Former England cricketer Tony Pigott has passed away at 67. Pigott, who achieved over 1,000 wickets during his career, died on Sunday.
The former Sussex seam bowler suffered a heart attack after overcoming oesophageal cancer. Pigott was notably successful in the County Championship and made a memorable one-time appearance for the England cricket team.
In 1984, Pigott received a sudden call-up to play for England in a Test match against New Zealand in Christchurch. Despite having his wedding scheduled during the series, Pigott decided to postpone it and join the team in New Zealand, where he managed to secure two wickets.
Unfortunately, Pigott’s debut match did not go as planned, with the hosts defeating England by an innings and 132 runs in three days at Lancaster Park. This marked Pigott’s only appearance for the national team.
During his 18-year tenure at Sussex, Pigott later moved to Surrey in 1994 due to recurring injuries, eventually becoming the second-team coach. He returned to Sussex in 1997, where he became the CEO after leading a successful takeover. Pigott played a crucial role in Sussex winning their inaugural County Championship title in 2003.
Pigott also spearheaded the installation of floodlights at Hove, making it the first cricket ground in the UK to do so. He was affectionately known as ‘Lester,’ possibly after the renowned jockey, Lester Piggott.
Following Pigott’s death, numerous tributes have poured in. Former Sussex captain Chris Adams expressed his deep admiration for Pigott’s contributions to the club and cricket community, highlighting Pigott’s positive influence on his own life.
Adams further honored Pigott on social media, emphasizing his warm personality and significant impact on those who knew him. Ex-Sussex wicket-keeper and former umpire Ian Gould also mourned Pigott’s passing, describing him as a remarkable character.
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