Tributes paid to county legend Dolly (From Worcester News)

Tributes paid to county legend Dolly

By Elizabeth Sweetman »

WORCESTERSHIRE and England legend Basil D’Oliveira has sadly died at the aged of 80.

County legend Dolly passes away

Born in South Africa, D'Oliveira moved to England in 1960 due to the lack of opportunities for non-White players.

D’Oliveira represented the county between 1964 and 1980 during a golden age for Worcestershire CCC.

He was an integral part of Worcestershire’s success in the county championship in 1964, 1965 and 1974 and will be fondly remembered for his trademark flamboyance with the bat.

In 278 First Class appearances D’Oliveira averaged 38.16, and during a particularly successful 1967 season he was awarded both the Walter Lawrence Trophy and Wisden Cricketer of the Year.

At the age of 34, D’Oliveira was selected to represent England for a career that that was to span six years. During this time he accrued a batting average of 40.06, and took 47 wickets in 44 Test matches.

In 1968 he was named in England's squad to tour South Africa which was then cancelled as South Africa's government refused to accept his presence.

The headlines made by D'Oliveira in 1968 marked the start of South Africa's sporting isolation.

After being added to the England squad as a replacement for the injured Tom Cartwright the South African government made it clear he would not be welcome after they learned he was originally from South Africa and coloured.

The tour was called off and the incident culminated in a ban on sporting ties with South Africa which would last until the early 1990s.

No official team from any country subsequently toured South Africa until apartheid was abolished following Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990.

After retiring from the field in 1980, D’Oliveira went on to lead Worcestershire CCC through another victorious period of its history, culminating in County Championship glory in 1988 and 1989.

As club coach, D’Oliveira oversaw the likes of Ian Botham, Graham Dilley and a young Graeme Hick to domestic success in both the long and short format of the game.

D’Oliveira’s son Damian said: “It is a sad time for us as a family but after a long battle against Parkinson’s disease dad passed away peacefully, although it is difficult we will celebrate a great life rather than mourn a death.”

David Leatherdale, chief executive of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, said: “When you talk about cricketers and people in general, you use the term legend very sparingly, but there’s no doubt that Basil was a legend. He had an effect through more than just the cricket pitch.

“He was my first coach in 1987. He was a larger than life sort of character and was always sparing with his words, generally very insightful and direct and to the point.

“He certainly enjoyed life. He was a great coach, of that there was no doubt. He knew his cricket.

“He had major success as an individual and when he was a coach.

“We’ve got a stand at the club with his name plastered across it, which just goes to show how well he was received at the club and Worcestershire in general.

“Basil was a strong character but fairly quiet at times. He didn’t like the limelight, he spoke through his cricket.

“He was very passionate about cricket and liked to let, in his words, the cricket do the talking. Whatever you did on the pitch is what your remembered for.”

Former Worcestershire and England team-mate Tom Graveney paid tribute to his close friend on Sky Sports News.

"It's terrible news to me because Basil was one of my best friends," Graveney said.

"We met because we were on a tour of Pakistan together and I persuaded him to come to Worcester in 1962. He had to serve a year playing in the second XI and then came straight into the first class game and was an immediate success and a wonderful character as well.

Graveney recalled that D'Oliveira had been in tears when he was initially left out of the team for the tour of his homeland.

"I can remember saying, "If he doesn't go, I'm not going" because we were such great friends and he'd done everything to go and get back into the team, so it was politics I'm afraid," he said.

"It was very sad."

Had politics not intervened, Graveney said D'Oliveira would be primarily remembered for his outstanding skill as a batsman.

"He was a very good all-rounder," he said.

"He bowled medium pace, with a few off-spinners in amongst them. But his batting was the thing. He was tremendously strong. I can remember batting with him when the pitches were turning a bit because we played on wet wickets in those days and he was just terrific."

Current Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell paid tribute to D'Oliveira on Twitter.

He tweeted: "RIP Basil D'Oliveira, words can't express how much he did for so many. Legend isn't a strong enough word! Sad day, thoughts with the Dolly's"