Tributes flow around cricket world after death of Aussie and England legends within a week

Tributes are flooding in around the cricket world after the deaths of former England captain Mike Smith and Aussie wicket-keeper John Maclean this week. Maclean passed away at age 80 after a year-long battle with illness.

He played four Tests and two one-day internationals for Australia in the late 70s when a host of stars defected to Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket. Among them were legendary keeper Rod Marsh, which opener the door for Maclean to make his debut for Australia in the Ashes.

Maclean played 108 first-class games for Queensland, scoring 3888 runs and taking 354 catches. He captained his state and later went on to become president of Queensland Cricket in the 90s.

“He was just a great team man and as a keeper his hands were as good as anyone I stood beside,” Aussie legend Greg Chappell told News Corp on Saturday. “The ball disappeared into his gloves and just didn’t come out.

“As a bloke he just never changed. He was the reason I came (from South Australia) to Queensland. He phoned me and said if I accepted the offer he would stand down as Queensland captain. Then when I got here he made me feel so welcome and we have been great friends ever since. He was unlucky not to have played more Tests.”

Queensland Cricket chair Kirsten Pike said in a statement: “As a player, he led from the front and the tributes from past teammates and the wider community since his passing have emphasised his ‘team first’ leadership as well as his generous nature. He flew the flag for Queensland in all he did, as a player and then as a coach, businessman and administrator.

“John was a passionate contributor as a life member and enjoyed seeing the success that Queensland has enjoyed over the past 30 years. We share our condolences with his family and many friends.”

England legend MJK Smith dies at age 92

The loss of Maclean was compounded by the death of Smith at age 92 on Monday. Known as ‘MJK’, Smith played 50 Tests for England and captained his country 25 times.

He played a whopping 637 first-class games (mostly for Warwickshire), amassing 39,832 runs at 41.84. He still holds the Warwickshire record for most runs in a single season (2417 in 1959) and was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1960.

He became an ICC match referee after retiring, officiating in four Tests and 17 ODIs. Warwickshire wrote on social media: “Warwickshire County Cricket Club are saddened to learn of the passing of Bears' legend MJK Smith at the age of 92. Once a Bear, Always a Bear.”

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