Former England & Sussex fast bowler Tony Pigott dies at 67

LONDON: Tony Pigott, a former Sussex and England fast bowler and later chief executive of Sussex County Cricket Club, has died aged 67.

Tony Pigott made his first-class debut for Sussex as a teenager in 1978 and marked the start of his career by converting his first first-class wicket into a hat-trick against Surrey at Hove, despite having gone wicketless in two previous matches.

His only Test match was also played in unusual circumstances. Playing club cricket in New Zealand in 1983-84, he was included in the England team when the touring team suffered serious injury problems. He had to postpone his wedding for the match, which was scheduled for the Monday after that match.

In 1994, Pigott left Sussex to join Surrey, but persistent back problems forced him to retire from cricket two years later. After retirement, he returned to Sussex and became the second team coach.

A year later, following a change in the club’s management structure, he was appointed chief executive, where he set Sussex on a new path of growth. During his tenure, Sussex became the first county club to install permanent floodlights and in 2003 the club won its first ever county championship.

Sussex’s 2003 champion captain Chris Adams paid tribute on the club’s website, saying that Tony Pigott was one of the greatest positive and transformative figures in Sussex’s history. According to him, Pigott had a profound positive impact not only on the club but also on his personal life.