Alan Igglesden passes away due to an inoperable brain tumour

A couple of days after two former Australian cricket greats - Alan Davidson and Ashley Mallett - died within a day of each other, another sad news has rocked the cricketing world. Former England seamer Alan Igglesden has died at the age of 57. He was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour more than two decades ago and the battle has come to an end on Monday.

"The thoughts of everyone at the club are with his wife Liz and his friends and family at this desperately sad time," Kent Cricket said in a statement.

Igglesden represented England in seven matches in three Tests and four ODIs - between 1989-94 eight wickets, including those of Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh on debut. After retiring from the sport in 1999, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour after he had suffered an epileptic fit while playing minor counties cricket for Berkshire. Even though he took on a pioneering treatment to shrink the tumour but later that showed signs of resuming its growth.

In the last two decades, Igglesden raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the Brain Tumour Charity and earlier this year, his family released a film to raise funds and awareness for the Professional Cricketers' Trust.

"Iggy's efforts on behalf of the Trust were characteristic of his unwaveringly positive attitude towards life during his final years. He remained steadfastly committed to those who he loved, retaining a sharp sense of humour and a remarkable zest for life, even appearing via FaceTime at a golf day held in his honour to raise funds for both the Trust and the Brain Tumour Charity as recently as October. He will be sorely missed by everyone associated with Kent, as well as the wider cricket community," England Players Cricket Association (PCA) said in a statement.