Pipes has passed away, aged 56, due to ill health. Very sad news.
Pipes has passed away, aged 56, due to ill health. Very sad news.
If that’s true, it’s really tragic. He was easily the best Bears keeper I’ve seen.
A troubled soul and gone too young.
Bloody hell. What a shock, not sure what he has been doing all these years but that is shocking. Outside of Tests, the best keeper I have seen by a mile. Alan Donald really rated him and said he was a real inspiration behind the stumps, getting up the noses of opposition and taking catches that most keepers wouldn't get near.
One of my favourite players growing up, absolutely loved him, always had time for the Junior Bears and would stop and have a chat and a laugh. RIP Pipes. So sad.
Strangely, I cannot see anything online about Keith Piper passing away. Where has this come from and why is it not on the BBC Cricket site.
Charlie Dagnall confirmed it on X.
Yes, sadly I saw a Facebook post by Richard Stemp confirming it.
Still nothing on the BBC site which hasn't changed since the Stokes incident.
So many unbelievable catches behind the stumps. Sad to read this today. Thank you Pipes for so much enjoyment you provided.
Remember being at Canterbury on a dull, drizzly Saturday, September afternoon in 1995 when we wrapped up a win to secure the CC. AD steaming in at full pelt and Keith taking some absolute screamers to bowl them out in a session. What a keeper he was.
In my time watching the Bears we've had some truly great batsmen and some truly great bowlers. With all due respect to Tim Ambrose and Deryck Murray, I don't think we've had a truly great wicket-keeper. Piper was perhaps the closest we've come and the fact that he was so highly rated by those with whom he played speaks volumes. Sad for him to go so young.