Thaindian News

Melbourne, Dec 21 (IANS) Australia’s new Test opener Ed Cowan thanked noted cricket columnist the late Peter Roebuck for helping him in his career.

The 29-year-old from New South Wales, who earned his maiden call to the Test team Wednesday, started scoring runs in the summer on the very day when Roebuck committed suicide in a Cape Town hotel.

“Sometimes it is a trigger event, just that moment of inspiration that can lift you from getting starts to really kicking on, and I guess the passing of Peter probably did that,” Cowan was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.com.

Cowan said the incident helped him to score runs as an act of gratitude to Roebuck, who coached him at Sydney’s Cranbrook School then mentored him in the years since.

Five weeks ago, when Cowan was about to go out to bat for Tasmania against South Australia in a domestic limited-overs fixture in Burnie, he received a text messages that informed him about the bad news. Cowan walked to the middle and made an unbeaten 91 and since that day has been among runs.

The Tasmanian batsman still can’t figure out what prompted Roebuck, a former Somerset captain, to take the severe step. Roebuck reportedly was facing possible arrest on charges of sexually assaulting a Zimbabwean in his hotel room.

“I assumed he was sick, or put myself into a state where it wasn’t the worst case scenario, and then I came off at lunch and heard the news. It was then a tough couple of hours in the field to say the least. I felt like I was playing pretty well at the start of the season without results and really needed to keep the faith that the results would come if I keep preparing well,” said Cowan.

“Sometimes it is a trigger event, just that moment of inspiration that can lift you from hitting the ball well and getting starts to really kicking on, and I guess the passing of Peter probably did that. I’ve certainly thought about that as well.”

“That week I was really heavily focused on performing well, not that you are any other way, but it was an added incentive as a ‘thank you’ I guess, for his kindness towards me over all the years. That did kick things off, the day he passed away was the day I got 91 not out in Burnie and really kick-started my season.”