{{short description|English cricketer (1931–2022)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Use British English|date=March 2016}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Robin Marlar | image = | country = England | fullname = Robin Geoffrey Marlar | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|1|2|df=yes}} | birth_place = Eastbourne, Sussex, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|9|30|1931|1|2|df=yes}} | death_place = Epsom, Surrey, England | heightft = | heightinch = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm off-spin | role = | club1 = Cambridge University | year1 = {{nowrap|1951–1953}} | club2 = Sussex | year2 = 1951–1968 | columns = 1 | column1 = First-class | matches1 = 289 | runs1 = 3,033 | bat avg1 = 9.72 | 100s/50s1 = 0/2 | top score1 = 64 | deliveries1 = 54,450 | wickets1 = 970 | bowl avg1 = 25.22 | fivefor1 = 66 | tenfor1 = 15 | best bowling1 = 9/46 | catches/stumpings1 = 137/– | date = 6 February | year = 2014 | source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/31/31218/31218.html CricketArchive }}
'''Robin Geoffrey Marlar''' (2 January 1931 – 30 September 2022) was an English cricketer and cricket journalist. He played for Cambridge University before playing for Sussex County Cricket Club from 1951 to 1968. He captained both teams.
==Early life== Marlar was born in Eastbourne, East Sussex on 2 January 1931.<ref name="ESPN bio">{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Steven |title=Robin Marlar profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/robin-marlar-17328 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402071743/https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/robin-marlar-17328 |archive-date=2 April 2022 |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=ESPN Cricinfo |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures}}</ref><ref name="iconoclast">{{Cite news |date=1 October 2006 |title=Robin Marlar: Exit the enduring iconoclast, playing his shots to all parts |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/robin-marlar-exit-the-enduring-iconoclast-playing-his-shots-to-all-parts-418289.html |url-status=live |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126133530/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/robin-marlar-exit-the-enduring-iconoclast-playing-his-shots-to-all-parts-418289.html |archive-date=26 November 2010}}</ref> He was educated at King Edward VI School, Lichfield and Harrow School, before studying at Magdalene College, Cambridge.<ref name="Llewellyn|">{{Cite news |last=Llewellyn |first=David |date=21 March 1997 |title=Cricket: Maverick Marlar the original mover and shaker |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket-maverick-marlar-the-original-mover-and-shaker-1274170.html |url-status=live |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001221942/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket-maverick-marlar-the-original-mover-and-shaker-1274170.html |archive-date=1 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wagg |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=844-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT144 |title=Cricket: A Political History of the Global Game, 1945–2017 |date=November 14, 2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317557296}}</ref> He played first-class cricket for Cambridge University, winning a blue in 1951, 1952 and 1953 (when he captained Cambridge to victory over Oxford).<ref>''Wisden'' 1954, pp. 285–87.</ref>
==Career== Marlar debuted for Sussex in July 1951 in a match against Kent held at the Central Recreation Ground in Hastings.<ref name="ESPN obit">{{Cite news |date=30 September 2022 |title=Robin Marlar, former Sussex captain and Sunday Times correspondent, dies aged 91 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/robin-marlar-former-sussex-captain-and-sunday-times-correspondent-dies-aged-91-1337469 |url-status=live |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001221943/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/robin-marlar-former-sussex-captain-and-sunday-times-correspondent-dies-aged-91-1337469 |archive-date=1 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="Sussex obit">{{Cite news |date=30 September 2022 |title=Remembering Robin Marlar — 1931–2022 |publisher=Sussex County Cricket Club |url=https://sussexcricket.co.uk/news/remembering-robin-marlar-1931-2022 |url-status=live |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001221945/https://sussexcricket.co.uk/news/remembering-robin-marlar-1931-2022 |archive-date=1 October 2022}}</ref> He played with the club until 1968 and served as its captain between 1955 and 1959. An innovative off-break bowler, he took 970 wickets in 289 matches at an average of 25.22, with a personal best of 9/46 against Lancashire at Hove in 1955. He was described as "shrewd and skilful" by ''Wisden Cricketers' Almanack''.<ref name="ESPN bio" />
==Outside cricket and later life== Marlar stood as a Conservative candidate for Bolsover in the 1959 General Election, and in a 1962 by-election at Leicester North East.<ref name=Llewellyn|/> Decades later, he was an early Referendum Party candidate at the 1993 Newbury by-election.<ref name=Llewellyn|/><ref>{{Cite web |title=By Elections – News website specialising in political pieces |url=http://by-elections.co.uk/blog/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022173612/http://by-elections.co.uk/blog/ |archive-date=22 October 2021 |access-date=3 November 2021 |website=By-elections.co.uk}}</ref>
After retiring from professional cricket, Marlar had a successful journalistic career as an outspoken cricket correspondent of ''The Sunday Times'', and wrote the illustrated history ''The Story of Cricket'' (1979).<ref>''Wisden'' 1980, p. 1222.</ref> He also wrote ''Decision Against England: The Centenary Ashes 1982-3'' (1983). One noted example of his bluntness came in December 1987, when he described the conduct of umpires officiating at a five-day international match against Pakistan as "intolerable, because whether or not the umpires were cheating, that is the way it appeared", adding that it was the worst crisis since 1932.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eliason |first=Marcus |date=3 January 1988 |title=Loss to Pakistan Produces Accusations – English Cricket Crisis: Simply Foul Play |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-03-mn-32306-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001221945/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-03-mn-32306-story.html |archive-date=1 October 2022}}</ref>
Marlar also started a thriving headhunting business based in Sloane Square and became a cricket administrator.<ref name="Sussex obit" /> He served as chairman of Sussex in 1996 and 1997, laying the foundations for the club's first Championship win in 2003.<ref name="ESPN obit" /><ref name="Sussex obit" /> He was appointed president of Sussex County Cricket Club for 2005 and President of MCC for 2005–06. During this time he incurred some controversy when, on a declaration to the Sunday Telegraph, he described it as "absolutely outrageous" that female athletes play cricket with male athletes, in response to Holly Colvin and Sarah Taylor, who had both played for England, being chosen to play for Brighton College's First XI that summer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cricket girls defy their MCC critic |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1524663/Cricket-girls-defy-their-MCC-critic.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704205037/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1524663/Cricket-girls-defy-their-MCC-critic.html |archive-date=4 July 2017 |access-date=3 November 2021 |website=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="Absurd, old-fashioned and patronising" – Robin Marlar Incurred the wrath of Claire Connor |url=https://www.oldbrightonians.com/news/notable-obs/sport/54-sport/cricket/406-absurd-old-fashioned-and-patronising.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917145047/https://www.oldbrightonians.com/news/notable-obs/sport/54-sport/cricket/406-absurd-old-fashioned-and-patronising.html |archive-date=17 September 2020 |access-date=3 November 2021 |website=Old Brightonians – The Alumni of Brighton College}}</ref>
==Personal life== Marlar had six children who survived him.<ref name="Sussex obit" /> He died on 30 September 2022 at Epsom Hospital. He was 91 years old.<ref name="ESPN obit" /><ref name="Sussex obit" />
==References== {{reflist}}
{{S-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box| |before=Hubert Doggart |title=Sussex county cricket captain |years=1955–1959 |after=Ted Dexter }} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marlar, Robin}} Category:1931 births Category:2022 deaths Category:People educated at Harrow School Category:Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge Category:English cricketers Category:English male journalists Category:Referendum Party politicians Category:Sussex cricketers Category:Sussex cricket captains Category:Cambridge University cricketers Category:Presidents of the Marylebone Cricket Club Category:The Sunday Times people Category:Gentlemen cricketers Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers Category:Gentlemen of England cricketers Category:Conservative Party (UK) parliamentary candidates Category:British sportsperson-politicians Category:Cricketers from Eastbourne Category:E. W. Swanton's XI cricketers Category:20th-century English sportsmen