Former MCC and SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw dies aged 58

South Australia Cricket Association chief executive and former Marylebone Cricket Club CEO Keith Bradshaw has passed away after a long illness at the age of 58.

Bradshaw had been SACA CEO since November 2011 having previously been the first non-Englishman to hold the role of secretary and chief executive officer of the MCC, having been appointed to the position in 2006.

He also played 25 first-class matches for Tasmania between 1984 and 1988 as a middle-order batter and made two Sheffield Shield centuries before retiring to begin a career in the private sector with Price Waterhouse and Deloitte.

Bradshaw had quietly battled incurable cancer, multiple myeloma, over more than a decade but had managed to fulfil his duties at the MCC and the SACA playing a major role in the development of pink-ball day-night cricket, with Adelaide Oval becoming the first venue globally to host a pink-ball Test. The ground has since become synonymous with day-night Test cricket. Bradshaw also oversaw the major redevelopment of Adelaide Oval during the early part of his tenure at the SACA.

Cricket Australia's interim chairman Richard Freudenstein paid tribute to Bradshaw on Tuesday.

"Although many within the cricket family were aware that Keith was battling a serious long-term illness, the news of his passing at such a young age is devasting for cricket and all who had the good fortune to know him," Freudenstein said.

"Keith's contribution to cricket in Australia and the UK cannot be understated. His legacy is an ongoing testament to a lifetime of achievement in the game.

"His great skill as a cricket administrator was to be an innovator yet appreciate and understand the importance of tradition. He had the clearest of vision when it came to strategy and yet the lightest of touch when it came to empowering his staff to carry it out.

"He fought his long-term illness with courage and fortitude and despite whatever he was going through, he always had a smile and lots of time for everyone he met.

"Cricket will be much the poorer for his passing and myself and everyone at Cricket Australia send our love and thoughts to his fiancé Helen, children Juliet, Eliza, Donald and Jack and son-in-law Patrick at this time."