CATEGORY:SPORTS(CRICKET)
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By Wallace J.A
Inside Grenada correspondent
Tuesday November 28,2006


ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada - Former English cricket all-rounder, Graham Roope, collapsed and died while on a charity tour of the Spice Isle on Sunday November 26. He was 60 years old.

Roope, who was born in Fareham, Hamshire in 1946, played 21 test matches and 8 ODIs for England between 1973 and 1978. He was well-known for his brilliant fielding in ‘the slips’, taking 603 catches in 403 first-class matches. He played first-class cricket from 1964 to 1986 and was a key player for the Surrey county team.

In his 21 test matches, Roope scored a total of 860 runs which includes seven 50s at an average of 30.71. His highest score was an unbeaten 77 at The Oval in 1975 which helped England to save the game against Australia after England was asked to follow on. He had an average of 21.62 in his 8 ODIs for England with a strike rate of 50.58. Although he never took any wickets as a bowler, he has the miserly economy rate of 2.65 runs per over in his 28 overs.

Not only was Roope a great cricketer but he also possessed a heart of gold. At the time of his passage to the Great Beyond, he was here in Grenada on a charity tour. Cricket lovers all around the world and the people of Grenada especially, join with the family and friends of Roope in this period of mourning.

Here at Grenadianconnection, we say ‘Thanks for the wonderful memories. You are gone Roope, but you will not be forgotten.”