David Hookes dies after hotel attack

Former Australia batsman David Hookes died in hospital on Monday after suffering serious head injuries in an assault outside a Melbourne hot...

Former Australia batsman David Hookes died in hospital on Monday after suffering serious head injuries in an assault outside a Melbourne hotel, Hookes’s family said.

“We, the family of cricketer David Hookes, wish to inform David’s many friends, family members and fans that he passed away today at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne,” Hookes’s brother Terry Cranagh said.

“We trust that the police will conduct a full investigation into the cause of the incident and that the justice process will provide us with some insight into what occurred,” he read from a statement at the

Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

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The 48-year-old Hookes, a swashbuckling batsman who played 23 Tests for Australia from 1976-77 to 1985-86, had been taken to hospital after the assault late on Sunday.

Hookes was revived by ambulance staff after a fight outside a hotel in the bayside suburb of St Kilda late on Sunday.

The coach of the Victoria state side had been celebrating with his players after their win over South Australia in a one-day match.

We became friends during the ’85 tour:Yadav

The Indian cricket team condoled Hookes’ death. “We are really shocked to learn of his untimely death and our heart goes out to his family in this hour of tragedy. It is a very sad day for cricket,” team manager Shivlal Yadav said here. Yadav said he still remembered the Adelaide Test where the only wicket he claimed was that of Hookes. “It was the 1985-86 tour and I remember we became good friends and used to go out in the evenings. It was with delight when we caught up with him at the start of the tour during the three-day game against Victoria in November last. I cannot believe it has happened to a good man like him,” Yadav said.