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Worcestershire Academy director and former player Damian D’Oliveira dies

Image: Damian D'Oliveira: Former Worcestershire player loses cancer battle

Worcestershire Academy director and former player Damian D’Oliveira has died at the age of 53 following a lengthy battle against cancer.

The county announced the sad news ahead of the County Championship game against Glamorgan at New Road.

D’Oliveira, the son of former Worcestershire and England legend Basil D’Oliveira who passed away in 2011, played for Worcestershire between 1982 and 1995.

He scored 9504 first-class runs as well as 4822 List A runs and took 55 first-class wickets and 28 List A wickets during a highly-successful period which saw Worcestershire win two County Championship titles and several one-day competitions.

After retiring from playing, D’Oliveira, who had been battling cancer for the past two and a half years, discovered many of the current Worcestershire first-team squad in his role as Academy director.

He leaves his wife Tracey and three children – Brett, who plays for Worcestershire, Marcus and Dominic.

Former Worcestershire chairman Duncan Fearnley said D'Oliveira had given his life to cricket and to Worcestershire.

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"He had a good career here, he loved this club like his dad did," said Fearnley.

"His name will live on through the players out there now in the first team as many of them came through the academy he was in charge of. They have all come through the ranks together."

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