The sudden death of a 22-year-old country cricket star in a small Scottish town hundreds of miles from his Sussex home is being investigated by local police.
Matthew Hobden, a Sussex fast bowler and England prospect, died in the Forres area on the northern Scottish coast on Saturday, Police Scotland said.
“The death of the male, who is believed to be from the Sussex area, is currently being treated as unexplained,” a statement from the force said. “Enquiries are at a very early stage but there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal as is usual procedure.”
Sussex mourn death of fast bowler Matthew Hobden aged 22 England’s Test team, playing South Africa in Cape Town, wore black armbands as a mark of respect following the death of a player who was regarded as a future international prospect.
Fellow professionals, including Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, and Paul Collingwood, were among those who mourned his loss. He had been named in the fast-bowling group for the Potential England Performance Programme late last year.
Kevin Shine, the lead fast-bowling coach of the English and Wales cricket board, said: “As a player, I remember, the first time I saw him, just thinking ‘wow’. He was the strongest, most powerful cricketer I’ve ever seen on that programme – up there with elite athletes from different sports. His potential was huge, he was improving rapidly and I’m certain that he would have played for England.
“But for all that, my overriding memory of Matt will be of his character: he was a wonderful lad. It’s devastating for all who knew him to have lost him so young.”
Preston Nomads cricket club, for whom Hobden had played from 2012, even as he made progress with the Sussex county side, paid their own tribute.
“The Big Matt Hobden (BMH) arrived with the talents, and on a trajectory, that made it clear he was destined for the upper reaches of the professional arena. So it swiftly proved, playing for Cardiff MCCU from 2013 and signing his first professional contract in 2014, which necessarily reduced his availability for our 1st XI to a handful more outings. Though our time with the BMH was brief, it was brilliant. His performance with the ball was at times hostile to the point of brutal and, having seen him contribute several useful innings with the bat, we were perhaps less surprised than many by his part in the record-breaking 10th wicket stand for Sussex in 2015.”
Its statement added: “A big, ever smiling, ever joyful young lad, the very definition of popular, he was always a delight to be around. Even with his career going from strength to strength he always had time for us all.
“That we will not see how far his talent will take him is a heartbreaking injustice. That no one will get to spend time with Matt again is too awful for words. We are devastated for his parents, brothers, loved ones, friends, team-mates.”
In a statement on Saturday, Sussex county cricket club had said it was “deeply shocked and saddened” to hear of Hobden’s death.
“Matthew was an exciting young cricketer with a big future ahead of him in the game. He was a fantastic individual who had progressed through Sussex’s youth and academy ranks, having been born locally in Eastbourne.
“He made his first-class debut for Sussex in 2014 and had represented the county across all three formats over the past two seasons. He will be greatly missed.”