Friends of the cricketer, who in 1983 equalled the world record of taking 11 catches in a match, said he had been depressed by a series of family traumas. His body was found by a relative at his home in Marton cum Grafton, near Boroughbridge, North Yorks, on Monday.
The discovery was made hours before his second wife, Janet, whose birthday was yesterday, was to have further chemotherapy after being diagnosed as having cancer last summer. Her mother said: ``Janet just wants to be left alone as she's very numb at the moment.''
The couple's children, Jonathan, eight, and seven-year-old Rebecca, went to school as the family tried to come to terms with the tragedy.
Mr Bairstow, 46, was due in court next week accused of drink-driving following an accident. He broke an arm in the crash and had a steel plate inserted in his shoulder with 13 screws. He told friends that it had ``screwed up'' his golf.
Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. An inquest will be held. Mr Bairstow's father-in-law said: ``We are all very upset, but we don't know the reason for it. David has been very ill, but I don't want to say what was wrong with him. Obviously he was worried about Janet and the fact that he was due to appear in court was also of great concern to him.''
Mr Bairstow's son, Andrew, 22, from his marriage to first wife, Gail, was travelling from his home in Manchester to be with the family. In 1994, his step-daughter Claire, 26, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for smuggling 11 kilos (24lb) of cannabis resin.
After retiring as a player in 1990, Mr Bairstow ran a sports merchandising business and was a regular cricket commentator on radio.
In 1970 he fulfilled every boy's dream when he was allowed to sit his A-level English Literature exam two hours early so he could make his county debut. He took four catches in his opening match and went on to captain Yorkshire. He added a further 1,091 during a 20-year career and scored 12,485 runs.
Mr Bairstow was given the nickname ``Bluey'' by his colleagues, believed to be a reference to his sometimes fiery moods and booming voice. He made four test and 21 limited-over international appearances. His world record-equalling feat of 11 catches in a first class match was achieved for Yorkshire against Derbyshire at Scarborough in 1982.
Despite his vigorous captaincy of Yorkshire he was replaced after three seasons by Phil Carrick. He was a member of Yorkshire's Sunday League Championship side of l983 and Benson and Hedges Cup winning team of l987.
A tribute issued by Yorkshire County Cricket Club from Headingley Cricket Ground, where the flag was at half mast, said: ``He was an outstanding competitor and will be remembered as a great character with a tenacious spirit.''
Sir Fred Trueman, the former Yorkshire and England fast bowler, said: ``I'm just non-plussed. He was always a cheery and jovial sort of chap. He liked a story and loved his golf. I'll always love his broad Yorkshire accent and his love for life.''
Ray Illingworth, the former Yorkshire and England captain, said: ``I'll never forget the noise he made - both in the dressing room and on the field. He was a tremendous character.''