Cricket was hit by the deaths of disgraced former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje and rising English star Ben Hollioake.

Cronje was banned from the game for life in 2000 after admitting that he accepted money from bookmakers in return for supplying them with information.

But leading figures in South African cricket joined thousands of mourners in Bloemfontein for the his funeral.

Cronje played 68 Tests and 188 one-day internationals during his career.

Ben Hollioake, a rising English international star, was just 24 when he died in a car accident in Western Australia in March.

It was perhaps a fitting memorial that his club side Surrey should go on to win the county championship.

Another club also suffered tragedy - Sussex all-rounder Umer Rashid drowned while trying to save his younger brother at a waterfall in Grenada.

And former Indian leg-spinner Subhash 'Fergie' Gupte, who took 149 Test wickets between 1952 and 1961, died in May.

Football fans and players saluted former England manager Walter Winterbottom.

Tributes were also paid to to commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme, who died aged 81.

"Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now," remarked Wolstenholme.

West Brom fans were shocked by the death of former striker Jeff Astle.

And there was a surprise at his inquest when a coroner ruled he suffered from a brain disease caused by heading footballs.

In the United States, former Dallas Cowboy and Olympic sprint gold medallist Bob Hayes died aged 59.

His athletic career saw him dubbed 'The World's Fastest Human', but he later suffered from drug and alcohol addiction which landed him in jail.

Another former NFL legend was mourned - Johnny 'Golden Arm' Unitas was widely regarded as the greatest ever quarter-back.

Horse racing lost one of its greatest supporters, the Queen Mother, who died aged 101 in March.

And the sport witnessed a range of emotions as top Australian jockey Damien Oliver won the Melbourne Cup on Media Puzzle just days after his brother Jason was killed in a riding accident.

In July, leading owner Lord Weinstock died five days before his horse Golan claimed the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.

Meanwhile, the golfing world hailed one of its greatest ambassadors, Sam Snead.

Aged 89, he left behind memories of a peerless swing and cut-glass character.