Ben Hollioake

Benjamin Caine Hollioake (11 November 1977 – 23 March 2002) was a cricketer who played for Surrey County Cricket Club and the England cricket team. Born in Australia, Hollioake moved to England as a child where he made his first-class cricketing debut for Surrey in 1996. A right-handed batsman and right-arm seam bowler, Hollioake's performances as an all-rounder saw him join his brother Adam in the 1997 England ODI team. Later that year, Adam and Ben Hollioake made their England Test debut in the same game, becoming only the third set of brothers to do so. Ben Hollioake made two test appearances and earned 20 ODI caps before he was killed in a car crash in Australia at the age of 24.

The son of an Australian engineer and his Indonesian wife, Ben Hollioake was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1977. Hollioake played junior cricket in Sydney, especially in the Gladesville District Cricket Association, representing Gladesville District when he was just 9 years old, and was well renowned for his lightning fast bowling and talent with the bat – even at that young age. Hollioake moved to England in 1984, along with his older brother Adam. He was educated at Millfield Preparatory School and later at Millfield.

A graceful batsman who was capable of massive hitting, and a useful medium pacer with a knack of taking wickets, Ben joined his brother at Surrey in 1994. Hollioake made his first-class debut for Surrey in 1996, taking four 4–74 against Yorkshire at Acklam Park, Middlesbrough, and was awarded the NBC Denis Compton Award that same year. In May 1997, aged 19, he was called up to England's ODI squad to play Australia. Making his debut batting at number three for the final game of the series at Lord's, Hollioake struck 63 runs off 48 balls and was named Man of the Match. England won the three-match series 3–0. His performance led to the media comparing him to the great English all-rounder Ian Botham.