Cox, 22, was struck by lightning while attending livestock during a freak storm on his family’s Moolarben Road property at Moolarben on Tuesday afternoon.

Mudgee Senior & Junior District Cricket Association representatives Rob Dowell and Peter Sibley were both shocked.

“Cameron was an integral part of Mudgee cricket, and he will sorely missed by not only his team, but by the senior and junior cricket community in the town,” Dowell said.

“He was always such an easy-going and fair batsman, who was very good at everything he did.”

Peter Sibley, who had seen Cox play cricket from 14-years-old when he first appeared at Gulgong cricket with his father, was deeply moved by the news.

“Everyone is very sad about what has happened, and is just trying to get their head around it as best they can,” he said.

“Condolences to everyone that has been affected by it, especially the Cox family.”

Cox was a fixture in Mudgee and Gulgong first grade cricket, playing for Goolma, Lawson Park, Mudgee Golf Club, Paragon, Wolfpack and Federal Hotel Cricket Clubs, captaining a number of sides.

Recently, he starred in one of the biggest cricket victories in Mudgee’s history – the upset win for the Golf Club in the 2016 top-flight season.

He opened the batting for Golf Club in their innings on that historic day, and fittingly was the man to down the final wicket to secure the win.

Cox also played junior representative cricket throughout Mitchell Cricket Council’s youth sides, captaining Mudgee’s colts team and playing open representative cricket.

He was named in the first Central West Wranglers outfit that played in the inaugural Plan B Regional Bash in 2015.

Mitchell Cricket Council (MCC) president Mark Frecklington was in shock after hearing the news.

“You just never think something like that is going to happen, do you?” Frecklington said.

“I understand he was the captain of Mudgee’s open side this year, such was his standing in the area. I umpired him a fair bit, he was just a great kid, well respected.”

In one of the more memorable innings by a batsmen in the zone, Cox belted 12 fours and 10 sixes in his knock of 192 to lead Mudgee to the MCC u21s grand final in 2014.

It was an innings that stood out for Frecklington.

“I wasn’t umpiring but I was there, and Cameron blasted the ball everywhere. That innings sticks in my mind,” Frecklington added.

Mitchell Cricket Council honorary secretary Matt Tabbernor released the following statement on the Western Zone Facebook page on Wednesday morning.

“It is with great sadness that I advise the passing of Cameron Cox yesterday in Mudgee,” Tabbernor wrote.

“Cameron played his cricket in Mudgee and represented Mitchell in the junior age groups. 

“He was also part of the Central West Wranglers side in the Plan B Regional Bash competition. 

“(Our) condolences and thoughts go to his family and girlfriend at this time. RIP Cameron.”

Mudgee, Gulgong and Lithgow had planned to come together for the Rod Hartas T20 Cup on the weekend of February 11 – the event will now reportedly be cancelled.