Capetown : England cricketers today wore black arm bands as a mark of respect for the departed soul of promising 22 year old Sussex cricketer Matthew Hobden . Alistair Cook and his team mates were seen wearing black arm bands on the second day of the test match against South Africa in Newlands .
Mathew Edward “Matt” Hobden (27 March 1993 – 2 January 2016), a young English fast bowler tipped as a future England player died on Saturday . He was just 22 years old.
His passing was announced by Sussex County Cricket Club shortly after 9pm yesterday night. In a statement posted online, the club said: ‘Sussex Cricket is deeply shocked to hear of the passing of Matthew Hobden.
Hobden made his first-class debut in 2014 and represented Sussex in all formats of the game. “His potential was huge. He was improving rapidly and I’m certain that he would have played for England.” said England’s fast bowling coach, Kevin Shine. “As a player, I remember the first time I saw him just thinking ‘wow’,” “He was the strongest, most powerful cricketer I’ve ever seen on that programme.” added Shine. A Sussex statement read: “Matthew was an exciting young cricketer with a big future ahead of him in the game.
Hobden took 48 first-class wickets at an average of 39.35. He was one of six pace bowlers chosen to participate in the Potential England Performance Programme (PEPP) this winter, a training camp for future Test players. The England will be wearing black armbands today in their test match against South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday as a mark of respect for Hobden, who made his final appearance in a one-day match against Essex last August.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear but he is believed to have died suddenly while in Scotland.
English cricketers like Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Scott Styris and Matt Prior paid their tribute to the cricketer on social media site Twitter. England and Sussex wicketkeeper and batsman Matt Prior wrote on Twitter: “One of those days when u get a call that puts perspective on things. Live life and love everyday as much as you can! So sad! #RIPhobsy”