Braham Dabscheck

Braham Dabscheck reviews 'One Split Second: The death of David Hookes and the trial of Zdravko Micevic' by Michelle Schwarz

December 2006–January 2007, no. 287 • 01 December 2006

On 18 January 2004 the Victorian cricket team defeated South Australia in an ING Cup match. After the game, some of the cricketers and officials, including the Victorian coach David Hookes, and their girlfriends, assembled at the Beaconsfield Hotel, in St Kilda. Hookes had played twenty-three test matches for Australia between 1977 and 1986, at an average of 34.36 runs. After retiring as a player, ... (read more)

Braham Dabscheck reviews 'Bad Boys' by Roy Masters

May 2007, no. 291 • 24 August 2022

Coaches and journalists are the high priests of sport. The former determine the liturgy; the latter explain, comment on, and provide judgments and recommendations for reform to the great unwashed. Roy Masters has performed both roles. He coached the rugby league clubs Western Suburbs (1978–81) and St George (1982–87) and has for two decades been a font of insight, mainly on rugby league, for r ... (read more)

Braham Dabscheck reviews 'Australia's Own Cold War: The waterfront under Menzies' by Tom Sheridan

April 2007, no. 290 • 07 July 2022

The most recent cause célèbre of Australian industrial relations was the 1998 waterfront dispute, when the Howard government failed to destroy the Maritime Union of Australia. The Australian waterfront has been a continuing site of struggle since the famous industrial disputes of the 1890s. Tom Sheridan’s Australia’s Own Cold War: The Waterfront Under Menzies helps to remind us of the intens ... (read more)

Braham Dabscheck reviews 'The Master: The life and times of Dally Messenger, Australia's first sporting star' by Sean Fagan and Dally Messenger III, and 'The Ballad of Les Darcy' by Peter FitzSimons

October 2007, no. 295 • 01 October 2007

Before and soon after Federation, Australia established itself as a sporting nation. Australia enjoyed good weather, with space for play. Despite the hardships of these times, youngsters, especially boys, found time to indulge in a wide range of sports. Two boys in particular, one the son of a boat builder/operator in Sydney, the other an East Maitland farm boy, became legendary figures in their c ... (read more)

Braham Dabscheck reviews 'Spun Out: The Shane Warne story' by Paul Barry

October 2006, no. 285 • 01 October 2006

Shane Warne is one of the greatest bowlers of all time, if not the greatest. Highly competitive and aggressive, he is one of the main factors in Australia’s prolonged dominance in world cricket. He has been involved in a series of controversies, on and off the field. He has been fined for sledging and over-aggressive appealing; and for providing, along with Mark Waugh, information to a bookie (s ... (read more)