Sport

Former South Africa cricket captain Clive Rice dies

Clive Rice was a former captain of the South Africa cricket team and played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the 1970s and 1980s
Clive Rice was a former captain of the South Africa cricket team and played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the 1970s and 1980s Clive Rice was a former captain of the South Africa cricket team and played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the 1970s and 1980s

FORMER South Africa captain and all-rounder Clive Rice has died at the age of 66.

Rice, who had been suffering with a brain tumour, passed away in a Cape Town hospital on Tuesday.

Nottinghamshire, the county that Rice served for many years, announced in a statement: "Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is saddened to announce that former captain and cricket manager Clive Rice has passed away aged 66."

Rice played for Nottinghamshire in the 1970s and 1980s and in his debut season took 53 wickets and scored 1,128 Championship runs.

He linked up with Sir Richard Hadlee at the county following the New Zealander's arrival at Trent Bridge in 1978 and forged a 10-year partnership which secured many honours for the club.

Rice played for South Africa in a number of unofficial Tests during the 1980s while South Africa were excluded from international cricket owing to the sporting boycott of the country due to its apartheid laws.

He also captained the Proteas in their first one-day international and continued playing first class cricket until his retirement in 1994, finishing his career at Natal.

Rice later encouraged Kevin Pietersen, as a talented teenager with a South African passport, to join Nottinghamshire in 2000. Pietersen, who went on to international honours with England, wrote in his autobiography that Rice was "a great early influence on me".

Nottinghamshire added in their statement on Tuesday: "Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

Tributes to Rice were paid after the announcement of his death.

Former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs wrote on Twitter: "Sorry to hear about the passing of Clive Rice "ricey"..astute captain and a man that played the game hard!! Rip #CliveRice"

The South African golfer Gary Player said: "My condolences to the family & friends of former SA cricket captain Clive Rice who passed away today. He was an inspiration to so many. RIP"

Greg Blewett, the Australia batsman who played for Nottinghamshire under Rice, added: "RIP Clive Rice. Very sad news."