Tributes paid after legendary Warwickshire wicketkeeper Keith Piper dies aged 56

Warwickshire are mourning the loss of legendary wicketkeeper Keith Piper, who has died aged 56.

Piper, who in 2020 was voted the club’s greatest-ever keeper, passed away on Tuesday. He had previously revealed he was fighting cancer.

Born in Leicester, Piper played 16 seasons for Warwickshire between 1989 and 2005 and was a mainstay of the team during the club’s golden era, which included two County Championship titles and the treble-winning 1994 campaign.

Standout moments included Piper being the man at the other end when Brian Lara completed his world-record innings of 501 not out against Durham at Edgbaston.

It was Piper who, after consulting with the umpires, told Lara he had just two balls remaining to beat the previous record of 499. The West Indies star promptly hit the next ball for four.

Piper’s own score of 116 not out was the highest he ever recorded in first-class cricket.

He was best known for his work behind the stumps. Piper took more than 500 catches in his first-class career and is regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers never to have played for England.

His international career consisted of two England A call-ups in the mid-1990s.

“I’ve always said that I thought he was the best wicket-keeper in the UK,” his former Warwickshire team-mate, Allan Donald, said in 2020.

“His ability to stand up to the stumps to the likes of Paul Smith and Tim Munton and, at times, even Gladstone Small to keep batters quiet at the crease was amazing.

“It seemed that the ball just melted away into those gloves.

“He was so calm behind the stumps and also a great mover who anticipated really well. He was brave too, he broke a few digits along the way with the ball wobbling about as it does in England.”

Piper’s career was not without controversy. Suspended for one-match after testing positive for cannabis in 1997, a second positive test in 2005 effectively ended his first-class career.

He remained with the Bears until 2008 as second team coach, before then making a brief return to coaching at Leicestershire in 2015.

Another Warwickshire legend, Ian Bell, posted on social media: “Absolutely gutted to hear the news.

“Pipes was one of my heroes from the Warwickshire team which won everything in the 90s.

“Watching him keep wicket to Donald, Small, Munton and Smith and making it look so easy every Bears fan was in awe, absolute pure class.

“To then share a dressing room and play alongside him was a dream come true.”

Posting on social media, Piper’s former Bears team-mate Charles Dagnall wrote: “It’s heartbreaking when you hear of a team-mate passing.

“Even more so when it’s way too soon. RIP Keith Piper.

“The little genius had the most wonderful hands. Always had your back. A sad night.”

Former Leicestershire and England wicketkeeper, Paul Nixon, posted: “Pipes was Warwickshire’s finest, the most naturally gifted WK I ever played against & toured with.

“Deepest love and condolences to Keith’s family at this devastating time.”