It was my privilege to know Peter Roebuck over many years as I would often call into the Press Box at cricket matches and say hello, and ensure the cricketing media knew I was also available to them in ministry as the Australian cricket chaplain.
Peter Roebuck knew quite a number of the UK Christians in Sport people I knew, in particular their founder the Reverend Andrew Wingfield-Digby, who became the MCC Chaplain for some years.
Peter and Andrew were more than acquaintances as they knew each other through cricket, ministry and during their university days at Oxford (Digby)and Cambridge (Roebuck).
Peter Roebuck always found time to have a chat with me at the cricket press box and the following day, or a day or so later, out would come a Biblical reference or quote in his cricket column. He considered it rather humourous how Reverend Andrew Wingfield-Digby secured the MCC chaplaincy role and we'd refer to it from time to time.
The story is related in my 1994 book "No Orchestra, No Trumpet' which tells the story of how I developed the sports ministry in Australia from 1982. As Chaplain to the Australian cricket team I was at a training session at the SCG speaking with the MCC Manager (coach) Ted Dexter and the Australian coach Bob Simpson walked past and said "G'day Rev" and for Ted, that was confirmation enough to chat seriously with me about the pastoral role for his own English lads.
Ted Dexter conveyed that, but for "pastoral concerns" three of his top fellows did not tour to Australia. I asked whether I might convey this conversation to the Reverend Andrew Wingfield-Digby as I was aware that Ted Dexter knew and trusted. His response was to send him a copy of the correspondence. Next day I delivered it to Ted.
Three months later, well after the MCC team were back in England, Andrew Wingfield-Digby faxed me that Ted Dexter had met with him and appointed him the MCC Chaplain. Andrew toured with the team regularly including India and Australia. Peter Roebuck's hearty response to all this was that it took a colonial to arrange the MCC chaplaincy appointment.
I for one will miss Peter Roebuck's insightful cricket column. He was a recipient of my regular e-mail ministry newsletters and supported my ministry to retired cricketers and wrote a major feature article on my sideways move in 2001 to Life After Cricket.
After 34 years in Christian Ministry I am constantly reminded how little any of us really know someone else in our acquaintance. This was the Peter Roebuck I knew, and I thank the Lord Jesus for allowing my limited ministry into his life.