The legendary Australian cricketer and commentator Richie Benaud has died at 84.
Benaud, who captained his country and made 63 Test match appearances, had been battling skin cancer and recovering from the after-effects of a car accident in 2013.
Dubbed the Voice of Cricket, he was as revered in England, where he worked on television from 1963 to 2005, as he was in his homeland.
Moments after his death was confirmed by his long-term employer Channel Nine, sports stars and celebrity cricket fans vented their emotions on Twitter.
Australian prime minister Tony Abbott said: "A sad day for Australia. We have lost a cricketing champion and Australian icon. What an innings. RIP Richie Benaud."
Hollywood actor Russell Crowe tweeted: "RIP Richie Benaud. My deep gratitude for all you gave to the sport of cricket as a player and as a broadcaster. Sad, sad day."
Neighbours actor Alan Fletcher, who plays Dr Karl Kennedy in the soap, tweeted: "Farewell Richie Benaud. A giant in the world of sport. VoiceofCricket."
And Piers Morgan said: "RIP Richie Benaud. The greatest cricket commentator of them all & a wonderful man. Mourning Everyone."
Benaud's health had suffered in recent years, after he sustained rib and spine injuries in October 2013 when he drove his vintage 1963 Sunbeam Alpine into a garden wall in Coogee.
A planned comeback to the commentary box around a year later was then put on ice after he revealed he was undergoing treatment for melanomas on his forehead, scalp and neck.
Australian media reported he died in a Sydney hospice with his wife Daphne and family around him.
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Among the sports stars paying tribute was former Leeds and Liverpool footballer Harry Kewell, an Australian international, who said: "A sad day in cricket. I will sadly miss listening to the legend richiebenaud 's commentary. His voice IS cricket."
Former England cricketer Jonathan Agnew, writing for the BBC, said: "Richie Benaud was the doyen of cricket commentators. He was quite simply peerless. Nobody else had his authority, popularity and skill.
"Captain of his country, one of the finest all-rounders of his era and a broadcaster beyond compare for five decades ... there will never be another Richie Benaud. He was a one-off."
Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee said: "Very sad to hear the news today of the passing of Richie Benaud. What a legend of a cricketer and broadcaster for @Channel9 @WWOS9 best ever."
And fellow former Kangaroos star Shane Warne said he was a "legend".
He posted on Instagram: "As a cricketer, commentator and as a person, you were the best there's ever been & to top it off, an absolute gentleman ... Richie, you were loved by everyone, not just the cricket family, you were the godfather of cricket and you will be missed by all."
England cricketer Michael Carberry tweeted: "Another sad day for cricket! We have lost another great cricketing brother. Watching and listening will never be the same. RIP Richie Benaud."
BBC Sport's Dan Walker tweeted: "Used to wait for Richie Benaud to say 'morning everyone' to kick start the summer. Very sad news."
Benaud is survived by his wife and two sons from a previous marriage.
Additional reporting PA
