TRIBUTES have been paid to former Worcestershire wicketkeeper/batsman Rodney Cass who has passed away at the age of 78.
Cass played for the Pears in the late 1960s and first half of the 1970s after making the move from Essex, where he began his first class career.
He was one of a series of Yorkshire-born wicketkeepers to play for the county including Syd Buller, Roy Booth and Steve Rhodes
All four of them feature in the top ten of the most dismissals by a keeper for Worcestershire, with Wakefield-born Cass responsible for 176 catches and 22 stumpings.
He competed with Gordon Wilcock for much of his time at New Road.
In 1973 he picked up six victims in an innings during the home County Championship match with his former county Essex.
A left-handed batsman, Cass achieved his highest first class score when making 172 not out against Leicestershire at Grace Road in 1975.
During the winter months, Cass played for Tasmania and, after leaving Worcestershire, he played for Shropshire and became a highly-respected MCC coach.
Former Worcestershire chairman John Elliott said: “Rodney actually succeeded me on the county staff as keeper and he was a brave keeper, standing up a lot to the stumps in the same way as Ben Cox does today.
“He was very competitive and dedicated his life to cricket and was an advanced MCC coach who coached all around the world including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.”
Worcestershire CEO Matt Rawnsley said: “Rodney kept his links with the club and was often seen at the club’s annual WOPA day.
“We pass on our condolences to his family and relatives.”
