Meet Roger Page, the last special cricket-book seller in the world | Cricket News

On Friday, the postmen in Yallambie, a North Eastern suburb of Melbourne, packed a box of goodies that they had bought and delivered it for free to a home in a quiet cul-de-sac. It was a Chrmas thank-you-gift for their biggest customer, the 88-year old Roger Page. For a half-a-century, Page has been receiving and sending tons of cricket books all around the world through them. “Still, nice of them to do that!” Page smiles.“Have you written a book?!” he asks and sighs at the negative reply. Do you buy everything? “You never know who might want which book. The collectors sometimes don’t really care about writing quality,” he deadpans. Droll humour, lovely chuckle, a life and home filled with cricket books. The last special cricket bookseller in Australia, perhaps in the world – “I am the last of the Mohicans, a dying breed!”
“Talking of eccentric book collectors who don’t care, I knew one who would buy anything with ‘cricket’ written on it. Just the word would do. He would buy it. I have thought about sending the books on the insect cricket. Maybe I already have!”Laughter resonates in the charming old home where he lives alone after the death of his wife a decade back. “She was the smart one, had a good job, allowed me to start this venture, and once it was established, she joined me. She had the brains for filling out the GSTs and stuff like that. More importantly, she recognised my passion and didn’t complain at all. I miss her.”
Around him is a sea of books, not just in the living room, but all over his house and garage. “My last lot at the garage was probably the biggest consignment ever. The entire garage was filled up. A big collector, who also used to buy from me, died and his widow didn’t know what to do with the books. So she called me, and I offered her a good price that I paid in instalments.” How many cartons were there? “Let me put it this way: it needed a forklift truck to deliver and it took me two full years to unpack everything. You need to be a touch crazy to do this for a living!”
Last word
Page is literally the last word on cricket writing. He has met and moved with famous writers like Ray Robinson, John Arlott and also with legendary cricketers like Don Bradman, Bill O’Reilly, and Ian Chappell. “One of the last times Chappell came here was a quick in-and-out visit in a taxi. He picked up a few books on spin bowling, probably Peter Philpott, the former spinner if my memory serves right. And he said, ‘Mate, I am getting this for Shane Warne; his birthday is coming up. I know he probably wont’ read a word, don’t think he reads books, but hey let me try’ and he was off. “Not seen his brother Greg, but the other one Trevor is a real nice chap.”
Page was born in England and in 1948, when 12, he saw Bradman play at Lord’s. (Express Photo Sriram Veera)
Page was born in England and in 1948, when 12, he saw Bradman play at Lord’s. “They played against ‘Gentlemen’, and I missed Bradman’s batting as it was on the previous day. But I saw him on the field. I did catch Lindsay Hassett’s double hundred though I don’t remember a shot from the knock. But what I vividly remember was a breezy knock from that dashing Keith Miller. Wavy hair and I still remember him hacking a shot to the leg side, missed it. Next ball, he connects for a four. Another hack, another miss. The next one flew into the stands! Loved the sport, right away!”
The eyes sparkle, the hands which were resting on his lap are furiously moving into that leg-side ‘hack’ shot of Miller, and Page comes alive. In his adult life, he interacted with Bradman in cricketing societies in Australia, and once also as a medium between a collector and the Don. “The man had given me money for postage also, and sent me books to be sent to Bradman. Not only did he duly sign everything, he also called me to say that he has signed and posted the books. Very zealous in his correspondence, I remember he would often drop in at the MCG just to sign books to be sent all over. He was quite something.”
Behind him, on a bookshelf, Ray Robinson’s thick bound, grey coloured book, is tilting forward from the rest of the pile. “My favourite writer, Robinson. I met him as well, a good solid reliable chap. I have seen him at work in the press box too, scribbling away the details, his observations – and next day I would read at the newspaper – wonderfully crafted observations, little nuggets about the person and the game. He once made me research for a book he was writing. Took me a while. And I eagerly read the book when it was out – it had four words probably of what I had researched!” Page laughs, but in tribute. “That’s how exacting he was in research. O’Reilly was a funny laidback man. Very friendly.”
Page still follows cricket through the written word. “I don’t watch the game on television. I used to go to the MCG to watch. But on the television, too much cheerleading for Australia. I was born in England!” Another chuckle. “I read but it has to be well-written stuff.” Page still reads cricket books—new and old. “Sometimes I re-read a book that I fancied years back, during dinners.”
His home, which is also the book-shop, is open from morning till early evening for visitors. “Often, during Test matches or some tournaments, I do get people dropping in.” Then he is busy arranging, ordering, cataloguing, and emailing. He doesn’t use a mobile phone, let alone a smartphone. “Landline it is for me,” and shows immense curiosity in my cheap Chinese phone.
Book-walls
“Oh, it does all of that? What a machine! I think technology will beat me in the end. Already, some publications have gone digital.” But he does read websites, scouring for statics and articles. “Your Ramachandra Guha visits me whenever he is here. Good writer, good man,” and points to the ‘Corner of Field’ and other books on the shelves. One can’t see the walls in Page’s home; it’s lined up with book-shelves. “You don’t want to see my garage!”
On Saturdays, he goes to his cricket club ‘Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club’. “ I am the scorer for their games, these days. 40 years and running. I used to be in more active roles for them, the big ones, but I have pulled out from all that. Age.”
There is probably no cricket book he doesn’t have. He used to travel abroad just to buy more books. “Wife and I have been to New Zealand quite a few times. Found great collection of books there. We have also been to India. 1972 was the first time I reckon, a year after I had established myself in this work. We went to Marine Sports in Bombay and got books. Been there three times, all only Bombay, only for books. England too of course.”

A life that has revolved around cricket a man who doesn’t watch cricket on the telly. “It’s been a blessed life. It keeps me going still. And I shall do this until I drop dead. This is all I know, and importantly, this is something I love. Read, sell, collect.” What’s going to happen to all the books later? “You mean, once I am gone? Goodness knows, son!”

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