Former England [Images] bowler Fred Trueman, who became the first cricketer in history to take 300 Test wickets, has been diagnosed with cancer.

The 75-year-old is suffering from a condition called small cell carcinoma and is undergoing treatment in Airedale Hospital in West Yorkshire.

Trueman will now undergo 15 weeks of treatment, BBC Sports reported.

His former Yorkshire team-mate Bob Platt said: "If anyone can fight this Fred can.

"He is in exceedingly good spirits, and the good news is that the doctors have caught this early," he added.

Trueman's career spanned 20 years during which he played 67 Tests between 1952 and 1965.

He was famed for his new-ball partnership for England with Lancashire's Brian Statham.

Trueman was also an expert analyst on BBC Test Match Special for 26 years until 2000.