/ 29 December 2012

Former England captain and broadcaster Tony Greig dies

Former England captain and television commentator Tony Greig has died at the age of 66 after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
Former England captain and television commentator Tony Greig has died at the age of 66 after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

According to Australia's the Age newspaper, Greig, who played a senior role in Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket (WSC) revolution and was a distinctive voice in cricket broadcasting, was diagnosed with lung cancer in October. He suffered a heart attack at his home on Saturday morning and died that afternoon.

"He was rushed into St Vincent's hospital. The staff of the emergency department worked on Mr Greig to no avail," St Vincent's spokesperson David Faktor said. It is understood his family were with him when he died.

Initially diagnosed with bronchitis in May, the condition lingered and, by the time of the ICC World Twenty20 that finished in Sri Lanka in October, Greig had tests that revealed a small lesion at the base of his right lung, the newspaper reported.   

On his return to Australia he had fluid removed from the right lung and testing revealed he had lung cancer.

Greig did not join the Channel Nine commentary team this summer. Last month, he spoke to them during their coverage of the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane.

Greig was candid about the disease.

"It's not good. The truth is I've got lung cancer. Now it's a case of what they can do," Greig told the Age.

He had an operation later that month.

Greig was a key figure in recruiting international players for Kerry Packer's anti-establishment World Series Cricket which began in 1977, the year Greig played his last Test for England.

Channel Nine described Greig as a "beloved" figure.

"Tony Greig is a name synonymous with Australian cricket – from his playing days as the English captain we loved to hate, to his senior role in the revolution of World Series Cricket, his infamous car keys in the pitch reports and more than three decades of colourful and expert commentary," a Channel Nine statement said.

Greig's involvement in WSC caused an abrupt end to his international cricket career.

"When the enterprise was made public, his stocks plummeted," respected cricket writer Gideon Haigh wrote on the cricinfo website.

"He lost not just England's captaincy, but what would have been a record-breaking benefit.

"He was diminished, too, by his indifferent on-field performances in World Series Cricket, where he seemed to cast himself as pantomime villain.

"Nonetheless, subsequent generations of professional cricketers owe him a debt of gratitude."

Born and raised in Queenstown, South Africa, Greig qualified to play cricket for England because of his Scottish parents. He trialled for Sussex in 1965 as a teenager and set himself the goal of representing England, which he did in 58 Tests between 1972 and 1977.

He made his Test debut against Australia at Old Trafford in 1972, making half-centuries in both innings and taking five wickets for the game. He first captained England in a Test against Australia in 1975, but it was during his time as leader, after the 1977 Centenary Test in Melbourne, that he struck a friendship with Packer.

Greig became Packer's lieutenant for recruiting players to take part in the World Series Cricket break-away, but his involvement cost him his England captaincy and Test career.

For his work and loyalty, Packer promised Greig "a job for life", and Greig did indeed work for the rest of his life as a commentator for Channel Nine.

Greig led England in 14 Tests.

He compiled a formidable record as a Test all-rounder, with 3 599 runs at an average of 40.43 including eight centuries, and 141 wickets at an average of 32.20, including one haul of 8-86.

Over an eleven year first-class career he played 350 matches for 16 660 runs and 856 wickets and 190 one-day games (22 of them internationals) for 3 899 runs and 244 wickets.

Writer John Birmingham summed up the sentiment of many fans on Twitter at the news of Greig's passing: "That's a big chunk of my childhood trailing along behind Tony Greig as he makes that last long walk back to the pavilion. *Stands. Applauds*"

Former Australian Test player and current Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore said Greig was a "great man".

Former Sri Lankan star Russel Arnold described Greig as a "mentor and friend".

"We will miss you a genuine friend and admirer of SL cricket. It was indeed a pleasure to have known you!", Arnold said.

New South Wales medium-pacer Trent Copeland said the news had left him speechless.

"Had the pleasure of meeting the big man and what a passionate cricket tragic. RIP," he wrote.