Cricket Australia has paid tribute to Tony Greig as a man who deeply understood the game, and an integral part of the sport’s Australian summer.
Greig died of a heart attack on Saturday following a short battle with lung cancer.
He was 66.
Known latterly in Australia as a respected – and often parodied – voice of the Nine Network’s cricket commentary team for more than 30 years, former England captain Greig was a prime mover in the breakaway World Series Cricket movement which revolutionised the game in the late 1970s.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said his overriding memory of Greig would be his deep understanding of cricket both on and off the field.
“He was genuinely connected the world over,” Sutherland said.
“He understood the game, and the deeper machinations behind it.
“He very much became a part of our summers through the Nine Network – firstly in World Series Cricket, and then later as a commentator.
“I always found it quite confronting how much he knew about the game – his deep knowledge about the issues of the game … where the game was, where it was heading.
“He was so worldly about the game, so well connected as well.”