A review by peterdray
Basil D'Oliveira Cricket and Conspiracy: The Untold Story by Peter Oborne

5.0

Basil D'Oliveira was a mixed race cricketer treated dreadfully in apartheid South Africa, and whose remarkable career in Britain eventually led him to being picked for England. This book focuses mainly on what D'Oliveira is known for best - the protacted saga over whether he would be able to tour South Africa with England, a course of events that would have been severely embarrassing for the apartheid government there. Sadly it seems that in Britain too, a commitment to racial equality was only embraced by the governing bodies whilst it was fairly cost free to those holding it.

A poignant read for the current cultural moment, this book also demonstrates how often BAME are forced into being public spokespeople around issues of race and ethnicity merely because of the colour of their skin.