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Pep: The Story of Cec Pepper, the Best Cricketer Never to Play For Australia
Cec Pepper dared defy Australian cricket's Colossus and it cost him his Test career.
'What do you have to do to get the little bastard out?' he yelled after his exultant lbw shout was rejected in the Don's comeback match.
He was reported for his 'continuing vile language' – and ostracised.
Within weeks he'd taken his talents to England where he became the highest paid professional in the world… and the best, most-colourful cricketer never to represent Australia.
'What do you have to do to get the little bastard out?' he yelled after his exultant lbw shout was rejected in the Don's comeback match.
He was reported for his 'continuing vile language' – and ostracised.
Within weeks he'd taken his talents to England where he became the highest paid professional in the world… and the best, most-colourful cricketer never to represent Australia.
224 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
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November 9, 2019
The fascinating story of Cecil Pepper, the player and the man, is one that deserves to be shared with a wide audience. Ken Piesse’s exhaustively researched and well written book tells the tale of a cricketer born to entertain, with the talent, attitude and aggression that surely would have made him a highly valued star, especially in the modern ODI and T20 formats of the game. A destructive batsman, athletic fielder and dangerous leg spin bowler, ‘Pep’ could enliven any contest by effortlessly clearing the pickets or ripping a turning ball past a confounded batsman, which he did regularly, and successfully, during his long career.
Pep was a tall, bulky man with broad shoulders and plenty of colourful ‘advice’ to offer his opponents. He often overstepped an acceptable standard of on-field behaviour, and famously derailed an opportunity to be selected as a Test player for the national team with a loud, expletive-filled outburst against Sir Donald Bradman and the standard of umpiring during a match in Adelaide. Seemingly marked as someone not fit to represent Australia due to such foolish antics, Pep headed to England to take up a lucrative contract in the Lancashire Leagues, and became the highest payed professional player of the time.
Piesse neatly captures all the drama and excitement of Pep’s cricketing career, from covering his early years as a youth in Parkes, where his rare talent quickly showed itself, to his final match – now in his late-40s – in which he blasted 52 not out from just 45 deliveries. The book’s full of b&w photos, stats, clippings and letters, and features insight from many contemporary players, who note Pep’s unique characteristics and share their disappointment at his missing out on a deserved Test career.
Away from the cricketing ovals Pep was an intriguing character. Relationships with several women, and resulting children (Pep consistently denied he was their father) continued throughout his life, and he maintained a long-term ménage à trois relationship with the mother of his youngest son and her husband. He was a successful businessman and also umpired for many years after his playing days were over, bringing his direct sense of humour to the role.
If you enjoy the human story behind the sensational headlines of professional sport, and desire to learn more about a player worthy of greater recognition, then Cec Pepper’s always interesting tale of opportunities both taken and squandered is certainly one to take a look at.
Pep was a tall, bulky man with broad shoulders and plenty of colourful ‘advice’ to offer his opponents. He often overstepped an acceptable standard of on-field behaviour, and famously derailed an opportunity to be selected as a Test player for the national team with a loud, expletive-filled outburst against Sir Donald Bradman and the standard of umpiring during a match in Adelaide. Seemingly marked as someone not fit to represent Australia due to such foolish antics, Pep headed to England to take up a lucrative contract in the Lancashire Leagues, and became the highest payed professional player of the time.
Piesse neatly captures all the drama and excitement of Pep’s cricketing career, from covering his early years as a youth in Parkes, where his rare talent quickly showed itself, to his final match – now in his late-40s – in which he blasted 52 not out from just 45 deliveries. The book’s full of b&w photos, stats, clippings and letters, and features insight from many contemporary players, who note Pep’s unique characteristics and share their disappointment at his missing out on a deserved Test career.
Away from the cricketing ovals Pep was an intriguing character. Relationships with several women, and resulting children (Pep consistently denied he was their father) continued throughout his life, and he maintained a long-term ménage à trois relationship with the mother of his youngest son and her husband. He was a successful businessman and also umpired for many years after his playing days were over, bringing his direct sense of humour to the role.
If you enjoy the human story behind the sensational headlines of professional sport, and desire to learn more about a player worthy of greater recognition, then Cec Pepper’s always interesting tale of opportunities both taken and squandered is certainly one to take a look at.
Displaying 1 of 1 review