Ben Hollioake Photo Paul McGregor

England international cricketer Ben Hollioake has been killed in a car accident in Perth overnight.

The English camp playing in the second Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve had just resumed their first innings when news first came through and it has shocked the side.

England's team management will request that the England flag at the Basin Reserve be lowered to half-mast at lunch-time today and both teams will observe a minute's silence before play tomorrow morning in tribute to Hollioake.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said: "On behalf of NZC I would like extend our deepest sympathy to the family, friends and team-mates of Ben Hollioake following his tragic death this morning.

"As well as being a talented cricketer, from all accounts Ben was a much loved member of the England squad whose contribution in all areas will be sorely missled.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ben's family and friends at this very sad time."

According to reports, Hollioake was driving a Porsche which crashed on Mill Point Road in South Perth. The car spun out of control and hit a brick wall just after the Kwinana off ramp.

A 22-year-old woman was also in the car and received head and chest injuries.

West Australia police inspector Greg Medhurst said Hollioake had died at the scene of the accident while the female passenger was taken to Royal Perth Hospital.

Another police spokesman, Constable Raphael Perez said Hollioake's Porsche failed to negotiate a bend and hit a pylon which rolled the vehicle.

He confirmed members of Hollioake's family were following his vehicle and were on the scene immediately. He was identified straight away and the family were now receiving counselling and treatment for shock.

Hollioake, who played for Surrey, had a 75-match first-class career and was a member of the England one-day squad which was recently beaten 3-2 in New Zealand but he did not play in the series due to a knee injury.

He left the side at the end of the series when England embarked on the Test programme.

Hollioake, born in Melbourne on November 11, 1977, made his Test debut in 1997 for England in the same game as his older brother Adam, in the fifth Test against Australia at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. It was the only occasion in the 20th Century that brothers made their Test debuts together.

At 19 years, Hollioake was the youngest player to represent England since Brian Close in 1949.

He only played two Tests and was regarded as more of a one-day specialist. He made his One-Day International debut in 1997 scoring 63 at Lord's against Australia in the third match of the series.

He was named the Young Cricketer of the Year by the Cricket Writers' Club that season.

In 20 ODIs he scored 309 runs at 20.60 and scored two 50s. His first game 63 remained his highest score.

He played sparingly until last summer when he was recalled to the side for the triangular tournament against Pakistan and Australia, scoring 37 not out against Australia at Bristol and shared a 70-run stand with Owais Shah in 7.2 overs against Pakistan at Headingley.

That saw him included in the squad selected to tour Zimbabwe, India and New Zealand as part of England's build-up to next year's World Cup.

In his first-class career he scored 2794 runs at 25.87 and took 126 wickets at 33.45.

© CricInfo