John Savage, the former Leicestershire and Lancashire player, has died aged 79 after a short illness. Savage, who also coached at Lancashire for nine years from 1969, passed away in Rochdale Infirmary on Monday after a short illness.

Savage, an offspinner, played the majority of his first-class career at Leicestershire - from 1953 to 1966 - before heading to Old Trafford in 1967. With the emergence of fellow spinner Jack Simmons, first-team opportunities were limited, but Lancashire saw in Savage strong leadership qualities and asked him to take on the role of player-coach for the club's up and coming talent.

Savage took 965 wickets in 347 matches, passing 100 wickets in a season on three occasions.

It was a post he held from 1969 until the end of his playing career in 1978. In 2001, John was elected a vice-president of Lancashire County Cricket Club. Although born in Ramsbottom, Savage made his home in Crumpsall, North Manchester.