Home » Sports » Cricket

When Jeffrey Archer lay on the floor: The interview that turned into an argument

With British best-selling novelist Jeffrey Archer’s death sending shockwaves, we look back at a memorable interview with him in Chennai in 2013 that had him arguing on a cricket match

By Authors and Contributors · The Hindu

Published: Tuesday, 6 October 2026 at 9:55 AM

Key Things to Know

A reporter recounts author Jeffrey Archer lying on a hotel floor to criticize Indian cricket groundskeeping methods.
The incident occurred during a 2013 promotional interview in Chennai for Archer's book Best Kept Secret.
Archer mocked the use of mops and buckets to dry grounds during a rain-affected Mohali Test match.

The Story in 60 Seconds

A journalist for The Hindu recounts a memorable 2013 interview with British author Jeffrey Archer at Chennai's Taj Coromandel that briefly derailed into an argument about cricket. To break the ice before discussing the book Best Kept Secret, the reporter praised India's recent cricket form while a Test match against Australia at Mohali played on television.

Archer unexpectedly dropped to the floor to mock how Indian groundsmen clear rainwater with mops and buckets, criticizing the methods as rubbish. After the reporter defended India's record, Archer brought up their home series loss to England before diffusing the tension and proceeding with the interview.

Read the full article on The Hindu

When Jeffrey Archer lay on the floor: The interview that turned into an argument

More Cricket News

Never Miss a Sports Update