The world of cricket is in mourning for popular First Class umpire Russell Evans who has sadly died aged 52 after complications following a routine medical procedure.

Evans, a former county cricketer, was with his native county Nottinghamshire for seven years between 1985 and 1992 before representing Lincolnshire and the Minor Counties.

The Calverton-born right-handed bat played six first-class matches for Nottinghamshire and one for the Minor Counties recording 201 runs at an average of 25.12 with a top score of 59, as well as taking three wickets.

Tributes have been pouring in for the much-loved umpire Russell Evans who sadly passed away

He also played 16 List A matches, six of them for Notts, seven for the Minor Counties and three for Lincolnshire.

He then served on the ECB’s First-Class Umpires Panel for four years after being appointed to the Reserve List in 2011.

The much-loved Evans also officiated in England Women’s One-Day International and T20 International cricket and had only recently been appointed as the First Class Umpires’ representative to the Cricket Discipline Commission.

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club chief executive Lisa Pursehouse paid tribute to Evans after hearing the news.

She said: 'Russell was very well known in the cricket world and had many friends here at the Club. We are all so sad to hear of his passing.

Umpires Jeffrey Evans and the late Russell Evans (right) officiating at Old Trafford, Manchester

'He was one of the first people I met when I began working in cricket. He was a true gentleman who cared deeply about the game and will be sorely missed.

'He had so much involvement with the Nottinghamshire cricket scene throughout his life as a player and umpire, and we pass on our sincerest condolences to Russell’s family and friends at this sad time.'

Before he chose to become an umpire he spent more than 20 years working in cricket bat and equipment manufacturing as a marketing manager,

Chris Kelly, ECB’s First Class Umpires Manager, said: 'This is terribly sad news for all Russell’s many friends and colleagues within our professional game.

'Russell had fulfilled a long-cherished dream by becoming a First Class Umpire and was already showing the potential to take his new career to an even higher level.

'His diligence, professionalism and attention to detail all won him huge respect among his fellow umpires and no task was too big or small for him. He will be greatly missed and we send our deepest sympathies to his family at such an untimely loss.'

Middlesex CCC spinner Ollie Rayner was one of many cricketers who tweeted a tribute. The 2016 county championship winner wrote: 'Shocked to hear the news about umpire Russell Evans passing away - a top bloke who will be sorely missed, thoughts are with his family.... cricket has lost a good man.'