HAMPSHIRE cricket legend Malcolm Marshall has died after losing his fight against colon cancer aged just 41.

The former West Indies and Hampshire fast bowler died last night in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Bridgetown, in his native Barbados.

Marshall, who was also West Indies coach, only married his long-standing girlfriend Connie Earle in Eastleigh last month.

The low-key ceremony attended by a small group of family and friends including the couple's young son Mali and Hampshire captain Robin Smith.

Today, as the news of Malcolm's death spread, messages were pouring into the county ground at Southampton.

Former colleagues, players and friends paid tribute to one of the true giants of the modern game.

Hampshire captain Robin Smith said: "I don't think his spirit will ever leave the County Ground. I consider it a privilege and an honour to have played in the same team as him."

County chairman Brian Ford said: "I don't know anybody who had a bad word against him, including those opponents who felt the full force of him. "He was just a thoroughly nice guy who will be sadly missed by everybody in the game.

"He will certainly be sadly missed at this club." Throughout a long career Marshall, known to friends as Macko, took more than 1,063 wickets for Hampshire.

His 376 test wickets for the West Indies was a record until recently broken by Courtney Walsh. Former West Indies fast bowling colleague Colin Croft added: "The entire world of cricket will mourn this news. Malcolm was a great friend to everybody in cricket.''

Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram said: "He was my fast bowling idol. His skills were to pick the mistakes of batsmen right away and spot weaknesses. He was a nice fellow off the field, but a fierce competitor."

Marshall had been taken ill during the recent World Cup and had to undergo abdominal surgery. It was thought the surgery had been a success. But he was admitted to hospital when it became clear the cancer had spread.

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