A tall, left-handed batsman and brilliant close fielder, Vic Wilson made history in 1960 by being the first professional to captain Yorkshire since Tom Emmett in 1882. During his three years in charge, Yorkshire won the county championship twice and were runners-up once.

When Ronnie Burnet decided to give up the captaincy after ending Surrey’s run of championships Wilson was not the obvious replacement. During the 1959 season he had struggled for runs and lost his place in the side. He also seemed too quiet and modest to be a leader.

But once given the job he quickly grew into it, deftly handling a team which included better players and some very big egos. His firm decision-making, and shrewd appreciation of pitches and the opposition, won the respect of Freddie Trueman, Brian Close, Ray Illingworth and the rest.

In his first match as captain, however, he took the gamble of declaring the innings closed with all ten wickets in hand against Sussex and Yorkshire went on to lose the match. It was one of his few errors and after a fine season he was named by Wisden as one of its five Cricketers of the Year.

As a batsman Wilson was no more than good county standard, better against pace than spin, and his only international recognition came in 1954 when he was a surprise choice for Len Hutton’s side to tour Australia. He was never chosen for the Tests but thanks to his fielding was twelfth man for all five matches.

John Victor Wilson was born in Scampston, near Malton, in 1921. His father was a farmer and a prominent local cricketer and the young Victor went with him to matches, sometimes getting to play if the team were short. At 11 he went to Norton Boys School, where he was encouraged by the games master, and at 14 joined the Malton club, hitting his first century against Driffeld.

He went on to play for York, where he won the league batting prize, and after leaving Malton Grammar School joined Scarborough. He was now working for his father on the farm and able to arrange time off to play cricket. He went to the Yorkshire nets and played one game for Yorkshire Colts. During the Second World War he played in the Bradford League, with Undercliffe, then Bingley and Pudsey St Lawrence.

At Pudsey he made centuries in three successive innings, equalling a league record, and in the next game was out for 75. A newspaper headline read: “Vic Wilson fails.” He played for the Yorkshire second team in 1946 and made his senior debut a year later. In 1948 he hit his first first-class century, against Surrey at the Oval, and gained his county cap.

But he experienced such a sharp loss of form that he was dropped and did not become a regular member of the first team until 1951, when he had passed 30. Until then he had fielded mainly in the deep but moved to short leg he took 67 catches in his huge hands, more than anyone on the county circuit.

He soon shrugged off his disappointment in Australia and continued to be a valuable member of the Yorkshire side. When he was offered the captaincy he was 39 and on the brink of retiring and taking on a larger farm. After his three years in charge he handed over to Brian Close and retired in 1963.

In his career he made 21,650 runs at an average of 31.33, with 230 against Derbyshire at Sheffield in 1952 the highest of his 30 centuries. He took 549 catches. After leaving the first-class game he returned to farming but spent three seasons with Lincolnshire and led Wakefield to league and cup success in 1968. He is survived by a son and daughter.

Vic Wilson, cricketer, was born on January 17, 1921. He died on June 6, 2008, aged 87