LEGENDARY former England and Worcestershire cricketer Graham Dilley has been admitted to hospital with a serious illness.

The 52-year-old enjoyed a successful career as part of a golden generation at New Road between 1987 and 1992 as well as playing in 41 Test matches and 36 one-day internationals for his country.

He had recently been working as head cricket coach at Loughborough University.

A spokesman from the university confirmed that Mr Dilley has been admitted to hospital with a serious illness.

He said: “Our thoughts are with Graham and his family, who have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”

Worcester Warriors captain Chris Pennell, who is Mr Dilley’s son, did not wish to comment.

The fast bowler was an integral part of Worcestershire’s back-to-back County Championship title-winning sides in 1987 and 1988, while the highlight of his international career was when he played a key role in helping England to defy the odds and win the Headingley Test on the way to a series victory in the 1981 Ashes.

After retiring from his playing career through injury, Mr Dilley turned his hand to coaching and initially took up a position at Cheltenham College.

He was later bowling coach to the England women’s team and was assistant coach of the England men’s side for the tour of India in 2001-02, joining Loughborough University in his current role as cricket head coach in 2000.

The university described Mr Dilley as an “outstanding coach”, with many of his students progressing to county and national level cricket.

They said he had contributed “significantly“ to Loughborough’s development as a cricket centre of excellence and had played a key role in its success.