Dave Woodhall attempts to pay tribute to a great sporting icon.

Basil D’Oliviera

I’m not a big fan of cricket, but one of my heroes – not just sporting but in any walk of life – has always been Basil D’Oliviera.

His death yesterday brought some of the most heartfelt and sincere tributes ever paid to a sportsman; reminding the world that here was a man who played a major part in bringing down an obscene regime not through violence and bloodshed, but with dignity and decency.

I would like to add my own tribute, but nothing I could say would come anywhere near this http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1

A great man indeed.