Former Australian test player and Victorian state cricket coach David Hookes died in hospital Monday after a brawl outside a Melbourne pub late Sunday night.
Hookes was revived by ambulance paramedics after the assault outside a hotel in the Melbourne bayside suburb of St. Kilda. He had a serious head injury and never regained consciousness.
His death was announced Monday night by his brother, Terry Cranagh.
Police have charged a 21-year-old man who was working as a security guard at the hotel when the altercation took place.
A former player with South Australia state, the 48-year-old Hookes played 23 tests for Australia and 39 one-day internationals. He retired in 1992 and has been a radio and TV commentator.
Former test captain Steve Waugh said news of the assault stunned him.
"I felt physically very sick this morning when I heard the news, and it really is terrible," said Waugh, whose first test in 1985-1986 coincided with the last of Hookes' 23-match career.
Waugh's successor Ricky Ponting was also taken aback at "terribly sad news."
"Sitting with the guys at the airport this morning everyone was in a state of shock and no one could believe what happened," Ponting said at Sydney Airport.
Test selector and former captain Allan Border described his friend as a "larger than life character."
"We've been very close mates going back to schoolboy cricket days so this has hit pretty hard," said Border.
Bob Merriman, the chairman of Cricket Australia, said Australian cricket was in shock following the news.
"David was one of those rare, gifted athletes and people who instantly captured attention, whether it was through his aggressive batting, inspiring captaincy, aggressive coaching or his forthright commentary," said Merriman.
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