Updated January 01, 2013 19:48:46
Former England captain and cricket commentator Tony Greig, who had been battling lung cancer, has died in Sydney after a heart attack.
Greig, who was diagnosed with cancer in October, suffered a heart attack at his home on Saturday morning and died about 1:45pm (AEDT).
"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.
Greig's wife Vivian gave thanks for the outpouring of condolences that followed the news breaking this afternoon.
"Our family wants to extend our gratitude for the support and condolences we have received and would ask for privacy at this very sad time," she said.
The Sydney-based, South Africa-born Greig was initially diagnosed with bronchitis in May, but the condition lingered and in October he had tests that revealed a small lesion at the base of his right lung.
Upon his return to Australia from the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, he had fluid removed from the right lung and testing revealed he had lung cancer.
An abrasive character who loved stirring up Australian crowds during the 1974/75 Ashes series, Greig played 58 Tests for his adopted country, 14 of which as captain.
An all-rounder who made full use of his 198-centimetre frame, Greig scored 3,599 runs at 40.43 and took 141 wickets with his mixture of medium pacers and off-breaks at an average of 32.20.
Greig was a key figure in recruiting international players for Kerry Packer's anti-establishment World Series Cricket (WSC) which began in 1977, the year Greig played his last Test for England.
In the 1980s Greig became a high-profile member of the Nine Network's cricket commentary team.
While many fans would have gladly pensioned him into retirement, Greig was a showbiz survivor and held his place on the team right up until earlier this summer when ill health forced him to take a break for medical treatment.
The Nine Network released a statement describing 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," the statement read.
Greig's involvement in WSC caused an abrupt end to his international cricket career, but it was a move he never regretted.
When delivering the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey lecture in June of this year, Greig said: "WSC ensured cricket reinvented itself to survive the changing world."
Greig first came to the attention of many Australians during the English team's tour of Australia in 1974/75.
Despite his side losing the Test series 4-1, Greig impressed averaging over 40 with the bat and was the joint highest wicket-taker with 17 dismissals.
Former Australia wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh certainly relished his battles with the England skipper.
"He was a good bloke, Greigy, and a very honest man, that you always knew where you stood with him," Marsh told ABC News 24.
"A fierce competitor [and] a worthy competitor. We always knew if we got him and Alan Knott (out) cheaply, we would bowl England out for next to nothing it seemed and we rarely got both of them cheaply.
"He was a fantastic competitor, cheeky as you like on the field.
"He wasn't the greatest bowler but he bowled pretty innocuous and it got wickets.
"He willed himself to get wickets. You like those sort of players in your team."
Marsh's partner in so many dismissals, Dennis Lillee, paid tribute to Greig's contribution to the game on the field and the commentary box.
"He had a take-no-prisoners attitude which helped him lead England with flair and toughness," Lillee said.
"We will not forget the way he stirred the viewers in a similar vein to the way he did to opposition teams. He will be sadly missed."
Greig's opposite number in WSC and fellow Nine commentator, Australia captain Ian Chappell, spoke fondly of his counterpart.
"I had enormous respect for Tony as a cricketer," Chappell said.
"He was a great optimist as a player and a commentator.
"You always you were in a contest with him - whether playing cricket or over dinner."
Another former Australia captain, Greg Chappell, also remembered Greig with fondness.
"I got to know Tony well during the World Series period and have worked with Tony many times since as a commentator," Chappell told Cricket Australia's website.
"His enthusiasm for the game and his combative nature came to the fore in this role as well and while he was always happy to stir the Australian audiences, behind the scenes he loved this country as much as we do.
"My memories of Tony are of his gregariousness and his generosity of nature. He will be missed by his family and his many friends. My thoughts are with Viv and his children at this time."
Greig's famous commentary box 'sparring partner' Bill Lawry says he is devastated at the loss of his close friend.
"We are absolutely shattered that he is no longer with us," Lawry said.
"I have been fortunate to be his friend for 33 years.
"It's a sad moment for world cricket."
ABC cricket commentator Jim Maxwell also paid tribute to the man who was a ubiquitous figure in Australian summers and one of the most famous voices in world cricket.
He first remembered the "combative" opponent who took on the indomitable Australian side in the mid-1970s.
"Australians had a high regard for him from the day he played against Lillee and Thompson at the Gabba," Maxwell said.
"He was ultimately undone by a sandshoe crusher but took them on and made a 100 in the first innings and it was the way he took on the Australian attitude that so impressed people.
"He was very combative. He was not a brilliant all-rounder but he was a very influential all-rounder.
"He was at the core of World Series Cricket. There was a debt of gratitude that was ongoing from Kerry Packer to his death to Tony - with a contract for life."
Maxwell believes the same abrasive personality that showed in his cricket was the reason for his long-term success as a commentator.
"He had an opinion ... you didn't have to agree with it ... but the world was a better place for someone with his experience to have those opinions," he said.
"He put it into good form at the Cowdrey Lecture this year.
"No one's irreplaceable in this business but Tony brought something to the broadcast which was unique. In the way of goading some of his colleagues or challenging them and throwing lines out there to those that followed the game.
"Because he was willing to shoot from the hip people enjoyed that. He engaged and that's the most important thing you do as a commentator and he was very good at doing that."
It was not just the sporting world paying tribute to Greig.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard praised his contribution to Australian cricket.
"Greig was a wonderful example of someone who came to Australia from somewhere else in the world and embraced his adopted country as his own," Ms Gillard said.
"Cricket has lost a giant today, but we're better as a sporting country for the life of Tony Greig."
AAP/ABC
Tags: sport,
cricket,
sydney-2000,
australia,
south-africa,
england First posted December 29, 2012 15:30:04
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