Team to attend Hollioake funeral

March 25, 2002

Members of the England cricket squad are to be allowed to fly to Australia for the funeral of their team-mate Ben Hollioake who was killed in a road accident at the weekend.

The funeral will take place on Thursday, just two days before England play the third and final Test of their series against New Zealand in Auckland.

But England management will not stand in the way of any player who wishes to make the eight-hour flight to Perth to pay their respects.

‘I don't think we can hold people back. It's not a cricketing decision, that is a personal decision everyone will have to take,’ said captain Nasser Hussain.

A post mortem has been carried out on 24-year-old Hollioake, who died when his Porsche 924 left the road in Perth in the early hours of Saturday morning.

His 22-year-old girlfriend Janaya Scholten, who was a passenger in the car, suffered serious head and chest injuries and is said to be in a ‘critical but stable’ condition at the Royal Perth Hospital.

Police are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash prior to submitting a report to the coroner, who will then decide whether to hold an inquest.

Police say there was no obvious reason for the crash and no marks on the road to indicate high speed.

Hollioake only recently left New Zealand after playing for England in the one-day series.

He was spending time in Perth with his family, including elder brother and Surrey team-mate Adam, prior to returning to England for the new county season.

Hollioake's death overshadowed the second Test in Wellington, which ended in a draw.

‘Cricket is an irrelevant side issue to us losing a friend,’ Hussain said after the match.

From BBCi

Copyright (c) 2000-2002 Sue Kelly