Former England cricketer Tony Pigott has passed away at the age of 67. Pigott, a former Sussex seam bowler who claimed over 1,000 wickets in his career, died following a heart attack. Pigott, known for his achievements in the County Championship, made a memorable appearance for England in 1984 against New Zealand.
Despite having a wedding scheduled during the series, Pigott chose to represent his country and traveled to New Zealand, where he managed to take two wickets. Unfortunately, his debut match ended in a defeat for England, and he never played for the national team again.
During his time at Sussex and later Surrey, Pigott faced challenges due to recurring injuries, eventually transitioning to become the second-team coach at Surrey. In 1997, he returned to Sussex and later served as the club’s CEO, contributing to their success, including their first County Championship title in 2003.
Pigott was instrumental in modernizing Sussex’s facilities, overseeing the installation of floodlights at Hove, making it the first cricket ground in the UK to have this feature. He was affectionately known as ‘Lester,’ likely after the renowned jockey Lester Piggott.
Following Pigott’s passing, tributes poured in from the cricket community. Former Sussex captain Chris Adams expressed his sorrow and gratitude for Pigott’s influence on the club’s history and his personal life. Many remembered Pigott as a positive and influential figure in Sussex cricket.
Ian Gould, a former Sussex wicket-keeper and umpire, also shared his sadness over Pigott’s death, describing him as one of the world’s great characters. The cricketing world mourns the loss of a beloved figure in Tony Pigott.