Renowned regional and international cricket commentator and journalist Tony Cozier, 75, died in his native Barbados at the Bayview Hospital where he was hospitalized for the past few days.
Regional cricket administrators said Cozier had been the voice of West Indies cricket for more than 50 years during his illustrious career.
The Barbadian, whose skills spanned radio, television and print, worked for nearly every major international media organization, including the BBC Channel Nine and Sky television and also wrote extensively for several Caribbean and international newspapers.
Cozier had struggled with health issues in recent years, but he remained active and was a presence in the commentary box when England toured the Caribbean last year for a three-Test series which ended 1-1.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President Dave Cameron hailed Cozier as a “great ambassador” who had made an enduring impact on the sport.
“The lifelong work of Tony Cozier centered around West Indies cricket and he made a lasting contribution to the game,” the WICB said in a statement.
“His life was dedicated to the game in the Caribbean and we salute him for his outstanding work. He was a great journalist, but also a great ambassador. He represented West Indies wherever he went,” the statement said.
