Photo Credit: Cricket Australia
NZC has sent its heartfelt sympathies to the families of Australian greats Shane Warne and Rod Marsh, whose shock passing has rocked the cricketing world.
NZC chief executive David White said the loss of the two Aussie players in quick succession was a tragedy for both the family and friends of the pair, and for the game to which each had contributed so significantly.
“It’s been a very sobering week,” said Mr White.
“Shane was, by most estimations, the best leg-spinner the world has ever seen; he was a game-changer who knew and understood cricket intimately – as a bowler, strategist, mentor, and later as a commentator.
“To lose him at such a comparatively young age is a cruel twist, and heart-breaking for his family and friends, for his former team-mates and opponents, and for cricket fans in Australia, New Zealand and around the world.
“To those across the Tasman, we can only imagine the depth of your sorrow and grief – and we want to extend to you our deepest sympathies.”
Mr White said the shock news this morning of Warne’s passing doubled the pain for the Australian and global cricketing family, after the death a day earlier of the popular Australian wicket-keeper Rod Marsh.
“I’m old enough to remember Rod in his pomp and, perhaps more than anyone else, he represented and reflected the best qualities of Australian cricket,” he said.
“Rod was a great gloveman and a hard-hitting batsman; he possessed a brilliant sense of humour and played the game as it was meant to be played – hard and fair.
“The game is much poorer for his loss.”
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
