Cricket pays tribute to Bob Woolmer
7.08, Mon Mar 19 2007

Cricket is mourning the loss of Pakistan coach and former England batsman Bob Woolmer who died suddenly in Jamaica aged 58.

Just hours after his team's shock defeat to minnows Ireland in the Cricket World Cup, Woolmer was found collapsed in his hotel room. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Woolmer played 19 Test matches for England and enjoyed huge success as a coach for Warwickshire and South Africa, as well as Pakistan.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier described him as "one of the world's greatest coaches", adding "everyone at ECB extends our deepest sympathy to Bob's family - we have lost a great friend".

Current England captain Michael Vaughan said: "On behalf of the England cricket team we know there has been a sad loss to the world of cricket with the death of Bob Woolmer.

"We know how much he has had an impact on the world game, the English game and we know how greatly missed he's going to be."

Former Test umpire Dickie Bird, who knew Woolmer as a player and as a coach, said: "Bob was respected worldwide. He developed into the finest cricket coach in the world.

"He was a tremendous professional cricketer and was dedicated to the game. The world will miss him. He did so much for the game he was well liked and well respected."

ITV News

58, that`s no age to pass away. How very sad.

Yes, I lost my father last year, this year he would celebrate his 60th birthday..

nunulka Wrote:Yes, I lost my father last year, this year he would celebrate his 60th birthday..

Sorry to hear that, Nina. Death is something us humans will never come to fully `accept.` My father died when I was just 5 years old.