Matthew Hobden was celebrating New Year with friends when he died

Few days after Matthew Hobden’s sad passing, his family have released a statement explaining that he was with his friends in Scotland, celebrating New Year. The 22-year-old fast bowler’s body was discovered by police at a property in Forres, near Inverness.

In a statement released through Police Scotland, his family said: "We are deeply saddened by the sudden death of Matthew who had been celebrating the new year with friends in the Forres area.

"We now ask that we are left alone to deal with the tragic circumstances that have unfolded and are allowed to grieve in private at this difficult time."

Although police are still investigating the death, there is thought to be no suspicion surrounding the circumstances of his death. It was earlier reported in the UK press that the Sussex fast bowler had fallen to his death off the roof of a Scottish estate.

According to reports, the 22-year-old and his guests had gone to the roof to stargaze, where he fell asleep and was thought to be disorientated when he woke up and tragically fell to his death.

Plenty of senior players, both from England and Sussex paid tribute to Hobden when his death was announced. Sussex coach Mark Davis has also given his players the week off to come to terms with the death of a promising cricketer and their teammate.

"I've given the boys a week away to make sure they can gather their thoughts and be around their loved ones, process what's happened and reflect a little bit as well," he told the Guardian. "We all met on Sunday morning, after we got the awful news, just to get everyone together.

“Everyone will grieve in different ways but it was good to support each other. We need to stay strong to get through this tough time.”

Throughout his career, the 22-year-old played in 18 first-class matches, picking up 48 wickets, including 23 in 11 matches in the 2015 season, which saw Sussex relegated to Division 2.

The fast bowler’s promise caught the eye of the national selectors, who picked him as one of six fast bowlers to take part in the fast-bowling group for the Potential England Performance Programme this winter.

The playeres were supposed to be in Johannesburg along with the senior England side and help them prepare for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa.