Cricketing great Sir Richard Hadlee has bowel cancer

A tumour was discovered last month during a routine three-year colonoscopy, and he's since had an operation to remove it.

It went well but he will start chemotherapy shortly as a safeguard.

His wife Dianne says he is expected to make a full recovery over time. 

Lady Hadlee says she wanted to make a statement about the issue to prevent the inevitable speculation and rumours.

The family's asked for privacy.

Sir Richard has previously been diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White Syndrome, a disorder which caused his heart to beat irregularly.