Top cricket writer Roebuck found dead

Police say former Somerset captain committed suicide at his hotel.

SYDNEY: Renowned cricket writer Peter Roebuck was found dead at his hotel in South Africa where he was covering Australia’s Test series against South Africa.

According to the South African police, Roebuck committed suicide. Captain Frederik van Wyk, spokesman for the South African Police in the Western Cape province, confirmed that a British citizen had been found in his room having committed suicide.

“I can confirm that the incident took place at a quarter past nine on Saturday,” said van Wyk. “A 55-year-old British citizen was found dead in a hotel room in Newlands, Cape Town. He was working as a cricket commentator for an Australian publication. He committed suicide.”

British-born Roebuck, 55, played 335 first-class matches before making a career writing about the sport, quickly establishing an avid following with his forthright, intelligent prose.

He had also served as captain of English county side Somerset in the 1980s and had the honour of being declared the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1988.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th,  2011.