Renowned Cricket Writer and Commentator Peter Roebuck Committed Suicide

Renowned cricket writer and commentator Peter Roebuck committed suicide at a hotel in South Africa on 12 November 2011 after being questioned on allegations of sexual assault by the police. England-born Roebuck was in South Africa to cover the ongoing Test series between South Africa and Australia. He would be best remembered in India for his indictment of Ricky Ponting and the Australian team, whom he called a pack of wild dogs, for their behaviour in the controversial Sydney Test in 2008.

About Peter Roebuck

Roebuck, who scored more than 17000 first class runs, retired from the game in 1991 and moved to Australia. Post retirement he forged a career as a stylish and strongly opinionated cricket writer for the Herald, Melbourne’s the Age and latterly Cricinfo website.

He authored several books. His diary of the 1983 season, It Never Rains, established him as one of cricket’s most insightful and strong voices. He also wrote an autobiography, Sometimes I Forgot To Laugh. Roebuck, who captained the famous 1980s Somerset side that included Ian Botham and West Indies great Viv Richards, wrote widely for the Australian press and also worked as a radio commentator for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

He played 335 first-class matches between 1974-91. However he was considered unlucky to never play for England, although he once captained an England A team.

Roebuck, who aptained Somerset in the 1980s was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1988.