Tuesday 28 July 2015 10:51, UK
Former South Africa and Nottinghamshire captain Clive Rice has died at the age of 66.
Rice lost his battle against a brain tumour in a Cape Town hospital on Tuesday after undergoing cancer treatment in Bangalore recently.
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."
Johannesburg-born Rice played for Natal and Transvaal before joining Nottinghamshire in 1975 where he clocked up 53 wickets and 1,128 runs in his debut season.
He forged a successful 10-year partnership with Richard Hadlee, who joined Notts in 1978, and led the club to the Championship title in 1981 and 1987.
The all-rounder’s international career was hampered by South Africa’s isolation in the sporting world due to apartheid, but he was made captain for the team’s first series in India following the lifting of international boycotts.
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 returned to Trent Bridge as manager in 1999 and encouraged Kevin Pietersen, a talented teenager with a South African passport, to join Notts in 2000.
Pietersen, who went on to play 104 Tests for 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."
Former England coach David Lloyd paid his respects on Twitter: "Sad to hear that Clive Rice has passed away...terrific all rounder...great competitor...and a real good bloke."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: "A great man...Great Cricketer...And a huge inspiration for so many."
