Tony Cozier, the West Indian cricket writer, commentator and journalist, has died in his home country, Barbados, at the age of 75 after an illness. He had been admitted to hospital on May 3 for tests related to infections in the neck and legs.
Cozier began writing on cricket as a teenager in 1958 and, despite never having played the game, he became one of its most distinguished voices. His last column on these pages was published on May 1.
“Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Tony Cozier today,” the ICC said on Twitter. “One of the truly great voices of cricket. A huge loss for the cricket community.”
Cozier, whose father Jimmy was also a cricket writer, began his commentary career during Australia’s tour of West Indies in 1965. Over five decades, Cozier grew into an accomplished media professional across mediums all over the world. He worked in radio and television, wrote books, and was published in newspapers, magazines and on the internet.
He edited the West Indies Cricket Annual between 1970 and 1991, and in 1978 wrote the acclaimed book, The West Indies: 50 Years of Test Cricket. In 2011, the MCC awarded Cozier life membership for his services to the game.
It was estimated that Cozier was among the most prolific watchers of Test cricket anywhere. Wisden in 2003 reported that he had watched 266 Tests in his 40-odd years of covering the game up to that point.
RIP sir.
Rest in power Tony, u meant the world to Windies Cricket!