The following is a list of cricket players who died while playing a game, died directly from injuries sustained while playing, or died after being taken ill on the ground.
PlayerCauseDatePlace Jasper VinallStruck on the head by a bat as a result of a double-hit attempt.28 August 1624Horsted Keynes, Sussex Henry BrandStruck on the head by a bat. Notable for being a similar double-hit to Vinall, which may have resulted in the 1744 codification of the rule.1647Selsey, West Sussex. John BootsKilled while batting. He collided with his partner whilst going for a run. Both men were knocked down but got up again, only for Boots to drop down dead as he was running to his wicket.31 May 1737Newick, Sussex Frederick, Prince of WalesKeen on cricket and real tennis, it's been speculated that he died from either a pulmonary embolism or a burst abscess caused by being hit with a ball20 March 1751London James Balchen"Killed by a cricket ball"buried 14 June 1764Godalming, Surrey George SummersStruck on the head by a ball bowled by John Platts.29 June 1870Nottingham John Hamilton Plumptre Lighton Son of Rev. Sir Christopher Lighton, Baronet; struck by a return drive by a batsman12 July 1872Repton, Derbyshire William JuppDied after suffering a brain injury during a cricket match.3 August 1878Chertsey, Surrey Claude WilsonKilled by sunstroke29 June 1881Betchworth, Surrey Lord Fitzroy SomersetYoungest son of the Duke of Beaufort; collapsed and died of suspected heart failure23 July 1881near Tetbury, Gloucestershire Frederick Randon Sr.Struck on the head by a ball at Lord's in 1881, from which he never fully recovered, dying in February 188317 February 1883Hathern, Leicestershire Frederick Jackman Collapsed while batting 5 September 1891 Horndean, England Charles Lane Struck over the heart by a ballEvita Burned Down Our Pavilion: A Cricket Odyssey through Latin America 20 May 1895 Cosme, Paraguay Arthur EarlamStruck by a return drive by the batsmanJuly 1921Runcorn, Cheshire Walter DuffDied of complications from a broken leg during a cricket match.11 November 1921Sydney, Australia Edward CoxHeart failure while playing cricket23 July 1925Holyport, Berkshire, England William John GriffithsStruck by a ball in the head when attempting to take a catch during practice resulting in a skull fracture.The Argus, "Cricketer And Footballer – Death of W. Griffiths", 18 October 1928. p. 1416 October 1928Melbourne, Australia Max SmithStruck by a ball (bowled by his younger brother Clive Smith) which deflected into his head. 27 October 1941 Werribee, Australia Andy DucatHeart failure23 July 1942London Tom KillickHeart problem18 May 1953 Northampton Abdul AzizStruck over the heart by a ball17 January 1959Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan Martin BedkoberDied when hit over the heart by a cricket ball; flatmate of Jeff Thomson13 December 1975Brisbane, Queensland Michael Ainsworth"Suddenly" 28 August 1978 Hillingdon, London Wilf SlackCollapsed while batting15 January 1989Banjul, the Gambia Ian FolleyHeart attack while being treated in hospital for eye injury sustained on the field30 August 1993Whitehaven, Cumbria Raman LambaStruck on the head by a ball while fielding23 February 1998Dhaka, Bangladesh Mark LavineHeart attack12 May 2001Coventry, England Wasim RajaSuffered a heart attack on the pitch23 August 2006Marlow, Buckinghamshire Darryn RandallStruck on the head by a ball27 October 2013Alice, Eastern Cape Phillip HughesStruck on the neck by a ball during a Sheffield shield match bowled by Sean Abbott27 November 2014Sydney, New South Wales Raymond van SchoorStroke20 November 2015Windhoek, Namibia Rajesh GhodgeCollapsed while playing in a local cricket tournament13 January 2019Margao, Goa, India Shyamji KanojiaHeart attack while fielding during a in a senior veterans cricket match.3 January 2021Virar, Mumbai Ben AustinStruck on the neck by a ball during practice28 October 2025Melbourne, Australia
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