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Surrey legend Clarke dies aged 44
Clarke is congratulated by Viv Richards and Deryck Murray in 1980 |
Former Surrey and West Indies fast bowler Sylvester Clarke has died at his home in Barbados.
Clarke, who was just 44, collapsed in Bridgetown. It was not immediately clear what caused his death.
He is the third West Indies and Barbados player to die in the last month following Malcolm Marshall and Sir Conrad Hunte.
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Clarke's record |
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42 Test wickets at 27.85 average |
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942 first class victims at 19.52 |
"He was one of the nicest blokes I've ever met and probably the best fast bowler I've played with or against," said Stewart, who played alongside Clarke from 1979 to 1989 with Surrey.
"It was a pleasure fielding to him when I started my career with Surrey - I think he'll go down as one of Surrey's greatest ever fast bowlers."
Fast and fearsome: Clarke in full flight |
He took 42 wickets in his 11 Tests at an average of 27.85, while his first class record showed his quality with 942 wickets in 238 matches costing him just 19.52 runs each.
In the 1984-85 season, he set a new record in South Africa's Currie Cup with 58 wickets at less than 13 runs each.
Clarke also scored one first class hundred for Surrey, and was still an active club player at the time of his death.
He played only 11 Tests and suffered from the fierce competition for places provided by outstanding fast bowlers like Marshall, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Joel Garner.
 I think he'll go down as one of Surrey's greatest ever fast bowlers  |
| Alec Stewart |
All players involved were subsequently banned from playing for the West Indies.
Clarke had previously been suspended by the West Indies Cricket Board in 1981, after throwing a brick into a crowd and seriously injuring a student leader.
The bowler had responded to objects thrown at him by spectators by hurling the boundary-marker back into the crowd.
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