The death of several cricket greats rocked Australian cricketers in 2022. The deaths of Aussie cricket legends sent shockwaves around the sporting world for months. Some of the greatest names to play cricket like Shane Warne, Rod Marsh, and Andrew Symonds died in 2022.
These late legends made several remarkable strides in cricket, and they will never be forgotten. Here’s a list of top Australian cricketers who passed away in 2022:
Shane Warne
Cricket great Shane Warne was found lifeless at his mansion in Koh Samui, Thailand on the 4th of March, 2022. He was 52 years old. Preliminary autopsy reports claimed the Australian legend died from a sudden heart attack while on vacation in Thailand.
Shane Warne received his first Test cap in 1992 and went on to feature in 145 Test games, taking 708 wickets along the way. He is also one of the top cricketers with an over-25 bowling average. He currently ranks second on the all-time wicket rankings, falling short of Muttiah Muralitharan’s 800 Test wicket record.
Shane Warne also made some impressive numbers as a substitute batter with 3100+ runs in Test matches. He also scored twelve half-centuries throughout his active batting career. Shane also holds the record for the most runs without a century (3000 runs in total).
Warne featured in 190+ One-Day Internationals, taking over 290 wickets from active play. He was one of Australia’s finest stars at their 1999 World Cup outing, helping his team achieve a memorable victory in the final.
Shane Warne is also the second bowler ever to score over 1000 wickets across international cricket matches, bested only by Muttiah Muralitharan.
His sudden death sent shockwaves throughout the entire cricket world. We will miss his infectious smile and likable personality.
Rod Marsh
Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh passed away on the same date as Shane Warne – March 4, 2023. He was 74 years old. The cricket great was reported to have suffered a sudden heart attack. He went into a coma afterward and died in the hospital.
Marsh made several giant strides as an experienced wicketkeeper in the 1970s. He later became a national selector, adding more value to Australian cricket overall.
Marsh was also one of Australia’s most successful coaches in his lifetime. Several notable cricket greats owe their high-level performances to Marsh’s guidance as a professional manager.
His first-class match record of 11067 runs in 257 games at a 31.17 average is remarkable. He also scored 3633 runs in just 96 Test matches for Australia at an impressive 26.51 average. Marsh also scored 1225 runs in 92 ODIs at a decent 20.08 average.
Rod Marsh also achieved a remarkable feat of 95 dismissals during his legendary pairing with Dennis Lillee. The Australian and global cricket family paid their respects to Marsh after news broke of his death.
Andrew Symonds
All-rounder Andrew Symonds remains one of Australia’s finest players ever. He passed away after a ghastly car crash in Townsville on the 15th of May, 2022. Symonds performed so well in cricket matches and was one of the few versatile players to average 40 or more runs in every format.
He featured in many innings throughout his 11-year international career. His performance also stretched into local cricket where he created and broke several records at the domestic level. Many commentators ranked Symonds as an all-around package since he could perform excellently in different positions.
Symonds was a regular face in Australia’s 2003 & 2007 World Cup squads. His contributions helped Australia achieve cricket glory on both occasions. He featured in over 230 matches for the Aussies and scored over 6800 runs throughout his active playing days. Symonds also recorded eight (8) centuries and forty-two (42) half-centuries throughout his career.
Lawrence Sawle
Cricket legend Lawrence Sawle passed away on April 15th, 2022 at 49 years of age. He died after a battle with cancer. He was one of the best Aussie cricketers in his active playing days and featured in many important Test matches.
Outside cricket, Sawle served as an ambassador for Cancer Council Victoria and was a holder of the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
Final Word
The influence of legendary players on cricket can’t be overstated. Over the years, we have lost some of our finest-ever cricket legends to the cold hands of death. However, we can take solace in these players’ contributions to our dear sport. We will always remember their tenacity, leadership skills, teamwork, consistency, and capabilities on the field of play. They may be asleep in death, but their legacy lingers on forever.
