The father of Australian cricket legend Glenn McGrath has died following a battle with sickness.
McGrath’s spouse Sara revealed the heartbreaking news on Wednesday, sharing an Instagram submit paying tribute her father-in-law.
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“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of my beloved father in law, Kevin James McGrath,” she wrote.
“He was a great dad, husband, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend. He was a compassionate, humble, caring and certainly always there when you needed him.
“He was a man of the land, tough as they come. Who’s greatest pleasure was everyday waking up looking forward to working on his wheat and sheep farm. A gentleman in every way.
“When I arrived in Australia knowing only one person, my husband, my father in law welcomed me with open arms and heart. He was the best father in law I could have ever wished for.
“In the last few months of his life I had the privilege to repay the love he had show me since we met. He will be thoroughly missed at the same time we are at peace that he is no longer suffering.
“Love u Kev”.
Olympic gold medallist Kerri Pottharst commented: “I’m so sorry to hear. Sending massive love and hugs to all the family xx”.
The McGrath Foundation added: “We are so incredibly sorry for your loss and our thoughts are with you, Glenn and your entire family. Kev was a true gentleman”.
McGrath Sr. raised his household at Narromine, about 430km north-west of Sydney, which is the place the cricket legend honed his craft.
7 Cricket shared a picture in 2018 with McGrath together with his father outdoors the barn the place he would play cricket as a child named “The Pigeon Barn”.
While Glenn was additionally nicknamed “Pigeon”, that title comes from when he first rocked up at NSW and teammate Brad McNamara instructed him “you’ve stolen a pigeon’s legs, McGrath”.
McGrath, who was shut together with his father, needed to transfer to the town earlier than he debuted for NSW in 1992-93, and debuted for Australia in 1993.
He retired 124 Tests, 250 ODIs and two T20I’s later with a 563 wickets, a report which has solely been overwhelmed by England’s Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad since.
He additionally took a mixed 949 wickets in all worldwide codecs, which solely Anderson — who has performed 179 Tests, 194 ODIs and 19 T20Is — has overwhelmed with 972.
McGrath retired from worldwide cricket in 2007.
Glenn McGrath isn’t any stranger to tragedy in his life, having established the McGrath Foundation together with his late spouse Jane, who died of breast most cancers in 2008.
McGrath married Sara Leonardi in 2010.
Now each Sydney Test is the Pink Test in her reminiscence and the organisation at present has 200 McGrath Breast Care Nurses, who assist people and their households experiencing breast most cancers.
More than $3 million {dollars} had been raised for the trigger on the 2023 Pink Test.
Source: www.news.com.au