KEY POINTS:
GROS ISLET, St Lucia - New Zealand coach John Bracewell said today world cricket would miss his friend and cricketing mentor Bob Woolmer.
The English-born coach of Pakistan died in hospital in Jamaica early today after being found unconscious on the floor of his hotel room, less than 24 hours after his team was eliminated from the World Cup by Ireland.
Woolmer, 58, had a long association with Bracewell at county level in England and the Black Caps coach was stunned to hear the news as the team trained in St Lucia today.
"Bob Woolmer's innovation will be a huge loss to world cricket, as will his willingness to share those thoughts," Bracewell said.
"I knew Bob through our county relationships, he with Warwickshire and myself with neighbouring Gloucestershire. I also had quite an involvement with him when completing my Level 4 coaching as he was the specialist batting coach.
"He was known as the father of international coaching and like a lot of fathers he was also a mentor," said Bracewell, who left Gloucestershire for the New Zealand post in 2004.
"Bob was tremendously well respected in the coaching world, he was a good listener and was well studied in the science of cricket."
New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker added: "The entire Black Caps team is stunned and saddened by the announcement of Bob Woolmer's untimely death. It has thrown a huge shadow over the team and over the whole opening stanza of this World Cup."
Kenya's cricketers, who play New Zealand in a group C match at Beaujesour Stadium on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT), were also shocked to hear the news.
Woolmer worked in a developmental capacity with the Kenyan cricket association in 2004.
"It's terrible news," said captain Steve Tikolo.
"Our thoughts are with Bob's family at this time."
A Pakistan team spokesman said a coroner's inquest would be held to determine the cause of death.
Woolmer was found around 10.45am (local time) after team officials grew concerned that they had not seen him since the previous evening. An ambulance rushed him to Kingston University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a few hours later.
- NZPA
