SYDNEY, June 23: Grieving former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath paid tribute to the courage of his wife following her death on Sunday. English-born Jane lost her long battle with cancer at the age of 42.

“I am devastated by the loss of my beautiful wife Jane,” Glenn McGrath said in a statement on Monday. “She was my best friend.”

“This is also a very tough time for our children James and Holly. I am grateful they were able to spend the time they had with their mother. They were her world. I would like to think Jane will be remembered as an extraordinary person whose courage and determination humbled me and inspired so many people.

“I never took for granted the time I had with Jane and if there is one thing that can be drawn from her life, it is that every day is a blessing.”

The Australian cricket team will honour Jane’s memory during Tuesday’s ODI against West Indies in St. Vincent.

The players will wear pink ribbons and batsmen will use pink grips on their bats. The colour pink represents the McGrath Foundation, an organisation set up by Glenn and Jane to raise money for the fight against breast cancer.

“Jane was a wonderful person who fought and maintained grace and dignity during her long-term illness,” Ricky Ponting said.—Reuters