Eddie Gilbert: The True Story of an Aboriginal Cricketing Legend by Mike Colman and Ken Edwards (2002)

Author:
Mike Colman; with contributions by Ken Edwards

Publisher:
ABC Books, Sydney

Format:
Softcover

Pages:
vi, 280 pages, with [24] pages of plates, including illustrations, portraits, and facsimiles

ISBN:
0733311547

Condition:
Good – light wear to covers; small tear to the back of the book; pages clean and well bound.

Description:
Eddie Gilbert, a fast bowler from the Barambah Aboriginal Settlement (now Cherbourg), stunned the cricketing world on 6 November 1931 by bowling Don Bradman for a duck—a delivery the cricket legend would later describe as the fastest he ever faced. More than a sporting moment, it was a cultural flashpoint. This biography by Mike Colman and Ken Edwards cuts through decades of myth to explore the complex life of a gifted sportsman caught between two worlds—praised for his talent but subjected to systemic racism, restricted by government controls, and ultimately discarded.

Drawing from historical records, eyewitness accounts, and government documents, this is the definitive account of Gilbert’s life: his achievements, his treatment by white officialdom, and the enduring symbolism of his story within the broader context of Aboriginal and Australian identity.

Why You’ll Love It:
This powerful biography is a must-read for anyone interested in cricket history, First Nations stories, or the intersection of sport and social justice. Eddie Gilbert’s story transcends the playing field—it's about talent, recognition, struggle, and legacy in 20th-century Australia.