English cricket is coming to terms with the loss of one of its brightest young stars after Ben Hollioake was killed in a car crash in Australia.
The 24-year-old died instantly after losing control of the Porsche 924 he was driving and hitting a pylon in Perth, Western Australia.
Hollioake's sister Eboni was travelling in the car behind and witnessed the crash.
The cricketer's 22-year-old passenger, believed to be from Perth, suffered serious head and chest injuries and is being treated in the intensive care unit of the Royal Perth hospital.
Relatives, including older brother Adam who also plays cricket for England, are said to be "devastated" while former England cricket coach David Lloyd said "you would be hard-pressed to find a more popular lad anywhere in cricket".
A statement from Adam Hollioake, said: "The family is totally devastated at our tragic loss, and we would ask that members of the media respect our desire to mourn our loss in private."
Hollioake's mother and father, Daria and John, who live near Melbourne, are being given counselling and treatment for shock.
Police in Perth are investigating why the car crashed after coming off an exit road on the Kwinana Freeway.
There were no other vehicles involved.
Hollioake was one of English cricket's brightest young prospects, at one time being heralded as the new Ian Botham. He recently played for England in the last one-day series in India and New Zealand before travelling to Australia for a holiday.
PA