“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to express its profound shock and sadness at the passing away of legendary Cricketer and popular Commentator, Tony Greig.
Tony has been a very vocal supporter of Sri Lanka Cricket over the years and his description of cricket in Sri Lanka, its Players and even the beauty and diversity of the Country itself in his lilting, powerful voice has been a rallying call and a matter of pride to all Sri Lankans and has been instrumental in him being appointed a Tourism Ambassador for Sri Lanka, an honour he much valued. This voice has now been stilled and we mourn his passing.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Tony’s family in this hour of grief and beyond.
We shall miss him.
May the turf lie gently on him. May he rest in Peace.”
Greig, who played a senior role in Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket 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 at about 3.45pm (NZT).
“He was rushed into St Vincent’s hospital. The staff of the emergency department worked on Mr Greig to no avail,” St Vincent’s spokesman David Faktor said. It is understood his family were with him when he died.
Greig first became aware he had a problem during Australia’s one-day series against Pakistan in Dubai in August and September
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.
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 said.
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 3599 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 11-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 3899 runs and 244 wickets.
Cricketers and fans were quick to post their condolences and favourite memories of Greig on Twitter.
Australia captain Michael Clarke said he was shocked to learn of Greig’s passing.
”I was only speaking with Tony a couple of days ago so news of his passing is absolutely devastating. Tony has a long and decorated history with international cricket both as a player and commentator and cricket will be much poorer for his loss. Personally, he has also been a great mentor for me, providing great advice through the good times and the bad. On behalf of the Australian cricket team our thoughts, prayers and wishes are with Greig family at this difficult time.”
Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Paul Marsh said Greig would be remembered as a trailblazer for players’ rights.
“Awfully sad news with Tony Greig’s passing. A significant contributor to players’ rights worldwide and never afraid to speak his mind,” Marsh tweeted.
Former Australia batsman Greg Blewett, now a commentator on Fox Sports, tweeted Greig was a “great guy and was always great company”, while former Sri Lankan player Russel Arnold, also a commentator, said Greig had been 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 wrote.
Australian cricketing great Glenn McGrath tweeted: “My thoughts are with Tony Greig’s family today.”
Writer John Birmingham summed up the sentiment of many fans 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”.
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.
Veteran ABC cricket commentator Jim Maxwell said the “very sad and sudden news” of Greig’s passing “cuts you to the quick”.
He praised Greig for putting his neck on the line for cricketers during World Series Cricket.
“It was a pretty brave call from him to get involved with Kerry Packer…”
He said Greig had a long connection to Australian cricket, and many fans remembered him for standing up to Australia’s fearsome pace-bowling tandem of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson in the mid-1970s.
Maxwell said some of the things Greig said in his commentary “drove him nuts”, but he loved Greig’s enthusiasm. He described Greig as a larger than life character who engaged with people.
Among Australian cricket fans, Greig will be remembered for his abrasive style as a player and his colourful style as a commentator, particularly in some of his memorable stints with colleague Bill Lawry.
As captain of England during the 1970s he sparked outrage when he said he intended to make the West Indies team “grovel”.
But in a speech made at Lord’s this year he said he valued the spirit of cricket above everything.
“The spirit of cricket is also about putting the game’s interests before yours or your country’s interests,” he said.
Greig is survived by his wife, Vivian, and two young children, Beau and Tom, and a son, Mark, and daughter, Sam, from his first marriage.
Greig’s brother, Ian, 57, played two tests for England and also lives in Australia.
