Every year, some shining stars are born and some lose their lustre with time. But there are some who sink into oblivion; we are talking about the stars who rest in peace. This year, the cricket world lost the gems who once illuminated the pitch with their charisma and are still lauded for their exemplary contribution in cricket. As we step into the new year in a week, MyTeam11 brings to you the names of such 5 cricket personalities who said goodbye to this world in 2019. They may have gone far away but will always be alive in the hearts of every sports lover.
Bob Willis
It was the most heart-wrenching demise of this year. Bob Willis – an icon, England’s mightiest of fast bowler, long-term leading wicket taker, a manager and later a tyrannical commentator. He succumbed to a serious illness and died aged 70. His demise brought a wave of sorrow among cricketers and his fans. Spanning more than a decade-long career, the fast-bowler appeared in 90 Tests and 64 one-day internationals for England. He retired in 1984 and turned into a commentator known for his blunt criticism.
Madhav Apte
The veteran Indian cricketer Madhav Apte passed away at 86 after suffering a cardiac arrest. Former India and Mumbai opener, Madhav, played seven Tests in which he scored 542 runs, with a lone hundred and three fifties. He was assigned as the opening batsman by Vinoo Mankad. He also captained Mumbai in domestic cricket. He was the president of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) and till his last breath, he held the position of the president of 'Legends Club', a group that celebrates the achievements of different sportspersons.
Tony Mann
The Australian wrist spinner died at the age of 74 after battling with pancreatic cancer. He is still fondly remembered as the cricketer who became only the second night-watchman in history to score a Test century. He played four Tests for Australia and inked his name in sports history with his illustrious international career. He was an excellent cricketer who actively performed for his domestic side Western Australia for two decades, including 80 first-class games and 13 domestic limited-overs games.
Basil Butcher
The Guyanese cricketer who played for West Indies, Basil Butcher, passed away at 86. He was the first person of Amerindian descent to represent the West Indies and one of the most reliable and stylish players at No. 4 or 5 in the West Indies batting line-up. Born in 1933, he represented WI in 44 Tests between 1958 and 1969, with seven centuries. He was honoured with the title of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1970.
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Elriesa Theunissen-Fourie
Elriesa Theunissen-Fourie is truly a legend gone too soon! Elriesa was only 25 years old when she and her child met with a car accident and died. South Africa Women’s World Cup all-rounder Elriesa represented the nation in three ODIs and one T20I and also the North West Dragons in the domestic circuit. She was also part of the 2013 World Cup squad and coached at the grassroots level as well. The last time she played was against Bangladesh in 2013.