Promising English cricketer Matthew Hobden dies at age 22

Promising English cricketer Matthew Hobden dies at age 22

Published Jan. 3, 2016 5:38 p.m. ET

LONDON (AP) Matthew Hobden, an English cricketer regarded as one of the most talented up-and-coming players in the country, has died. He was 22.

The England and Wales Cricket Board announced Hobden's death on Sunday. It didn't give a cause of death.

Britain's Press Association reported that Police Scotland said Hobden's body was found at a property in Forres, northern Scotland, on Saturday. Officers are investigating the death but have said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.

Hobden was a seam bowler who had been selected for the Potential England Performance program for each of the last two years. He played county cricket for Sussex.

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''As a player, I remember the first time I saw him just thinking, `Wow,''' said Kevin Shine, the ECB's lead fast bowling coach. ''He was the strongest, most powerful cricketer I've ever seen on that program - up there with elite athletes from different sports. His potential was huge, he was improving rapidly and I'm certain that he would have played for England.''

England players wore black armbands in Hobden's memory on the second day of the second test against South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday.

Hobden made his first-class debut in 2014 and represented Sussex in all formats of the game.

''Matthew was an exciting young cricketer with a big future ahead of him in the game,'' Sussex said in a statement.

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