Devon Cricket Board - Team-mate Townsend looks back on soap-opera cricket

Team-mate Townsend looks back on soap-opera cricket

IT was with shock and great sadness that I heard of the tragic passing of Peter Roebuck on Saturday night, writes Gareth Townsend.

Robey was a one-off and we all have our own stories and memories of him in our lives.

Having played at Somerset and Devon with Peter I knew him for more than 20 years and within that period he frustrated, amused and provoked many reactions within you.

He was an interesting captain that had its own unique style, not one you see in many players today: stark raving mad at times, ‘creating confusion’ was his regular phase when explaining a decision that no one could fathom.

An example of which was when in front of a fiercely loyal Cornish crowd at Truro, he made the entire leg-side field swap with the off-side.

As lost sheep we followed his instruction whilst the whole of Cornwall roared with laughter! Two balls later I managed to run out a player with a direct hit from long-on.

“I created confusion.” Roebuck announced in our celebratory team huddle.

Many other stories can be told and I reckon every match I played for Devon over my playing career, there is a story to be told.

It was a soap opera, with story lines you just wouldn't believe, yet we played under it and became one of the most successful Minor County sides ever.

From kneeling on the wicket at Oxford Motors after three overs, bouncing a ball on the wicket saying ‘how are we supposed to bowl someone out on this, ‘what's the point of life,’ he shouted out.

Sadly that's how his life ended up and we are all the poorer for it for those who knew.

A tortured soul at times, certainly a genius and someone who through his unique style left a lasting impression, his absence from us is a huge loss and a tragically sad one.

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