In It To Win It The Australian Cricket Supremacy

by Peter Roebuck

Australia's leading cricket writer describes and analyses Australia's cricket supremacy over the last three decades - the players, the tactics, the controversies.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2005

About the author

Peter Michael Roebuck was born in Oxford and attended Millfield School in Glastonbury where his mother was a maths teacher and his father an economics teacher. He later went on to Cambridge University, where he won his cricket blue.

His cricketing ability was quickly recognised and he made his debut for Somerset Second Eleven at the age of 13. He made his first team debut in 1974 and went on to make over 17,000 runs, including 33 centuries, until he retired in 1991. He also captained an England XI in Holland and was one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 1988.

He entered journalism and wrote his first cricket books while still playing the game. In the English winters he went to Australia where he played Grade cridcket for Waverley and taught at Cranbrook School in Sydney.

He is now a full-time writer and commentator while spending his time between Pietermaritzburg in South Africa and Sydney.

Reviews

[Santhosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always liked reading Roebuck, who's been one of that rarest of breeds: the cricketer-turned-mediaman who is actually good at this second inning. His writing always looked at the bigger picture, never was there a hint of parochialism, and was one of the few that held original thought, thoughtful ideas, and incisive opinion. Foremost though, was his writing style and quality. Lyrical prose of Edwardian timbre adorning the back pages of newspapers, a delight any day. Unlike any sports article required or managed to do, you could read his articles purely for the joy of their writing, the events and people being described becoming incidental happenstances. Of course, there have been times where I've wished he'd just get to the damn point and let 'em rip, but, as with all things, I miss his writing after his tragic passing.

This book is a collection of articles and writing published over a decade (approximately 1994 to 2004) and has some excellent vignettes within: immediate impressions of some of the grandest innings and spells; the first published article about a 17-yr old Ricky Ponting (where his mates call him "Sachin" for the prodigy he was developing into); an impression of Kevin Pietersen playing Sunday grade cricket in Australia during his initial days in the wilderness; the farewells to Merv Hughes and the Waugh twins; the common-man connection of Allan Border with the Aussie public; the background stories of Klusener and a host of other African, Dutch and Asian players; the moving eulogies for some recent passed cricketers - Ben Hollioake, Malcolm Marshall, Corey Doyle, Don Bradman; impromptu games by a far-retired Lillee, noiseless cricket by the deaf, articles praising the brightest of futures for a developing club/county player(s) (who we now know never made it), etc.

Unlike non-fiction where you have to concentrate and analyze and think, and unlike fiction where it always ends up being a page-turner which you tend to rush through, this is a perfect lazy-Sunday-afternoon book to curl up with as the Sun sets in a hazy blaze of orange and the Bangalore monsoon pitter-patters on the windows.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love cricket read this !

[Sourojit Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully insightful, delightfully hilarious...a bouquet of the best cricket pieces from Roebuck

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a great admirer of Peter Roebuck's thoughtful and eloquent newspaper articles in regards to cricket. It was he, along with a couple of others, who inspired me to consider journalism as a future career, but also inspired me to write about the things I loved, rather than what people thought I should write about.
This book is thoughtful and eloquent, and full of the stylised language that Roebuck was renown for. His informative views are well thought out, and well researched, as well as giving the reader a portrait of the times he is describing. My only real problem is that, because it is Roebuck at his best in terms of language, it can be a tough trail to follow if you cannot appreciate his written work. In fact, even those who can (I, in fact) found it to be a tough read.
He is a great loss to cricket journalism and prose, but if you have not read his work before, this may not be the best place to start. Old columns at CricInfo or the Sydney Morning Herald would be a better starting place.

[Peter Langston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collation of articles written over time for various publications covers a wide range of individuals of the game. Published six years before his death and before his articles criticising Ricky Ponting, his views on players are largely sympathetic and written with a player’s empathy of the demands of the game. They are, however, honest and of course, written with that delightfully light touch of sarcasm that provoked thought in his readers. Roebuck was a fine cricketer but not possessing the ultimate skills of a Test cricketer. His writing, however, was of the highest standard. Only a handful of English writers on the game have reached his standard - Cardus, Swanston and Robertson-Glasgow being enough to hold in one hand - and even less Australians. I found his attitude toward suicide - mentioned several times across a wide range of articles, characters and time in this collection - to be revealing of his end.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprising man. Not the best of cricketers himself and remembered for managing to bring an end to Somerset's only time in the sun. He went to Australia and became a rather good cricket journalist with something to add to big debates. While reading the book I began to develop an admiration for both his prose and his views. I was looking forward to further books and was deeply saddened by the nature of his death.

[Srinivas Veeraraghavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Australian cricket is the sound of sprigs on concrete, the sight of umpires with fingers raised high above their heads, the reading of the score the wrong way around, leg spinners ripping the ball with all their might, a slip cordon unemotionally chewing gum as a fast bowler reaches his mark, and sunscreen splashed across faces."

"It is a game of harsh light, fiery bowlers, forceful batsmen and lean fieldsmen, a game played across the nation."

'Nuff said! \m/

[Ravinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of articles written by the late Peter Roebuck on Cricket & Cricketers. He was well placed to write about Australian cricket & cricketers - one more colourful than the other!

This selection introduces cricketers from all over the world, and some of the interviews provide rare insights that are not normally available to the fan.

Roebuck's writing is always enjoyable

[Kris McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roebuck had a keen eye for minor detail that stands out amongst cricket writers that I like, and this book is a reasonably interesting examination and rumination on the different types that play cricket across all levels. Recommended for fans of the sport.

[Rakesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading this book and found it really nice and recommend this book to anyone who loves cricket and wants to know more about great players and personalities who have always entertained us.

[Giju Abraham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting profiles and stories about cricketers. Wished he had covered more Indian players.

[Sambasivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summarised journalistic reporting but with a few insights as well on Australia's transformation under Allan Border.

[Sirish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trademark Roebuck. All his pieces are short, insightful and humane.