Former England cricket player Tony Pigott has passed away at the age of 67. Pigott, who had a successful career with over 1,000 wickets, died on Sunday.
The former Sussex seam bowler suffered a heart attack after previously battling oesophageal cancer. Pigott was renowned for his performances in the County Championship and his lone appearance for the England team, a memorable event in cricket history.
In 1984, Pigott received a last-minute call-up to play for England in a Test match against New Zealand in Christchurch. Despite having his wedding scheduled during the series, Pigott chose to postpone it and join the team in New Zealand, where he managed to take two wickets.
Unfortunately, Pigott’s debut match did not go as planned, with the hosts winning 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 and later move to Surrey in 1994, Pigott faced challenges with injuries, eventually transitioning to become the second-team coach at Surrey. In 1997, he returned to Sussex and later became the CEO after a successful takeover, contributing to the team’s victory in the County Championship in 2003.
Pigott also played a pivotal role in installing floodlights at Hove, making it the first cricket ground in the UK with such facilities. He was affectionately known as ‘Lester,’ possibly inspired by famous jockey Lester Piggott.
Following Pigott’s passing, tributes have poured in from the cricket community. Former Sussex captain Chris Adams expressed his deep appreciation for Pigott’s influence on the club and his personal life, crediting Pigott for his decision to join Sussex in 1998.
Adams further honored Pigott’s legacy by dedicating the 2003 Championship win to him and the individuals who supported Sussex during the transformative period in 1997.
Additional tributes were shared on social media platforms, with ex-Sussex wicket-keeper Ian Gould describing Pigott as one of the great characters of the world.
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