Peter Roebuck RIP

[4everblue]

Sad to hear Peter has passed away in Cape Town whilst covering the SA v Aus Test Series.
Controversial in his playing days but a superb cricket writer.

[Smart Mart]

Hear hear.

As a Somerset fan since birth, he was part of one of the club's most successful periods in the eighties and his studious, quiet, efficient manner made him the perfect foil for the Richards', Botham's and Garner's of the world.

RIP Peter.

[Victor McDade]

Can't remember him as a player but I really enjoyed his writing. It appears he killed himself

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/current/sto...

RIP.

Edited by Victor McDade on Sunday 13th November 10:02

[Marty Funkhouser]

Anyone know why he was instrumental in Botham, Garner & Richards leaving Somerset in the 80's?

[Smart Mart]

Marty Funkhouser said:

Anyone know why he was instrumental in Botham, Garner & Richards leaving Somerset in the 80's?

Someone with more knowledge than I will correct me, Marty, but Roebuck's basic beef was that after Somerset had a couple of bad seasons in the Championship, it would have been wrong to offer Richards and Garner new contracts - he'd rather see youth blooded instead and not give the West Indians new deals so they left. Roebuck considered their influence was waning a little and they weren't worth another lucrative offer.

Botham was very close to Sir Viv and Joel and took offence to them being treated in this manner and left for Worcestershire shortly afterwards. The pair (Roebuck & Botham) were the best of enemies for many years but eventually the Windies were welcomed back and they now have parts of the Taunton ground named after them.

[Beardy10]

He was a good writer but it has to be said quite controversial.

From what I have read the Richards and Garner were only recognised by Somerset after Roebuck left Somerset.

This story is a bit odd too

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1608831.stm

[FredericRobinson]

According to Cricinfo there was a police officer in his room at the time questioning Roebuck about an alleged sexual assault.

At Somerset as well as there being a feeling that Garner and Richards had under-achieved there was a wish to bring in Martin Crowe as overseas player, who'd had a very successful season in '84 when Garner & Richards were on the Windies tour. I would also imagine that for a captain wishing to impose his will on a dressing room Richards and Botham might have been 'challenging'

[4everblue]

I don't wish to speculate but I have serious doubts over this story. Whilst Peter was undoubtedly great in his field, he had a history regarding assaults against boys going back to his days in SA. The Sydney Morning Herald story is that police attended his room and took his laptop amongst other things whilst questioning him regarding an alleged sexual assault.
I hope this doesn't leave a slur against his name..

[uk66fastback]

I think he seemed a bit of an introverted soul and while a classy writer and decent cricketer (and captain) would have had his work cut out with Beefy ...

He made a stand and then Somerset were never the force they had been. Maybe the Windies players and some others had allowed the team od the early 80s to slide a bit but they had a great team in those days and Roebuck effectively ended it overnight. Brave but looking back at it, foolhardy in my view.

Don't know the circumstances of his death but I know he had form in some respects ...

[unrepentant]

They are saying the police were there to arrest him for sexual assault on a 26 year old Zimbabwean male. He seems to have been a very odd guy, estranged from his family and obviously had strange "leanings".

[Marty Funkhouser]

There's definitely a hint that he may have had an unnatural interest in boys - one of the South African lads he was found guilty of assaulting said that the worst bit was not the beating but that he wanted to examine the wounds afterwards...

[hornetrider]

Hmmmmmmmm.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/nov/14/peter-...

I fear this will not end well for the Roebuck family.

[Victor McDade]

The allegation which caused him to jump:

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-6531-Zim%20student...