Tony Greig was best known in later years as a cricket commentator for Australia's Nine Network and other broadcasters around the world.
(CNN) -- The cricket world is mourning the passing of former England captain Tony Greig, a larger than life character who helped revolutionize the sport in the late 1970s before becoming a high-profile commentator.
Greig died aged 66 on Saturday in his adopted home of Australia, having been diagnosed with lung cancer in October.
Born in South Africa, the 6 foot 6 inch all-rounder qualified to play for England due to his Scottish father and represented his new country in 58 Test matches from 1972-77.
However, he was stripped of the captaincy after becoming a leading figure in the breakaway World Series Cricket competition set up by Australian entrepreneur Kerry Packer, who owned the Channel Nine network that Greig would work for until recently.
"Tony stood out as a player and captain, as an influential part of the Kerry Packer World Series Cricket era and then for decades as a familiar voice in millions of Australian living rooms each summer as part of the Nine telecast which revolutionized the TV presentation of cricket," Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said in a statement.
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"His illness and too-early death comes as a terrible shock -- he will be greatly missed."
Greig's fellow South African David Richardson, a former international player who is now head of the International Cricket Council, also paid tribute.
"Tony played a significant part in shaping modern cricket as a player in the 1970s and then provided millions of cricket lovers with a unique insight as a thoughtful and knowledgeable commentator," Richardson said.
"His figures in Test matches show that he was one of the leading all-rounders of his generation with a batting average of above 40 and a bowling average around 32."
Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard issued a joint statement with sports minister Kate Lundy that was published in the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Greig was a wonderful example of someone who came to Australia from somewhere else in the world and embraced his adopted country as his own," it said.
"Most Australians would be deeply familiar with Greig the commentator, in particular his unique brand of colorful game-calling and entertaining banter. His life in cricket wasn't always without controversy, but no one could doubt his passion and commitment to the sport he loved."
Greig, who went to England as a teenager in the late 1960s, was heavily criticized for an "unsporting" run out of West Indies batsman Alvin Kallicharan in 1974 that saw the home fans storm the pitch in protest. Greig then revoked his appeal and Kallicharan was reinstated.
That ill feeling spilled over into the Caribbean team's series in England in 1976, before which Greig infamously said he would make the tourists "grovel."
As recounted in the 2010 documentary "Fire in Babylon," the incident fired up the West Indian players, who perceived it as a slight by their former colonial rulers, especially coming from a white South African at the height of apartheid.
It sparked a transformation that made the tourists the dominant side in world cricket for the next two decades, as their bowlers battered Greig's team with a fearsome pace attack.
Greig, having lost that series 3-0, then redeemed himself as he led England to a first victory in India in 15 years -- but his time at the helm would prove to be shortlived.
He successfully took the English cricket authorities to court after they tried to ban the Packer "rebels" but his own playing contribution came to an end after the inaugural series.
Greig moved into commentating, with the Nine Network and broadcasters around the world, as he teamed up with former cricketing opponents such as Ian Chappell.
He is survived by his wife Vivian and children Mark, Sam, Beau and Tom.
Meanwhile, veteran Australian batsman Mike Hussey has announced he will retire from international cricket after next week's third and final Test against Sri Lanka.
The 37-year-old's decision comes in the same month that former Australia captain Ricky Ponting ended his career.
Hussey scored 19 centuries in 78 Tests, being Australia's 12th-highest run scorer with a total of 6,183 at an average of 51.52.
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Seen here at the 2011 World Cup, he was well-known for his prematch pitch reports -- he stuck his car key into the playing surface to ascertain moisture levels.
Last year he was honored for his work in Australian television at the Logie Awards, but he was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2012 before passing away on December 29.
Born in South Africa, he went on to captain England due to his Scottish father. In 1976 he was made to pay for comments that he would make the West Indies "grovel" as the tourists unleashed a fearsome pace attack.
Having been beaten 3-0, he redeemed himself by leading England to a first series win in India in 15 years. However, his international career was soon to end.
Greig took the English cricket authorities to court in 1977 after they threatened to ban players he helped sign up for the rebel World Series Cricket competition.
He won that battle but struggled in the Kerry Packer-funded tournament's first year, in which he was one of the captains along with West Indies' Clive Lloyd and Australia's Ian Chappell. However, it eventually proved a great success and transformed the way cricket was played and presented.
Johnson had earlier run out Dimuth Karunaratne in the same over as the tourists made the worst possible start before losing by an innings and 201 runs.
The Australian bowlers once again tested the visiting batsmen, who struggled to cope with short-pitched deliveries.
Man of the match Johnson was in fiery form, and one of his rising deliveries hit Kumar Sangakkara on the glove -- Sri Lanka's leading batsman was later diagnosed with a broken finger, ending his tour.
Johnson was earlier denied his second Test century, being stranded on 92 when Australia's first innings came to a close on 460.
Ponting holds daughter Matisse (R), as his wife Riannna carries daughter Emmy (L), following Australia's defeat in the third and final Test of the series against South Africa at the WACA ground in Perth.
The 37-year-old was given a guard of honor by his opponents when he went out to bat on day four. South Africa captain Graeme Smith later described Ponting as "the player I respect the most" following a record-breaking career.
Ponting, one of only three players to have scored more than 13,000 Test runs, managed a trademark early boundary as Australia chased a huge target of 623 to win.
However, he fell for just eight runs and the home side went on to lose by 309 for a 1-0 series defeat as South Africa retained the top Test ranking.
He was given a standing ovation by the 7,000-strong crowd, having matched Steve Waugh's record of Test appearances for Australia.
A fan shows his appreciation for Ponting, who won a record 48 Tests as captain and was involved in 108 victories overall.
Tendulkar cemented his place in history when in March he became the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries. The 39-year-old insists cricket will remain his priority, adding: "I have been nominated because I am a sportsman and not a politician."
Tendulkar's supporters held a hunger strike on April 24, demanding the government award him India's highest civilian award. Chairperson Justice Markandey Katju hit back, arguing that giving the Bharat Ratna to cricketers and film stars who have "no social relevance" makes a mockery of the prize.
Tendulkar, pictured with his wife Anjali, was honored at the "Real Heroes Awards" ceremony in Mumbai in March, run by the Reliance Foundation and CNN affiliate broadcaster CNN-IBN.
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