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Robin Jackman

Robin David Jackman (13 August 1945 – 25 December 2020) was an English cricketer renowned for his combative fast-medium bowling. Primarily associated with , where he debuted in 1966 and played until 1982, Jackman claimed 1,206 first-class wickets for the county alone, contributing to their successes and earning recognition as one of their finest fast bowlers. On the international stage, he featured in four Test matches and 15 One Day Internationals for between 1974 and 1983, making the most of his modest pace through accuracy and persistence despite limited opportunities. His overall first-class tally exceeded 1,400 wickets, a testament to his whole-hearted county-level dominance, and he was honored as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for his contributions. A defining episode in Jackman's career occurred during England's 1980–81 tour of the , when Guyana's government denied him entry—citing his prior participation in tours to apartheid-era —prompting the England team to refuse to play without him and resulting in the outright cancellation of the scheduled Test match in . This "Robin Jackman affair" underscored the era's tensions over sporting links to South Africa's regime, curtailing his international prospects further despite his selection for the tour. After retirement, Jackman transitioned to , becoming a staple commentator for —where he had also coached and played provincially for sides like Western Province and —and resided in until his death from complications related to a fall.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Robin David Jackman was born on 13 August 1945 in , a in northern (then part of British India), to British parents. His father, a colonel (promoted from major) in the 2nd Rifles, was stationed there during the final stages of before being medically discharged. The family returned to in 1946 amid the transition to , settling in a manner reflective of post-colonial British military households. Public records provide scant details on his mother or any siblings, with Jackman's early life primarily shaped by his father's military service and the subsequent relocation.

Upbringing and Initial Exposure to Cricket

Robin Jackman was born on 13 August 1945 in , , to parents; his father served as a colonel in the 2nd Rifles and had been invalided out after losing a leg in a wartime accident. The family relocated to in 1946, where they settled in the area, and his parents became members of , frequently attending matches at . Jackman's initial exposure to cricket occurred at age five, when he began practicing in a lawn net at home, motivated by financial incentives offered by his father for consistent effort. He attended St Edmund's School in , where his cricketing talents emerged prominently by age 12; initially a batsman who bowled off-spin, he gradually shifted emphasis to as his primary skill. This school environment, combined with familial encouragement and proximity to professional through his parents' affiliations, laid the foundation for his development as an .

Domestic Cricket Career

Debut and Rise with Surrey

Jackman joined the Surrey staff in 1964, initially facing stiff competition from established seamers such as Geoff Arnold, Robin Sydenham, , Alan Gibson, and Pat Storey. His first-class debut came in 1966, marking the start of a 16-year association with the county. Despite early sporadic appearances, he secured a regular place in the side by 1968 and emerged as the primary leader from 1970 onward, relying on accuracy and movement off the pitch rather than raw pace. Throughout the , Jackman established himself as one of English county 's most consistent performers, capturing 50 or more first-class wickets in nine successive seasons. He played a supporting role in Surrey's 1971 County Championship triumph, though he did not feature in the decisive final match against . His contributions extended to limited-overs , including a key part in the 1978 Gillette Cup victory, where his economical complemented the team's batting depth. Over his career, Jackman amassed 1,206 first-class , underscoring his reliability and endurance as a fast-medium bowler who thrived in English conditions. By the late 1970s, his sustained hauls—peaking at 121 in a single season—positioned him among the leading seamers in the , earning recognition for his lion-hearted approach despite limited opportunities early on.

Key Performances and Records

Jackman amassed 1,206 first-class wickets for across his career from 1966 to 1982, at an average of 22.80, forming the backbone of the county's seam attack. He played a pivotal role in 's 1971 County Championship victory, their first title since 1955, contributing consistent wicket-taking in a campaign that saw the team secure 19 wins from 28 matches. His most prolific season came in 1980, when he captured 114 wickets in the —the highest tally in —at an average of 18.18, dismissing 67 top-five batsmen in the process. That year, he also claimed 17 wickets in five Cup ties and 19 more in other limited-overs fixtures, totaling 121 first-class wickets and establishing him as the nation's leading wicket-taker across formats. These feats earned him the Professional Cricketers' Association Player of the Year award for 1980 and selection as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 1981. In limited-overs domestic cricket, Jackman secured 399 wickets for , showcasing his versatility in shorter formats. As a tail-end batsman, his highest first-class score was an unbeaten 92 against in 1974, a rare aggressive innings that highlighted his utility with the bat.

International Cricket Career

Test Match Appearances

Jackman made four appearances in for , all as a right-arm fast-medium bowler capable of exploiting seam movement. His debut occurred during England's tour of the in the first Test against the West Indies at , , , from 13 to 18 1981, a drawn match where England scored 328 and 202, with the West Indies replying with 265 and 161 for 5. He followed this with selection for the fourth Test against the same opponents at Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John's, , from 27 to 1 April 1981, another draw, as England managed 237 and 191, while the West Indies totaled 229 and 122 for 7. These were the only two Tests he played on that tour, following the cancellation of the second Test in due to issues unrelated to his on-field participation. Returning home, Jackman featured in two Tests during Pakistan's 1982 tour of . He played the second Test at , , from 12 to 16 August 1982, which Pakistan won by 7 wickets after England scored 339 and 112, with Pakistan posting 431 and 23 for 3. His final Test appearance was the third match at , , from 26 to 31 August 1982, an England victory by an innings and 18 runs, with the hosts declaring at 532 for 9 and Pakistan dismissed for 282 and 232. Across these four Tests, spanning six , Jackman scored 42 runs at an average of 7.00, with a highest score of 17, offering limited lower-order resistance. With the ball, he captured 14 wickets at an average of 31.78, including one in matches, demonstrating his utility in helpful conditions but struggling for consistency against top-order batsmen on flatter pitches. His economy rate hovered around 2.8 runs per over, reflecting a probing line rather than outright pace. Despite strong domestic form, particularly with , these limited outings marked the extent of his international exposure in the longest format.

One Day International Matches

Jackman made his One Day International debut for against on 13 July 1974 at , . He participated in the 1975 Prudential World Cup, appearing in one group-stage match where he bowled five overs for 26 runs without taking a . Across 15 spanning 1974 to 1983, Jackman took 19 wickets at a of 31.47, with best figures of 3/41; he bowled in all but one match, often in the middle overs as a fast-medium seamer relying on accuracy and movement rather than pace. His batting contributions were limited, aggregating 54 runs in nine innings at an average of 6.75, typically as a lower-order tailender. Selections were sporadic, reflecting competition from faster bowlers like and , though Jackman featured in bilateral series against , , Pakistan, and , including three matches during England's 1982–83 tour of where he claimed four wickets. His ODI economy rate hovered around standard levels for the era, but he lacked the penetration for standout hauls beyond his career-best spell.

Tours of South Africa and Related Controversies

Participation in Rebel Tours

Robin Jackman did not participate in the English tours to , which defied the international sporting against the regime. The first such tour, organized by and led by , took place from November 1981 to January 1982 and featured 13 players including Geoff Boycott, , and , who played three "Test" matches and several limited-overs fixtures against sides. Jackman's exclusion occurred despite his established connections to , such as representing Western Province in the 1971–72 season (where he took 25 wickets at an average of 20.88) and subsequent coaching roles there. These ties had already drawn scrutiny, notably during England's 1980–81 tour, but his prior professional engagements in appear to have rendered him unsuitable or unnecessary for the rebel organizers, who prioritized players without such direct history to minimize internal risks. By avoiding the rebel tours, Jackman evaded the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB) bans imposed on participants, which lasted three years and barred them from official . Subsequent English rebel tours in 1982 (a one-off ) and 1983–84 repeated the pattern of exclusion for him, as did similar unofficial invitations to other nationalities. His decision aligned with continuing domestic play for until his retirement from in 1982, after which he transitioned to , largely in . This non-involvement contrasted with peers like , whose rebel participation delayed his recall until 1985, highlighting Jackman's pragmatic navigation of the era's polarized cricket politics without formal defiance of the .

The 1981 West Indies Incident and Boycott Implications

In February 1981, during England's tour of the , Robin Jackman was summoned as a replacement for the injured ahead of the second Test match at Oval in , scheduled to begin on February 28. Jackman arrived in on February 27, but the local government, citing his professional and personal ties to apartheid-era —including his marriage to a South African woman and his regular participation in coaching and playing winter cricket there—revoked his entry permit the following day under Section 21(4B) of the Immigration Act. The decision stemmed from Guyana's stringent anti-apartheid policy under President , which prohibited entry to individuals associated with South African sports due to prior instances of barring players like Garry Sobers and for similar links. England captain and the team management insisted on Jackman's inclusion, refusing to field a side without him, which prompted the Cricket Board and Guyanese authorities to cancel the match entirely on February 28, marking the first such forfeiture in history due to political intervention. The tour proceeded to the third Test in , , where Jackman received clearance to play and made his Test debut for on March 13, capturing five wickets in the match. Boycott publicly decried the Guyana episode as an assertion of "black political power," highlighting tensions between sporting autonomy and governmental anti-apartheid enforcement. This incident exemplified the broader implications of the sporting boycott against , formalized in the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement among Commonwealth nations, which aimed to isolate the apartheid regime by severing all sports contacts and pressuring individuals with even indirect associations. Guyana's actions reinforced the boycott's extraterritorial reach, deterring players from engaging with and contributing to the regime's sporting isolation until the early 1990s; however, it also fueled debates in and elsewhere about the politicization of sport, with critics arguing it unfairly penalized athletes for personal and professional choices amid inconsistent global enforcement. For Jackman, the affair limited his opportunities, as similar scrutiny persisted in other boycott-adherent nations, curtailing potential selections despite his domestic prowess.

Post-Retirement Career

Transition to Broadcasting

After retiring from with in 1982, Jackman relocated to , where he had previously played for Western Province and , settling there with his wife Yvonne. This move facilitated his entry into , leveraging his cricketing experience and familiarity with South African conditions to become a television commentator for international and domestic matches. Jackman's commentary career gained prominence during South Africa's reintegration into following the end of , where he emerged as a key voice explaining the game's nuances to diverse audiences. His gravelly delivery and sympathetic insights into players' performances—rooted in his own career—made him accessible to newcomers while valued by experts for tactical analysis. He contributed to coverage on South African television networks, covering transformative series and tournaments that marked the nation's return to the global stage. This transition not only extended Jackman's involvement in cricket beyond playing but also established him as a respected broadcaster, a role he maintained until retiring from the microphone in despite ongoing health issues.

Notable Commentary Roles and Contributions

After retiring from professional in 1983, Jackman transitioned into , becoming a prominent commentator primarily for South African coverage, where he was a familiar and highly regarded voice. He served as a regular commentator for SuperSport, the country's leading pay- sports channel, contributing to domestic and international matches during the post-apartheid era when rejoined global in 1992. His roles extended to international tournaments, including stints on the commentary team for the in its later seasons. Jackman's commentary was noted for its insightful analysis and accessibility, delivered in a well-pitched, gravelly voice that appealed to both novice and expert audiences by sympathetically explaining the game's tactical nuances and fluctuations. He earned recognition as an award-winning broadcaster in , praised for concise delivery without exaggeration and for fostering a sense of camaraderie with viewers through his deep knowledge of players and strategies. Despite a cancer diagnosis in 2012, he continued contributing to broadcasts until shortly before his death, demonstrating resilience and maintaining his reputation as a key figure in elevating 's media presence during its international resurgence.

Personal Life

Family and Residences

Jackman married , whom he met in in 1969, in following his return. The couple remained wed for over 45 years until his death. They had two daughters, Debbie Bennetts and Leigh Jackman. He was also survived by a brother, . During his playing career with Surrey, Jackman resided in the county of , . After retiring from in 1983, he relocated permanently to with his family, where he pursued commentary work. At the time of his death in 2020, the family lived in .

Health Challenges and Religious Conversion

In November 2012, Jackman was diagnosed with stage one cancer of the after a detected irregularities in his commentary during a cricket match. He underwent two surgeries to excise malignant tumors, though the cancer recurred shortly after the initial procedure, necessitating seven weeks of radiotherapy thereafter. The early detection was later described by Jackman as providential, enabling effective intervention before the disease advanced. This health ordeal prompted a profound religious transformation for Jackman, who had previously maintained a secular outlook despite a long marriage and family life. During treatment, he experienced an unexpected sense of peace, interpreting it as divine assurance that he was "in God’s hands." Influenced by the timing of his diagnosis and encouragement from a friend, Jackman accepted Christian faith, becoming what he termed a "Christ follower." He attributed the serene acceptance of his condition to this newfound belief, stating that "the invitation to accept Him was out there and that it was time I accepted it." Subsequent years brought further physical decline, including requiring oxygen support, which compounded earlier vocal cord damage and limited his broadcasting activities. Jackman's faith sustained him through these trials, as he publicly shared his linking the "miraculous" cancer episode to his spiritual awakening.

Death and Legacy

Circumstances of Death

Robin Jackman died on December 25, 2020, at his home in , , at the age of 75. The death occurred at 3:30 p.m. local time, with his wife, , at his bedside; he was survived by and their two daughters. His passing resulted from complications involving pre-existing lung and heart conditions, exacerbated by a positive COVID-19 test on December 21, 2020. Jackman had been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, requiring oxygen support in the weeks prior to his death. Earlier, in 2012, he underwent two surgical procedures to remove malignant tumors from his vocal cords following a throat cancer diagnosis, which had already impacted his voice used in broadcasting. These factors, combined with the acute effects of COVID-19, led to his decline over the holiday period.

Tributes and Impact on Cricket

Following Jackman's death on December 25, 2020, in from complications including lung and heart conditions exacerbated by , tributes highlighted his character and contributions across playing and commentary careers. chairman Richard Thompson described him as a "genuine great," emphasizing his pride in the club and the stories he shared at . The labeled him a "legendary commentator and former bowler," extending condolences to his family. Commentator Danny Morrison recalled him as a "dear buddy & comms colleague." South African players , , and paid respects, affectionately calling him "Jackers." Jackman's playing impact centered on , where he took 1,402 wickets in 399 first-class matches from 1966 to 1982, including 121 in 1980 alone. As a fast-medium seamer for , he relied on accuracy, consistency, and aggression, often opening the bowling with to dismantle top-order batsmen; he claimed 67 of 's 114 wickets in 1980. Despite leading wicket-taking hauls that warranted more caps—he played only four Tests (14 wickets at 31.78) and 15 ODIs—selectors overlooked him due to skepticism about his pace and age, passing him over for key tours. He was instrumental in 's 1971 and 1982 NatWest Trophy triumphs, earning Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1981 and Cricketers' Cricketer in 1980 for his lion-hearted reliability over 17 seasons. In , Jackman left a profound mark, particularly in where he resided and became known as the "voice of " during the post-apartheid era's transformations. His commentary work gained global recognition, blending insight from his playing days with engaging delivery, and he was a staple in South African coverage, endearing him to fans and players alike. This dual legacy—as an underutilized international bowler yet county stalwart, and a beloved broadcaster—underscored his enduring influence on 's professional and narrative spheres.

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