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Sir Ian Botham: 'Tony Greig revolutionised the game'

Botham: 'Greig changed cricket'
© PA Photos
Sir Ian Botham pays tribute to Tony Greig following the confirmation that the former England captain has died aged 66.

Sir Ian Botham has paid tribute to Tony Greig, claiming that the former England captain "revolutionised" cricket.

Greig died of a heart attack at his home in Australia early on Saturday morning after battling lung cancer for two months.

Botham believes that the 66-year-old was at the centre of a lot of changes to the sport during his 58-Test career for England.

"He changed cricket in the way we know it now," Botham said. "The players of today have a lot to thank Tony Greig - and Kerry Packer - for.

"He revolutionised the game and it had to be done.

"Flamboyant is the word - he was larger than life and very much an extrovert. He made things happen."

Greig scored 3,599 runs and 141 wickets for England in Tests.

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