Here is a listing of notable cricketers who have died recently:
1. Bishan Singh Bedi (October 2023)
Well-known for his elegant, fluid spin bowling technique and accuracy in flight, loop, and turn, Bishan Singh Bedi was an Indian cricket player. He was a legendary Indian spinner who was part of the famous Indian spin quartet. In 67 Test matches after making his debut, he claimed 266 wickets. Six Test victories resulted from Bedi’s 22 Test match captaincy of the Indian cricket team between 1976 and 1978. The 1970s were a golden age for Indian spin bowling thanks in large part to his contribution to India’s victories in slow-paced games. After retiring, Bedi continued to play cricket, coaching up-and-coming spinners and denouncing commercialization and unsportsmanlike conduct. His willingness to play fairly and his forthright personality were well known. Beside a great history as one of the most revered and recognized cricket players in India, Bedi passed away in October 2023.
2. Heath Streak (September 2023)
Fast bowler and cricket player Heath Streak was a major figure in Zimbabwean cricket in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was Zimbabwe’s top fast bowler and was born in Bulawayo. He made his debut against Pakistan in 1993. With 239 wickets in 189 One-Day Internationals and 216 wickets in 65 Test matches, he was Zimbabwe’s most successful bowler. Streak was a good lower-order batsman as well, amassing 2,900 runs in ODIs and almost 1,900 in Test matches. From 2000 until 2004, he led Zimbabwe as captain. Political meddling in the election process led to his contentious resignation in 2004. Streak moved into coaching after ending his career as an international cricket player, but in 2021 he was given an eight-year cricket suspension. Streak was identified as having colon cancer in May 2023. On September 3, 2023, he passed away from the sickness at the age of 49.
3. Salim Durani (April 2023)
Indian cricket player Salim Durani was born in Afghanistan in 1934. At an early age, he relocated to India and rose to prominence in the sport. Durani, who was renowned for his skill and ability as a bowler, made his Test debut against Australia in 1960. In 29 games, he amassed 1,202 runs and claimed 75 wickets. In the 1961–62 series against England, he produced his most well-known performance when he dismissed important English batters. Durani was one of the first cricket players to become a national hero in India thanks to his charm and charisma. The Indian government granted him the Arjuna Award in 2011 after he retired in 1973. At the age of 88, Durani passed away in 2023, leaving a legacy of flair, style, and game-winning performances.
See Also: 7 Famous Indian Women Cricketers and Their Married Lives
4. Joe Solomon (December 2023)
West Indian cricketer Joe Solomon is most remembered for his part in the 1960 Test match draw between the West Indies and Australia. Solomon was a steady defender and a gifted middle-order hitter. He was born in 1930. In 27 Test matches between 1958 and 1965, he amassed 1,326 runs. He made his Test debut against India in 1958. Solomon was a talented fielder who was renowned for his accurate throws and fast reflexes. He made cricket history with his composure under duress. Solomon remained active in the game of cricket after quitting the national team by coaching young players in Guyana and working in cricket administration. At the age of ninety-three, he passed away on October 9, 2023.
5. Sudhir Nayak (March 2023)
Indian cricketer Sudhir Nayak, who was born in 1945, is well-known for his involvement in the Mumbai cricket circuit and his brief time playing in the first division of cricket. He was raised in Mumbai and came up through the fiercely competitive domestic cricket scene that produced many of India’s best players. In 1971, Nayak participated in a historic series of Test matches for India. He was instrumental in the Ranji Trophy match for Bombay, putting up lengthy, calm innings. Nayak mentored future cricket players in Mumbai and made important contributions as a coach and administrator after leaving from the game. He passed away in March 2023 at the age of 78, leaving Indian cricketers mourning the loss of a modest but significant figure.
6. Derek Underwood (April 2024)
Legendary former English cricketer Derek Underwood was renowned for his distinct bowling style, especially on wet fields. In the 1960s and 1970s, Underwood—dubbed “Deadly” for his accuracy and potency, particularly on wet pitches—was a vital part of England’s bowling attack. Underwood, a Kent native born in Bromley, took an early interest in cricket and rapidly became a proficient bowler. He represented England in 86 Test matches, amassing 297 wickets at a remarkable average of 25.83. perhaps the 1968 Ashes series against Australia, Underwood turned perhaps his most well-known performance, taking seven wickets for just fifty runs on a surface that was drying up. In addition, he participated in 26 One-Day International matches and was a member of England’s team in the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975. Underwood stayed active in cricket after quitting the national team in 1982. He worked as an administrator and was elected president of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2009. At the age of 78, Derek Underwood passed away in April 2024.
7. TC Williams (July 2023)
In the early 2000s, TC Williams, an English cricket player, was a member of the Kent Cricket Board. During his brief career, he played in competitions such as the NatWest Trophy and made significant contributions to English domestic cricket, mainly in List A cricket. Williams is regarded as a vital figure in preserving the competitive nature of domestic leagues. His work in domestic cricket, especially for the Kent Cricket Board, added to the rich fabric of English county cricket. July 2023 marked Williams’s passing.
8. Khalid Ibadulla (July 2023)
Pakistani cricketer and coach Khalid “Billy” Ibadulla had a distinguished career playing county cricket in England as well as Pakistan. He was a gifted batsman who rose to national prominence; he was born in 1935. Ibadulla moved to England to play for Warwickshire in the English County Championship after making his debut in Pakistani domestic cricket. In 1964, at the age of 29, he made his Test debut for Pakistan against Australia, scoring an incredible 166. Ibadulla got deeply involved in coaching and cricket development after quitting professional cricket, especially in New Zealand. He was a coach at many levels and was instrumental in helping young players develop their technical abilities. Ibadulla died on July 20, 2023, at the age of 87.
9. Alan Thomson (January 2024)
Australian cricket player Alan Lloyd Thomson was born in Reservoir, Victoria, on December 30, 1945. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was a notable character in Australian cricket due to his unusual bowling style. The unusual fast-medium bowling motion of Thomson’s right arm made it challenging for batters to read. After making his Sheffield Shield cricket debut for Victoria, he rose to prominence as a wicket-taker. Taking 55 wickets in the 1969–70 domestic season was his best-ever performance. His international career ended abruptly because of intense competition and patchy results. During his lifetime, Thomson’s distinctive bowling style had an impact on Australian cricket. He passed away in January 2024.
10. Graham Thorpe (August 2023)
Born in 1969 in Farnham, Surrey, England, Graham Paul Thorpe is a well-known middle-order batsman who has won games under pressure with his technical skill, mental toughness, and ability to produce innings that win matches. Thorpe played more over 100 games for Surrey after making his debut in 1988. In 1993, he played his first Test match for England and finished with a half-century. Thorpe represented England in 100 Test matches, amassing 6,744 runs at an average of 44.66, including sixteen hundreds and thirty-nine half-centuries. In 82 One Day Internationals (ODIs) that he participated in, he amassed 2,380 runs and 21 half-centuries. Thorpe was an inherently talented batsman who could play both aggressive and defensive innings. Despite going through personal struggles, Thorpe returned to form in 2003, putting up some of his best innings. After ending his career as an international cricket player in 2005, he went on to become a highly respected coach who helped shape the careers of upcoming players. When Thorpe was admitted to the hospital in 2022 as a result of complications from a terrible illness, he faced significant health issues.
Also see: Cricket Players Who Played Other Sports
