Former India pacer David Johnson dies at 52, police suspect suicide

KOTHANUR: Former India pacer David Johnson passed away at the age of 52 after allegedly committing suicide from the fourth-floor balcony of his apartment here on Thursday.

Johnson, born in October 1971, in the Arasikere region, was famous for his searing pace and services for Indian cricket in the mid-1990s.

According to the local media, David Johnson tragically fell to death from the fourth-floor balcony of his apartment.

As a result, he suffered several injuries and was rushed to the nearby hospital but was declared “brought dead” upon arrival.

“We were informed that he had fallen from the fourth floor of his apartment building. He was taken to Crescent Hospital, but the doctors declared him brought dead,” a Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) official told Press Trust of India (PTI).

After inspecting the place of the incident, Kothanur Police shared that the investigation was underway to determine whether the fall was intentional or accidental. The police, however, filed an unnatural death report.

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For the unversed, David Johnson burst into the India cricket team at the back of his exceptional performances for Karnataka in the domestic circuit, the highlight of which was his magnificent bowling figures of 10 for 152 against Kerala in the 1995-96 Ranji Trophy season.

He made his Test debut for India against Australia in 1996. He then accompanied the national team on their tour to South Africa and featured in the first Test of the series.

However, his lack of control resulted in him being dropped and eventually marked the end of his brief Test career amid which he took three wickets.

David Johnson had a decent record in domestic cricket. He picked up 125 wickets in 39 first-class matches at an average of 28.63 and a strike rate of 47.4. He also has a hundred to his name while batting in lower order.

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