Counties Manukau Cricket Association chairman Grant Barnes has passed away peacefully after a battle with illness.
Barnes had an extensive background in cricket.

As an educator involved in several local schools, including 19 years as principal at Ardmore School, he coached and supported cricket for many years.

Outside of teaching Barnes was a long-serving primary schools’ delegate to the Auckland Cricket Association, where he was heavily involved in coaching and the promotion of junior cricket. His contribution to Auckland cricket was acknowledged through his appointment as a vice-patron of the association.

More recently he continued to pursue his cricket interests spending nine years as a member and then three years chair of the board of the Counties-Manukau Cricket Association.

“Grant has been an absolute rock of support for our CMCA staff, always ready to help out with words of wisdom down the phone, a voice of reason that cannot be underestimated,” CMCA Cricket Manager Andy Napier said.

“Grant meant a great deal to a number of us, and his loss will be strongly felt throughout the wider cricket community.”

There will be a private cremation followed by a memorial service, details of which will follow.