dill never wanted the limelight, he was happy to sit somewhere and have a beer with the boys."

Botham, who also played with Dilley at Worcestershire, said: "We had six or seven marvellous years together. The more you got to know him, the more forthright he was." England selectors Geoff Miller and Ashley Giles and the current squad also attended.

PA