Dennis Silk, the former chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board, has died at the age of 87.

Silk, who chaired the board between 1994 and 1996, was one of many outstanding batsmen to come out of Cambridge in the 1950s, and were it not for the demands of his career in teaching, would undoubtedly have had a longer career in the game.

He made his debut for Cambridge University in 1952, and also played for Somerset from 1956 to 1960 - although just 33 of his 83 first-class appearances came for his county. He toured four times with MCC, twice as captain (North America and New Zealand) and was subsequently president of the club between 1992 and 1994.

Between 1968 and 1991, Silk served as warden (headmaster) of Radley - the alma mater of the former England captain Andrew Strauss - and was regarded by his contemporaries as one of the outstanding headmasters of his generation.