Australia's Test team have worn black armbands to honour the life of former opening batsman Arthur Morris, a member of Don Bradman's 1948 Invincibles team, who has died aged 93.
Morris played 46 Test matches from 1946-55 - making 3533 runs at an average of 46.46 - and captained Australia in two Tests.
Bradman regarded Morris, an aggressive batsman who formed a formidable opening partnership with Sid Barnes, as the best left-hander he had seen.
His 196 at The Oval in 1948 is often regarded as the most forgotten century in the history of Test cricket, with Morris at the other end when Bradman was bowled for a duck in his last match.
Morris was chosen in Australia's Test team of the century in 2000 and was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame a year later.
The Test team wore black armbands on day three of the dead rubber Ashes Test at The Oval, with coach Darren Lehmann touching on his personal relationship with the champion opener.
"I was lucky enough to know Arthur and his wife Judith well and he was one of the most amazing people I have ever met and a true gentleman and legend of the game," Lehmann said.
"He was always happy to share his thoughts and time with everyone, not just on cricket but on his life experiences as well.
"Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time. He will be sorely missed."
His thoughts were echoed by Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards: "We have sadly lost a cherished link with our past.
"Arthur Morris was a great man and one of the true greats of Australian cricket who, until now, had been a treasured connection to an extraordinary era of the game.
"When Australia's best openers are discussed, his name will always be one of the first mentioned.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to Arthur's wife Judith and his family at this sad time. He will be greatly missed but remembered forever."
An 18-year-old Morris scored two centuries for NSW on his first-class debut, but his career was soon after interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Australian Army.
On the resumption of cricket in 1946, Morris made his Test debut against England in Brisbane and, three matches later, scored twin Ashes centuries at Adelaide Oval.
Morris was Australia's most-prolific batsman during the 1948 Invincibles tour in an extremely strong batting line-up that included Bradman, Barnes, Neil Harvey and Lindsay Hassett.
Morris racked up 696 runs at an average of 87 in a five-Test series Australia dominated in winning 4-0.
In the fourth Test at Headingley, when Australia were set a record 404 for victory on the last day, Morris made 182 in a 301-run stand with Bradman that steered them to a famous seven-wicket win.
Morris was awarded a MBE in 1974.
He was too ill to attend a ceremony at the SCG on Wednesday to officially open the Arthur Morris Gates at the ground.
His death leaves Harvey as the only living member of the Invincibles team.
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