The One Indiscretion of His Life
Archie Mac |Published: 2023
Pages: 192
Author: Haigh, Gideon
Publisher: Private
Rating: 4 stars
A biography on a wicket keeper can be a challenging subject for the cricket author, especially before the rise and rise of the batting/keeper. Back in the day even the best wicket keeper rarely scored the match winning ton and never grabbed the ‘Michelle’ that changed the game. This made it difficult for the cricket writer and publisher to sell copy. The only thing harder than making a decorated wicket keeper commercially attractive was writing a book about a second string, and at best modest ‘keeper.
Well, Gideon Haigh has done just that. His subject for his latest book is William Carkeek. A ‘keeper only given his chance to play Test cricket after the first-choice stumper, and ‘Big Sixer’ Hanson Carter, refused to tour. Those familiar with the author’s previous efforts, will not be surprised to learn that he has fashioned a fine book out of his subject’s limited Test highlights.
Haigh explains in his introduction he became interested in Carkeek while researching the biography of Warwick Armstrong. The ‘Big Ship’ was released in 2001, so Haigh sat on his Carkeek interest for quite a while. Perhaps the wait was not a bad thing, given digitalisation which has significantly improved access to research materials. This fact contributes to The One Indiscretion of His Life being comprehensively researched, and naturally in Haigh’s hands, well written. I am loathed to disclose in this review, what the *indiscretion was/is as I did not know before reading the book, and enjoyed the suspense.
Carkeek was a natural sportsman and excelled at both the popular sports played in Melbourne at the time. In today’s world he would have been forced to choose between cricket and Australian Rules Football and almost certainly would have chosen the winter game. Back in the early 1900s a young man could play both, as most sports were largely amateur undertakings.
Apart from his sporting talents Carkeek did not have a lot of professional skills, and as such he usually worked in menial vocations. Haigh informs us that in early 20th century circles this meant questions were asked about whether Carkeek was ‘the right sort of chap’ to represent his country. Clem Hill, the great left hander certainly questioned whether Carkeek was bona fide, when it came to the selection of the 1909 team. Hill was also one of the ‘Big Six’ and perhaps partly because of Hill’s attitude to him, Carkeek became a ‘Board Man’. Haigh hints that Carkeek’s status as being firmly in the camp of the Australian Cricket Board equated to him touring England in both 1909 and 1912.
Those not familiar with the battle between the players (The Big Six) and the fledgeling Australian Cricket Board, will have no trouble following the machinations, and their impact on Carkeek, as Haigh provides a brief overview.
As I am not going to divulge the ‘indiscretion’ I will leave the review there. I will add that this is another quality book by the best extant cricket writer and is highly recommended.
*I note that Martin disclosed the ‘indiscretion’ in his review.
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