Keith Piper: Former Warwickshire wicketkeeper dies at the age of 56

Former Warwickshire wicketkeeper Keith Piper has died at the age of 56.

Piper spent 16 years with the Bears and was a key part of the club’s treble-winning side in 1994.

Under the captaincy of Dermot Reeve, Warwickshire won the County Championship, the 40-over Sunday league and 55-over Benson and Hedges Cup and were only denied a clean sweep of silverware by rivals Worcestershire in the 60-over Natwest Trophy final at Lord’s.

That year Piper claimed 66 red-ball dismissals, including a county record seven catches in an innings against Essex and scored a career-best unbeaten 116 against Durham at Edgbaston, supporting Brian Lara in his world-record innings of 501 not out.

That century was one of two, along with 14 half-centuries, in his 4,618 first-class runs.

In total, he claimed 540 first-class dismissals, including more than 500 catches, and added another 308 dismissals in one-day games.

Piper helped Warwickshire win 10 trophies between his debut in 1989 and his final season in 2005.