Cricket Books
The Crowood Press Ltd The Fast Bowler's Bible
Book SynopsisThis fascinating book reveals the secrets of fast bowling and explains how it is possible to simultaneously bowl fast, straight and accurately. The Fast Bowler's Bible is a very practical, easily accessible bowling manual that any seam or swing bowler playing at any level can understand. It contains explosive new information being used by the world's best cricketers. Written by one of the world's best fast-bowling coaches. Well illustrated with sixty photographs and thirty-four diagrams and drawings. Explains what part of your body generates pace and why holding onto the ball longer is far more effective. Unravels the mysteries of advanced biomechanics as they apply to bowling. Reveals how to bowl crushingly effective bouncers and yorkers every time. Discusses what to do in practice and what to avoid. Analyses how to train and exercise in order to produce the best results. Illustrates all the correct grips for each delivery so that you get it right every time. Describes how to increase pace effortlessly, how to adopt the correct mental approach, how to deal with pressure, how to apply it to the opposition, and much more.Trade Review"I wish that I had met Ian Pont, the bowling coach, ten years before I did... Ian is an expert in his field and has got some excellent ideas on how to engineer a bowling action." Ronnie Irani, Essex and England
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Colours of Cricket
Book SynopsisThe Colours of Cricket showcases the finest photos of award-winning cricket photographer Philip Brown. In a prestigious 30-year career, Brown has captured 250 Test matches, numerous World Cups and other competitions around the world. Growing up in sports-mad Australia, he fell in love with cricket and photography at a young age and has spent most of his life shooting some of the most memorable moments in the history of the game and the characters who made them. This beautiful book features eye-catching images of some of the biggest names in cricket - stars such as Shane Warne, Brian Lara, Kevin Pietersen, Steve Waugh and Sachin Tendulkar. But beyond the celebrities Philip also has an eye for the people and places he has seen along the way. The Colours of Cricket documents the changing face of the sport over five decades, taking us on a nostalgic trip through time. Featuring more than 340 of Brown's favourite images, this is a stunning pictorial celebration that every cricket fan will treasure.
£23.75
Bonnier Books Ltd Jimmy Anderson Finding the Edge
Book SynopsisTHIS AUTUMN'S MUST-HAVE AUTOBIOGRAPHY FROM CRICKET LEGEND, JIMMY ANDERSON21 years, 188 Test Matches, 704 Test Wickets. This is Jimmy's story: an intimate, honest reflection told with his trademark humility and dry humour. From growing up in. Burnley as an outsider, isolated at school, bunking off, dreaming of being somewhere - anywhere - else, to dominating the 22 yards of the wicket as part of the deadliest England attack ever assembled. Jimmy takes us inside the dressing room, to those unforgettable moments: his debut under Nasser Hussain, facing off the Aussies with Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen's 'textgate' and that Mitchell Johnson incident. He reflects on the intense rivalries with Michael Clarke and Sachin Tendulkar and the burgeoning friendships with Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad. Delving behind the cricket, Jimmy reveals his experiences of personal loss alongside the pain of professional injury, and the strength he found from his marriage and the arrival of his two children. Finding the Edge is a front-row seat at the greatest games of the last two decades as England journey from perennial losers to world number one. But, above all, it is a coming-of-age story that reveals the real Jimmy Anderson: vulnerable, introspective, relentlessly determined, constantly evolving - a bowler unequalled, a career like no other.
£9.89
Safe Haven Books A Field of Tents and Waving Colours: Neville
Book SynopsisThis July sees the publication of The Great Romantic, a new biography by Duncan Hamilton of the greatest cricket writer of all time, indeed the man who invented modern cricket writing as we know it: Neville Cardus. Cardus was for many years cricket correspondent of the (then Manchester) Guardian, but wrote for a host of other publications including Wisden. Before him, cricket writing meant rather drybones match reports full of statistics and jargon. Cardus wrote about the event: the sylvan ground, the emotion of watching a great batsman like Victor Trumper in full flow. For everyone who wants to sample his finest writings, Safe Haven now publishes a new volume of Cardus's best cricket writings. Here is Cardus on Don Bradman, Victor Trumper, Denis Compton and Richie Benaud, at Roses matches and the arcadian cricket festival at Dover beneath Shakespeare Cliff, seeing the Australians defeated at Eastbourne - and of course at the home of cricket, Lord's. A handsome small hardback with retro cover illustration, here is a book for every lover of fine writing on the Summer Game.
£9.49
Allen & Unwin Golden Boy: Kim Hughes and the bad old days of
Book Synopsis**Voted Wisden Cricket Monthly's best cricket book ever in 2019**WINNER, BEST CRICKET BOOK, BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2010_________________Golden Boy is a blistering exposé of the tumultuous Lillee/Marsh/Chappells era of Australian cricket, as viewed through the lens of flawed genius Kim Hughes._________________Kim Hughes was one of the most majestic and daring batsmen to play for Australia in the last 40 years. Golden curled and boyishly handsome, his rise and fall as captain and player is unparalleled in cricketing history. He played several innings that count as all-time classics, but it's his tearful resignation from the captaincy that is remembered.Insecure but arrogant, abrasive but charming; in Hughes' character were the seeds of his own destruction. Yet was Hughes' fall partly due to those around him, men who are themselves legends in Australia's cricketing history? Lillee, Marsh, the Chappells, all had their agendas, all were unhappy with his selection and performance as captain - evidenced by Dennis Lillee's tendency to aim bouncers relentlessly at Hughes' head during net practice.Hughes' arrival on the Test scene coincided with the most turbulent time Australian cricket has ever seen - first Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket, then the rebel tours to South Africa. Both had dramatic effects on Hughes' career. As he traces the high points and the low, Christian Ryan sheds new and fascinating light on the cricket - and the cricketers - of the times.Trade ReviewChristian Ryan's Golden Boy has this brawny lyricism ... It's really alive, that book. Like a great Australian novel. Hughes personifies something mercurial, ethereal, this artistic flair alongside these macho, rugged, brawny bruisers like Marsh and Lillee. It's told with such lyricism and tempo. I found it absolutely enthralling and a real revelation. -- William Fiennes, member of Wisden Cricket Monthly's Best Cricket Book Ever judging panelAt once unputdownable and also unpickupable, because if you pick it up you will eventually finish it, and what are you going to do then? -- Rob Smyth * Guardian *It made me laugh, it told me things, it reminded me why I love the subject I'm reading about and it put a series of images in my head that I won't ever forget. It's audacious, it's got chutzpah, it's done with a lyrical flourish. I didn't know cricket books could be written like this. -- Phil Walker, editor of Wisden Cricket MonthlyA cracking read ... An almost tragic but compelling tale of how Hughes tried hard - and failed - to fit his smiling personality into the hard-faced world of his country's uniquely macho and badly moustached team. * The Observer *Graphic ... Shocking ... Devastating ... If half of what we read here is true, two Australian legends should hang their heads in shame. -- Simon Wilde * The Times *A valuable archive of the professional cricketer's lot during the 1980s - paltry wages, petty officials, vermin-infested hotels and astonishing levels of alcohol consumption ... a fascinating account of Australian cricket's leanest years. * Times Literary Supplement *Absolutely superb, one of the best cricket books I've read. -- John Stern * The Wisden Cricketer *
£11.39
Hardie Grant Books Sultan: A Memoir
Book SynopsisSultan is the official biography of Wasim Akram, the "sultan of swing", one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. For twenty years, Wasim Akram let his cricket do the talking – his electrifying left-arm pace, his explosive left-handed striking, his leadership and his inspiration. For another twenty years he kept his own counsel about those days, full of drama, controversy and even mystery, in a country, Pakistan, that to outsiders is a constant enigma. Until now. Sultan tells the story of cricket’s greatest left-arm bowler, and one of its greatest survivors, who was chosen from the streets of Lahore and groomed by Imran Khan to become champion of the world – man of the match in the final of the 1992 World Cup. Along the way were unforgettable rivalries with the greatest of his time, from Viv Richards and Ian Botham to Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne. Along the way, too, a backdrop of conspiracy and intrigue over ball tampering and match fixing about which Wasim finally sets the story straight. But there’s more: Sultan goes frankly into the crumbling and rebuilding of Wasim’s private life, marred by the tragedy of his first wife’s death and the torment of addiction. The result is an unprecedented insight into the life of a cricketer who revolutionised the game with his speed and swing, and a patriot buoyed and burdened by the expectation of one of the game’s most fanatical publics. Trade Review'He is a giant of our game.' – Pat Cummins 'Not only a great bloke but probably the greatest left arm quick the cricket world has seen.' – Allan Border 'Wasim Akram is one of the true greats of world cricket.' – Mitchell Starc 'History will judge him as one of the finest fast bowlers the game has produced.' – Steve Waugh 'Wasim ranks among those at the very top of cricket.' – Anil Kumble 'He was the most brilliant, inventive left-arm fast bowler the game as known.' – Mike Atherton 'I’m often asked ‘what is your all-time greatest team?’ I start with Akram and go from there.' – David Lloyd 'Wasim and Lancashire is a long love affair. Teammates loved him; supporters loved him. He loved them back. Our games were never over until Wasim had bowled his last ball.' – Neil Fairbrother 'Wasim was one of the greatest fast bowlers I have ever seen – a fantastic all rounder – one of the all-time greats.' – Nasser Hussain 'Great cricketers still marvel at the wonder of Wasim.' – Alan Wilkins 'Easily one of the most skilful bowlers I have played against and a tough competitor.' – Rahul Dravid 'Wasim was a master. He made the ball talk.' – Sachin Tendulkar
£15.19
HarperCollins Publishers The Commonwealth of Cricket A Lifelong Love
Book SynopsisFrom one of India's finest writers, thinkers and commentators, a memoir of a love affair with cricket.As a fan, player, writer, scholar, controversialist and administrator, Ramachandra Guha has spent a life with cricket.In this book, Guha offers both a brilliantly charming memoir and a charter of the life of cricket in India.He traces the game across every level at which it is played: school, college, club, state and country. He offers vivid portraits of local heroes, provincial icons and international stars.Following the narrative of his life intertwined and in love with the sport, Guha captures the magic of bat and ball that has ensnared billions.Trade Review A DAILY TELEGRAPH BEST SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 ‘Guha is a distinguished historian, biographer of Gandhi, a courageous political activist — and also an absolute cricket nut … Watching a serious intellectual grapple with his own relationship with sport is always revealing … [A] passionate, unique book … Guha’s totally in love, that’s the thing – and it’s the love that shines through on every page’Ed Smith, Financial Times ‘Guha also fills the same role within India that Scyld Berry and Gideon Haigh do in England and Australia. In other words, he is the deepest and wisest chronicler of his cricketing nation’Daily Telegraph, Best Sport Books of the Year, 2020 ‘Guha is an historian, environmentalist, journalist and political biographer of wide-ranging distinction … An engagingly generous celebration of cricket and cricketers, Indian and firangis alike … A book that should not be ignored’David Crane, Spectator ‘Delightful … Guha, one of India’s best-known historians and public intellectuals, is a bona fide cricket obsessive … His deep knowledge of the game allows him to bring a historian’s perspective when writing about players … The Commonwealth of Cricket is a return to his cherished first love. It should be celebrated’Soumya Bhattacharya, New Statesman ‘Powerful … The Commonwealth of Cricket is a memoir of his lifelong obsession with the game … It is, not surprisingly, a delightful read – but it also carries a political message’Emma John, Guardian ‘Guha’s book is timely … It is also at odds with the way many see the game in India today … In that sense it is a love-letter to a game as it was and can be again’Mike Atherton, The Times ‘Enchanting … Deeply enriching … He writes about the game as he first knew it, with the unguarded fondness of youth’Paul Edwards, The Cricketer
£18.00
The Crowood Press Ltd The Art of Wrist Spin Bowling
Book SynopsisWith the striking success of Shane Warne and Abdul Qadir in modern Test cricket, wrist-spin bowling is definitely back in fashion. In this fully illustrated and readable book, Peter Philpott shows players and coaches at all levels how to acquire the skills of this highly dexterous style of bowling. Areas include: the basic techniques covered step by step; solving bowling problems; how to bat against wrist-spin; mental and physical preparation for matches and the tactics to use. There is a Foreword by Keith Andrew
£13.49
Trinorth Ltd LARA The England Chronicles
Book SynopsisLARA: The England Chronicles is Brian Lara in his own voice, unfiltered and unrestrained.
£22.50
Hardie Grant Books Cricket
Book SynopsisCricket: A Portrait of a Game is photography in the tradition of the great 20th century photographers. It captures the heart of the game from the commentators chatting in the broadcast booth, players relaxing in the team rooms, to never before photos of Shane Warne. Distinguished cricket writer and photographer, Mark Ray, has roamed the world of cricket capturing the greats of the cricket-playing nations as well as unique portraits of the world of cricket. This is a stunning portrait of the game played across the globe and loved by generations: it documents the spirit that surrounds it, from the stars behind the scenes – unselfconscious and uninhibited – to those that support the game, the fans, the groundsmen the umpires, and the commentators. A rich and fascinating portrait of a game much loved.
£26.25
Simon & Schuster Ltd On Warne
Book Synopsis'A superb portrait of the most brilliant cricketer of his generation' Mike Atherton Shane Warne dominated cricket on the field and off for almost thirty years - his skill, his fame, his personality, his misadventures. His death in March 2002 rocked Australians, even those who could not tell a leg-break from a leg-pull. But what was it like to watch Warne at his long peak, the man of a thousands international wickets, the incarnation of Aussie audacity and cheek? Gideon Haigh saw it all, still can't quite believe it, but wanted to find a way to explain it. In this classic appreciation of Australia's cricket's greatest figure, who doubled as the nation's best-known man, Haigh relieves the highs, the lows, the fun and the follies. The result is a new way of looking at Warne, at sport and at Australia.'Bloody brilliant... As good as anything I have read on the game' Guardian Winner of The Cric
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Almost Invincible
Book SynopsisAlmost Invincible is the story of the West Indies in the 1980s, one of the greatest teams in Test cricket history, at their brilliant best.During the English summer of 1984, captain Clive Lloyd had an array of all-time greats within the ranks, including Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Desmond Haynes, Joel Garner, Jeffrey Dujon and others.Facing an England team in transition but still possessing skipper David Gower, star all-rounder Ian Botham and the in-form batsman Allan Lamb, the West Indies followed a series victory over Australia with a 5-0 win in England, a series that was famously nicknamed the ''Blackwash''.The book examines all the side-stories connected with the tour - from the ridiculously frenetic schedule to the closely fought one-day series, from the county tour matches to the intricate details of the five Tests. Author Richard Sydenham has spoken to many of the central characters and reflects on the
£17.09
Atlantic Books Indian Summers
Book SynopsisGideon Haigh is the world's pre-eminent cricket writer. In a career spanning more than forty years he has written in The Australian, The Times, The Guardian, The Cricketer, and in more than thirty books including On Warne, Mystery Spinner and The Cricket War. He now writes and podcasts for cricketetal.com
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers Cricket Grounds Then and Now (Then and Now)
Book SynopsisA history of beloved cricket grounds from around the world. Using a Then and Now format, historic pictures of cricket grounds are paired with their modern-day equivalent to show the dramatic changes that have taken place. Cricket Grounds Then and Now is a history of some of the most famous cricketing venues from around the world, told through the format of Then and Now photos. Author of the bestselling Remarkable Cricket Grounds and Remarkable Village Cricket Grounds, Brian Levison, has assembled a stunning array of vintage photos of the major Test venues such as Lord's, The Oval, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, Adelaide and the Sydney Cricket Ground, with which are paired a modern photo from the same viewpoint. There are smaller venues too – Saltaire in Yorkshire with its World Heritage mill as a backdrop; New Road, Worcester, viewed across the River Severn from the Cathedral and Ickwell Village Green with its large oak tree firmly inside the boundary rope. The photos show how some features survived for decades – such as the famous scoreboard on the SCG 'Hill' – or the standing terraces at St.Helens. Some grounds, such as the Central Ground in Hastings, have disappeared altogether. At the larger test venues in Australia, drop-in pitches are now the norm, allowing multiple use of the huge stadia, while in the UK, the county 'outgrounds' have gradually been whittled away. Yorkshire have lost Brammall Lane in Sheffield, Kent have abandoned their occupancy of Dover and Maidstone, while Essex have left Leyton in East London. Cricket Grounds Then and Now is a nostalgic trip around the world's cricketing venues showing both massive changes across a century and occasionally (Cheltenham College) no change at all. Grounds include: Barbados, Berlin, Scarborough, Canterbury, Wellington, Ahmedabad, Ageas Bowl, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, The Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Hollywood, Tilford, Dublin, Chelmsford, Sydney Cricket Ground, Aigburth, Buxton, Edgbaston, Philadelphia, Worcester, Headingley, Hove, Taunton, Lord's, The Oval, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, Sidmouth and Singapore.
£18.00
Pitch Publishing Ltd Cricket's Fifty Most Important Moments
Book SynopsisCricket’s Fifty Most Important Moments charts the sport’s long, colourful and sometimes controversial history, delving into its most significant moments on and off the cricket field.Tracing the sport’s development from its early days in the 18th century through to the modern era, the book journeys through more than 275 years of intriguing events. It explores how players, teams and other remarkable individuals have shaped the game. It also assesses the famous matches, tactical changes, new laws and other innovations that have punctuated cricket from its infancy to the present day.From the early teams based in sleepy English villages through to international cricket and the modern franchise game played for a global television audience; from the start of first-class cricket and the birth of the Ashes and Test cricket to World Cups and the phenomenon of T20 cricket, this book showcases the key moments, matches and controversies that have come to define the sport.Trade Review"Tim's fifty encompasses the very earliest days of the game from the 1700s and works its way through to the present day... [all are] vastly different and interesting chapters which show the vast length and breadth of the game of cricket... Nicely written and well researched." -- Andrew Roberts * Cricket Statistics *"The book is well worth reading and will provide much to think and talk about. The quality of the paper and the generous spacing all enhance the fascinating material. The book is handsomely produced and economically priced." -- Rajesh Kumar * rajeshkumarcricketstatistician.com *
£15.29
Atlantic Books On the Ashes
Book SynopsisNothing compares to the Ashes. The Ashes is always coming, even when it is finished. The Ashes is where hope, expectation, magic and chagrin flourish in equal measure, and performance is permanently burnished.'The best cricket writer in the world' Guardian'The Bradman of cricket writing' Sunday Telegraph'The finest cricket writer alive' The Australian'Australia's finest writer on cricket' The Times'The most gifted cricket essayist of his generation' Richard Williams, GuardianIn On The Ashes, Gideon Haigh, today's pre-eminent cricket writer, has captured over a century and a half of Anglo-Australian cricket, from WG Grace to Don Bradman, from Bodyline to Jim Laker's 19-wicket match, from Ian Botham's miracle at Headingley to the phenomena of Patrick Cummins and Ben Stokes, today's Ashes captains.From over three decades of covering The Ashes, Gideon has brought together an enduring vision of this timeless contest between Australia and England - the world's oldest sporting rivalry - from the colonial era to the present day.Table of Contentsi: Foreword 1: Golden Age, Darker Lining 2: Bodyline and Other Lines 3: Cricket's Cold War 4: The Instant Age 5: Ashes Eyewitness ii: Index
£18.70
Quarto Publishing PLC Bodyline Autopsy: The Full Story of the Most
Book SynopsisIn 1932, England's cricket team, led by the haughty Douglas Jardine, had the fastest bowler in the world: Harold Larwood. Australia boasted the most prolific batsman the game had ever seen: the young Don Bradman. He had to be stopped. The leg-side bouncer onslaught inflicted by Larwood and Bill Voce, with a ring of fieldsmen waiting for catches, caused an outrage that reverberated to the back of the stands and into the highest levels of government. Bodyline, as this infamous technique came to be known, was repugnant to the majority of cricket-lovers. It was also potentially lethal - one bowl fracturing the skull of Australian wicketkeeper Bert Oldfield - and the technique was outlawed in 1934. After the death of Don Bradman in 2001, one of the most controversial events in cricketing history - the Bodyline technique - finally slid out of living memory. Over seventy years on, the 1932-33 Ashes series remains the most notorious in the history of Test cricket between Australia and England. David Frith's gripping narrative has been acclaimed as the definitive book on the whole saga: superbly researched and replete with anecdotes, Bodyline Autopsy is a masterly anatomy of one of the most remarkable sporting scandals.Trade Review'A brilliant book...it goes a long way to being the definitive tome on the subject. Outstandingly researched and extremely well written.' -- David Llewellyn Independent 'In David Frith's Bodyline Autopsy, we relive the crisis of 1932-33 that almost split the Empire...the well-sketched heroes and villains stand out in Frith's history; who says cricket is for gentlemen?' The Times 'Frith's account is packed with fascinating detail and anecdote. His description of the Test matches could hardly be more gripping.' -- Leo McKinstry Sunday Telegraph
£16.80
Pan Macmillan The Art of Captaincy
Book Synopsis'The best book on captaincy, written by an expert' - Mike AthertonMike Brearley is one of the most successful cricket captains of all time, and, in 1981, he captained the England team to the momentous Ashes series victory against Australia.In The Art of Captaincy, his study on leadership and motivation, he draws directly on his experience of man-managing a team, which included a pugnacious Ian Botham and Geoffrey Boycott, to explain what it takes to be a leader on and off the field. Giving an insight into both his tactical understanding of the game, as well as how to get a group of individuals playing as a team in order to get the best out of them, The Art of Captaincy is a classic handbook on how to generate, nurture and inspire success.With a foreword by former England player and BBC commentator Ed Smith, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of its first publication, and an afterword by director Sam Mendes, The Art of CaptaTrade ReviewThe best book on captaincy, written by an expert. -- Mike AthertonTable of ContentsAcknowledgements - i: Acknowledgements Section - ii: Foreword (Ed Smith, January 2015) Introduction - iii: Introduction to the thirtieth anniversary edition Introduction - iv: Introduction Chapter - 1: Captaincy in action Chapter - 2: On class and charisma: choosing a captain Chapter - 3: Taking stock: the nursery end Chapter - 4: ‘My God, look what they’ve sent me’: the captain and selection Chapter - 5: The morning of the match: reading the entrails Chapter - 6: Batting orders Chapter - 7: Taking the field Chapter - 8: Placing the field Chapter - 9: Strategy, tactics and unusual ploys Chapter - 10: Kicking over the traces: the place of aggression in cricket Chapter - 11: Many hands make light work – sometimes Section - v: Afterword (Sam Mendes, 2001) Section - vi: In retrospect, 2001 Section - vii: Bibliography Index - viii: Index
£11.69
Allen & Unwin A Beautiful Game: My love affair with cricket
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE CROSS BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2017WINNER OF THE MCC/CRICKET SOCIETY'S BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2017Mark Nicholas, the face of Channel 5's Cricket on Five and anchor for Channel 9's Test commentary team in Australia, has a unique knowledge and perspective on the world of cricket. As both a former player and now a professional observer and commentator on the game, he knows all the key figures of the sport and has witnessed first-hand some of cricket's greatest moments. His book is a personal account of the game as he's seen and experienced it across the globe. From epic test matches and titans of the game like Lara, Warne and Tendulkar, to his own childhood love for the sport, Mark gives us his informed, personal and fascinating views on cricket - the world's other beautiful game.Trade ReviewMark Nicholas...captures the magic of top-flight cricket in this likeable memoir. * Sunday Telegraph *[H]ugely enjoyable... Nicholas has done a huge service to a game already in his debt. He helped to lift English cricket out of the sporting gloom of the late 1990s; and now he has chronicled his era as if he were one of us. For that, every cricket nut, English or otherwise, should be immensely grateful. * Independent *Mark Nicholas has written a fascinating and engaging account of his life in cricket, firstly as a player and latterly as a commentator. This is an immensely readable but far from lightweight book, packed with anecdote, opinion and - a valuable gift - empathy... he is an elegant, enthusiastic observer of the game and this book, and indeed his life in cricket, deserves plaudits. * ESPN Cricinfo *A typically entertaining collection of thoughts, opinions and memories from inside the soul of the game we love. -- Sir Ian BothamEvery chapter is interesting in its own way. I didn't always agree with him but that's not the point. The point is that I wanted to read on. -- Geoffrey BoycottMark Nicholas has been at the centre of the game as a player, writer, commentator and analyst for years. Very few have ever equalled his passion, perception, knowledge of the game and matchless ability to communicate it with wit, charm and flawless fluency. All these qualities and more have flowered in A Beautiful Game. -- Stephen FryA brilliant broadcaster with a wonderful knowledge of the game and, above all, an infectious passion for cricket. -- Shane WarneThe thing about Mark is his uniquely positive take on cricket. He conveys the message that the game may not be easy but it's sure worthwhile. His book is the same, a celebration. -- Alastair CookMark Nicholas is a master with words, both written and spoken. His positivity is what separates him from others and it's what shines through in this book. -- Sunil GavaskarVision, knowledge, enthusiasm: three of the attributes that give Mark authority and respect. This book reflects his passion for the game and his ability to tell the stories that make it so special. A great read. -- Michael VaughanTop class from first to last. -- Sir Michael ParkinsonQuite possibly the best cricket book you will ever read - a masterpiece. -- Mike ProcterWhether writing or commentating, Mark has always been able to take us inside the game. If I was buying one cricket book this year, it would A Beautiful Game -- Wasim Akramthis is indeed a beautiful book. It is the memoir of a complex and fascinating man much more interesting and nuanced than the sporting celebrity with whom most of us are familiar... a gifted writer who possesses not only an uncanny eye for the game but for humanity in general. * The Australian *
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Cricketers of 1945
Book Synopsis The Cricketers of 1945 is the compelling, poignant, and above all human, story of the reawakening of English cricket in the immediate aftermath of the world''s most destructive war.The book brings to life the summer''s Victory Tests, played on home soil between England and Australia, as well as the personal stories of the players and their families, plus those of some of the hundreds of thousands of spectators who flocked to the matches to celebrate the return of something approaching normal life after the ordeal and sacrifice of the war years.This vivid account is illuminated by fresh archival research, encompassing the diaries and personal letters of both cricketers and cricket lovers, giving the reader a strong sense of what it was like to be alive at this unique time as much of the world awoke, or was still awakening, from the nightmare ordeal of the long years of conflict.
£21.25
Little, Brown Book Group Zimmer Men
Book SynopsisTen years after his classic Rain Men - ''cricket''s answer to Fever Pitch,'' said the Daily Telegraph - Marcus Berkmann returns to the strange and wondrous world of village cricket, where players sledge their team-mates, umpires struggle to count up to six, the bails aren''t on straight and the team that fields after a hefty tea invariably loses. This time he''s on the trail of the Ageing Cricketer, having suddenly realised that he is one himself and playing in a team with ten others every weekend. In their minds they run around the field as fast as ever; it''s only their legs that let them down. ZIMMER MEN asks all the important questions of middle-aged cricketers. Why is that boundary rope suddenly so far away? Are you doomed to getting worse as a cricketer, or could you get better? How many pairs of trousers will your girth destroy in one summer? Chronicling the 2004 season, with its many humiliating defeats and random injuries, this coruscatingly funny new book laughs in the face oTrade ReviewA book about, and for, anyone whose dreams outreach their abilities * GUARDIAN *[a] humorous masterpiece to treasure * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Berkmann's observation and wit reveals all that's truly great about cricket and the spirit of the sport. The Game of Life as it should be played. * LADS MAG *Berkmann's acute powers of observation, especially of the ageing male species, are cutting but accurate. And under his penmanship the generalisation is wholly reasonable. * INDEPENDENT *
£10.44
Trinorth Ltd Sticky Dogs and Stardust Volume 2
Book SynopsisA follow-up to last year's award-winning first volume, Sticky Dogs and Stardust Volume 2 is another cache of fascinating and - in many cases - previously untold stories documenting the experiences of superstar cricketers playing for recreational teams.
£19.00
HarperCollins Publishers Golf's Strangest Rounds: Extraordinary but true
Book Synopsis'The most eccentric golf book ever' Sports and Leisure Magazine Golf's Strangest Rounds is an absorbing collection of bizarre tales from the lengthy annals of the sport’s history. There are stories of tragedy, eccentricity, tactical slipups and ones that defy categorization altogether – meet ‘Mysterious Montague’, for example, of the world’s best golfers but a man who refused ever to compete in a tournament. You’ll find plenty of golfing greats here – Gene Sarazen, Chip Beck, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo – all of whom have played their parts in irrational finishes, record rounds and famous freak shots. The tales within these pages are bizarre, fascinating, hilarious and, most importantly, true. This brand new edition, redesigned in splendid hardback for 2018, is the perfect gift for any golf fanatic. Word count: 45,000
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd Richie: The Man Behind the Legend
Book SynopsisFollowing Richie Benaud's death in April 2015, two of Australia's finest sports writers, Norman Tasker and Ian Heads, set off on a search for the real Richie: a man who graced the lives of many for more than six decades - first as an outstanding all-rounder and great captain, and then as cricket's greatest TV commentator. Tasker and Heads cast a wide net, seeking fresh material from the people who knew Richie best. The result is an intimate tribute that gets to the heart of Richie Benaud, the man. Contributors include members of Richie's family and childhood friends; cricket greats such as Sir Garfield Sobers, Ted Dexter, Neil Harvey, Alan Davidson, Steve Waugh and Shane Warne; acclaimed journalists such as John Woodcock, David Frith, Gideon Haigh and Tony Cozier; fellow commentators such as Ian Chappell, Mike Atherton, Mark Nicholas and Mark Taylor; and friends, colleagues and business associates from Australia, England, France, India and the Caribbean. The book begins with a revealing foreword by Richie's brother John, himself a former Test cricketer and prominent journalist. It ends with a moving postscript by Richie's second son Jeff.
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers The Commonwealth of Cricket A Lifelong Love
Book SynopsisFrom one of India's finest writers, thinkers and commentators, a memoir of a love affair with cricket.As a fan, player, writer, scholar, controversialist and administrator, Ram Guha has spent a life with cricket.In this book, Guha offers both a brilliantly charming memoir and a charter of the life of cricket in India.He traces the game across every level at which it is played: school, college, club, state and country. He offers vivid portraits of local heroes, provincial icons and international stars.Following the narrative of his life intertwined and in love with the sport, Guha captures the magic of bat and ball that has ensnared billions.Trade Review A DAILY TELEGRAPH BEST SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 ‘Guha is a distinguished historian, biographer of Gandhi, a courageous political activist — and also an absolute cricket nut … Watching a serious intellectual grapple with his own relationship with sport is always revealing … [A] passionate, unique book … Guha’s totally in love, that’s the thing – and it’s the love that shines through on every page’Ed Smith, Financial Times ‘Guha also fills the same role within India that Scyld Berry and Gideon Haigh do in England and Australia. In other words, he is the deepest and wisest chronicler of his cricketing nation’Daily Telegraph, Best Sport Books of the Year, 2020 ‘Guha is an historian, environmentalist, journalist and political biographer of wide-ranging distinction … An engagingly generous celebration of cricket and cricketers, Indian and firangis alike … A book that should not be ignored’David Crane, Spectator ‘Delightful … Guha, one of India’s best-known historians and public intellectuals, is a bona fide cricket obsessive … His deep knowledge of the game allows him to bring a historian’s perspective when writing about players … The Commonwealth of Cricket is a return to his cherished first love. It should be celebrated’Soumya Bhattacharya, New Statesman ‘Powerful … The Commonwealth of Cricket is a memoir of his lifelong obsession with the game … It is, not surprisingly, a delightful read – but it also carries a political message’Emma John, Guardian ‘Guha’s book is timely … It is also at odds with the way many see the game in India today … In that sense it is a love-letter to a game as it was and can be again’Mike Atherton, The Times ‘Enchanting … Deeply enriching … He writes about the game as he first knew it, with the unguarded fondness of youth’Paul Edwards, The Cricketer
£7.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Wisden on the Ashes
Book Synopsis*Updated edition to include the 2017-18, 2019 and 2021-22 Ashes series*Wisden on the Ashes: The authoritative story of cricket''s greatest rivalry is a detailed chronological journey through the history of this famous English-Australian contest. With Test reports, scorecards, Great bowlers of the year and other fascinating material from the archives, together with new editorial pieces, this is a remarkable record of cricket''s most enduring battle.The book begins its journey with England''s first tour of Australia in 1876 and the subsequent three series prior to the 1882 tour that led to a mock obituary being placed in the Sporting Times In affectionate remembrance of English cricket, which died at The Oval on 29th August, 1882. ... The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. Celebrating the players who made their mark on the game and the controversies that shook the sport, the book covers every series since then through to the moTrade ReviewThis book should prove to be an extremely useful addition to any collector's library * Andrew Roberts Cricket Statistics *Wisden's magisterial history of the Ashes is pretty much an imperative purchase for any relative obsessed with willow and leather * The Daily Telegraph *…a weighty, comprehensive and authoritative tome... * cricketweb.net *Wisden on the Ashes is a tome that should be in every cricket book collection and read by all cricket fans * cricketweb.net *Another magnificent and mighty Wisden tome -- Andrew Roberts * www.andrewrobertscricketstatistics.com *Table of ContentsForeword by Sir Alec Bedser Introduction Early Days: 1876-77 to 1882 The Birth (and Rebirth) of the Ashes: 1882-83 to 1912 The Roaring Twenties: 1920-21 to 1928-29 Bradman, Bodyline and Bradman Again: 1930 to 1948 The Fifties and Sixties: 1950-51 to 1968 The Colour and the Money: 1970-71 to 1980 Botham and Beyond: 1981 to 2002-03 The Greatest Series - and the Worst? 2005 to 2006-07 The Boot on the Other Foot: 2009 to 2010-11 The Roller-Coaster Goes on: 2013 to 2021-22 Records Index
£44.00
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Corridor of Certainty
Book SynopsisGeoffrey Boycott is one of the most outspoken and knowledgeable voices on cricket - but this book opens up a whole, new personal side to his life
£9.49
Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd The Mad Mad World of Cricket
Book Synopsis
£5.29
HarperCollins Publishers THE TIMES CRICKET QUIZ BOOK 2000 Questions on English and International Cricket
Book SynopsisThe definitive cricket quiz book with 2000 quality questions on all aspects of the game.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd All Wickets Great and Small: In Search of
Book SynopsisNowt stops for cricket in Yorkshire. Passion runs deep, beyond those in whites, to the groundsmen, tea ladies, scorers and umpires who embody the game. All Wickets Great and Small is a romp across the landscape of amateur cricket in Yorkshire during the summer of 2015. Author John Fuller looks at the key issues affecting the grassroots game: the struggles to attract players, funding shortages, natural disasters and the social dynamics that can threaten a captain's eleven on a Saturday. What shape is the grassroots game in and can it still survive and thrive? From vicars and imams socking sixes in Dewsbury to heritage clubs hitting social media out of the park, this is the story of sleeves-rolled-up cricket at its best in the county that locals call 'God's own'.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Grovel!: The Story and Legacy of the Summer of
Book SynopsisWhen England cricket captain Tony Greig announced that he intended to make the West Indies 'grovel', he lit a fire that burned as intensely as the sunshine that made 1976 one of the most memorable summers in British history. Spurred on by what they saw as a deeply offensive remark, especially from a white South African, Clive Lloyd's touring team vowed to make Greig pay. In Viv Richards, emerging as the world's most exciting batsman, and fast bowlers Michael Holding and Andy Roberts they had the players to do it. Featuring interviews with key figures from English and West Indian cricket, Grovel!: The Story and Legacy of the Summer of 1976 provides a fascinating study of the events and social issues surrounding one of the sport's most controversial and colourful tours - as well as addressing the decline of West Indies cricket and its loss of support in the new century.
£11.69
Signal Books Ltd Brian Lara: An Unauthorised Biography
Book SynopsisThe most thrilling and controversial cricketer of his generation, Brian Lara is a hero to millions worldwide. A naturally attacking style and limitless scoring arc, allied to phenomenal mental and physical stamina, proved a recipe for some of the biggest and most-compelling innings in cricket history. This new biography charts the influences that shaped Lara as a child batting prodigy, through an astonishing and turbulent career and onto his post-cricket life as businessman, benefactor and national icon. Through in-depth interviews with former international players, coaches, teachers, neighbours, friends and family members, new light is shed on this brilliant but complex man; a true Caribbean hero who still has many chapters to write.
£9.99
Quercus Publishing A Last English Summer
Book SynopsisCombining reportage, anecdote, biography, history and personal recollection, A Last English Summer is an honest and passionate reflection on cricket's past, present and future. A memorable and acutely observed portrait of one summer of cricket from an award-winning sports writer who has watched - and loved - cricket since he was a boy, it is essential reading for anyone who cares about the English game. In 2009 the county system looked directionless and obsolete; more than ever the players blessed with central contracts seemed apart from, rather than a part of, the domestic game; the Ashes series was for the first time only available on pay-TV; and, of course, the juggernaut of Twenty20 threatened to flatten all but the Test form of the game, suggesting it may soon eclipse even that as well. Duncan Hamilton has preserved this seminal, convulsing season, which in years to come may be seen as a turning point in the history of cricket in a way that overshadows even the Packer Revolution of the 1970s. In the process he embarks on a journey - often a deeply personal one - through the history and spirit of the game. He experiences irresistible nostalgia for what has been and will never return, together with an overwhelming love for the game that transcends even the most dramatic shifts in the way it is played.Trade Review'[Hamilton's] passion and knowledge shine through ... a rich and nostalgic read' The Independent. 'Hamilton's mix of reportage, observation, history and anecdote never fails to hold the reader's interest. The quality of his writing, so evident in his previous works, shines again' Mike Atherton, The Times. 'Combining reportage, anecdote, history and personal recollection, a Last English Summer is an honest and passionate reflection on cricket's past, present and future. A memorable and acutely observed portrait of one summer of cricket from an award-winning sports writer, it is essential reading for anyone who cares about the English game' Yorkshire Evening Post. 'If anyone can meld cricket, social commentary and memoir, it's this double William Hill Sports Book Of The Year winner' Metro. '[Hamilton] demonstrates a thorough understanding of how to bring a game to life. You will not find here any bland sentences trotting out what is obvious from a glance at the scorecard, and everything that is written adds something to what has already been said... It is not just the way the game was played in years gone by that Hamilton's book harks back to. His writing, particularly by virtue of his liberal use of similes and metaphors, contains many shades of sepia and has much of the romanticism of Cardus about it... Were it just for its core contents this would be an excellent book but there are other features that deserve to be noticed' Cricketweb. 'The gentle crack of leather on willow - that classical English sound - has rarely been brought to life quite so delightfully as in Hamilton's wonderful new book. Combining good old-fashioned journalism, beautifully observed writing and his own recollections, he recounts the story of a single season's cricket from a personal perspective. Famous for his best-selling memoir of football manager Brian Clough, and having won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year twice, this author has the knack of bringing people and places to life. Even non-cricket fans will be enthralled by this quality book.' News of the World.Table of ContentsForeword: A Golden Age Sort of Chap. Why Don't You Come Back When It's Less Busy? For the Islands, He Sang. Taking Tea with Neville Cardus. See the Conquering Hero Comes. And Still the Gas-Works... The Unbelievable Lightness of Fielding. Yes, I'll Remember Aigburth. He That Plays the King. Instead of a Telegram. It's a Clearing Shower in These Parts. On the Shoulders of Giants. Riding the Charabanc to Lord's. The Man in the Unmarked Grave. The Poet of Penrhyn Avenue. The Crimson Petal and the White. First Love, Last Love. A Moral Lesson from Lord Harris. The Captain in the Baggy Green. A Very Perfect Gentle Knight. Author Notes and Acknowledgements. Postscript. Statistics of Summer. Bibliography. Index.
£15.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Skills Cricket batting
Book SynopsisThe Know the Game Skills series is the perfect introduction to a sport for every budding player.Each book aims to teach young players the basic skills they need to start enjoying their sport - by giving plenty of simple practice drills and showing how the star players do it.Cricket: Batting aims to teach the basic skills needed to become successful with the bat. It teaches young players how to:- Control the bat - Face a bowler - Play all the shots - Read a bowler - Understand the field - Run between the wicketsClearly illustrated and written by a professional coach, this book will give every player all the skills they need to enjoy cricket.Table of ContentsIntroduction Equipment Perfect preparation Front foot defence Back foot defence Leaving the ball Front foot driving Back foot driving The square cut The pull The leg glance The sweep shot Good running
£6.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Tony Greig: A Reappraisal of English Cricket's
Book SynopsisTony Greig is remembered as the colourful captain who led cricket into its biggest crisis of the last century. An all-rounder who mixed boldness with belligerence, he was the first South African to skipper England, restoring national pride with victory in India after poundings at the hands of Australia and the West Indies. A controversial and charismatic competitor whose "make them grovel" comment about the West Indies signalled trouble, he later lost the captaincy for recruiting players for Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket. More than three decades later, now a leading television commentator, Greig has never been fully absolved. Featuring many new interviews, including with Greig himself, the book asks whether cricket history judges the accomplished all-rounder fairly, or is coloured by off-field controversies. Tony Greig offers a compelling portrait of a fascinating cricketing era - and was shortlisted for Best Cricket Book at the 2012 British Sports Book Awards.
£11.69
Little, Brown Book Group Hitting Against the Spin
Book Synopsis''Fascinating and insightful . . . lifts the curtain to reveal the inner workings of international cricket. A must-read for any cricketer, coach or fan'' Eoin Morgan''This path-breaking book should be compulsory reading for commentators and captains - and all cricket fans'' Mervyn King''Clever and original but also wise'' Ed SmithHow valuable is winning the toss? And how should captains use it to their advantage? Why does a cricket ball swing? Why don''t Indians bat left-handed? What is a good length and why? Why are leg-spinners so successful in T20 cricket? Why did England win the World Cup? Why do all Test bowlers bowl at either 55 or 85mph? Why don''t they pitch it up?All cricketers long to know the answer to these questions and many more. Only fifteen years ago it would have been difficult to answer them - cricket was guided only by decades-old tradition and received wisdom. Data has changed everything. Today wTrade Review"He held degrees in both English and Economics, and the ability to to articulate the world of one, with the words of the other." The writer here is Nathan Leamon and the subject is baseball pioneer Bill James. But Leamon (both a novelist and a data analyst) could just as easily be writing about himself. Leamon has a rare kind of high intelligence: he is open to all kinds of knowledge, not just scientific knowledge, and he understands which method is appropriate in which circumstance. Put differently, he is not only clever and original, but also wise * Ed Smith, National Selector for England cricket & author of What Sport Tells Us About Life *Fascinating and insightful . . . lifts the curtain to reveal the inner workings of international cricket. A must-read for any cricketer, coach or fan * Eoin Morgan *Sport has been revolutionized by data. In their path-breaking book, Nathan Leamon and Ben Jones use data to show that many of our preconceptions are false and reveal astonishing new insights into international cricket. Compulsory reading for fans, commentators, captains and players * Mervyn King *Deeply thoughtful, clever and open-minded . . . One way of viewing this book is as cricket's A Brief History of Time, a layman's guide to deep complexity, an act of communication as much as one of science. On that level it works beautifullywell, engaging with concepts in attention-grabbing ways -- Jon Hotten * Wisden Cricket Monthly *Fascinating -- Steve James * The Times *
£9.74
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Cricket
Book SynopsisKnow the Game Cricket is the perfect introduction to thesport for all ages, whether you are a keen club player or beginner. Itis packed with expert text, clear illustrations and photographs of theprofessionals in action.The book includes: Playing the game: how to play cricket, the rules, positions on the pitch, how to score The laws of the game: from scoring to umpiring Equipment and pitch: how to choose a bat, positioning of fielders, the wicket The skills: step-by-step guide to all the basic skills, including batting, bowling, wicket keeping and fielding. The Know the Game series is firmly established as thedefinitive introduction to a wide range of sports and games. Written bythe experts, you can be sure that they contain everything you need toknow to take part.
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Remembering Richie
Book SynopsisA tribute to Richie Benaud and a celebration of his life.Remembering Richie is a compilation of the very best writing from Richie''s books, along with the best tributes and obituaries from those who knew and worked with him. As a player, Richie was one of the greatest of cricket''s all-rounders. As a commentator and thinker on the game he became the leading figure of his generation. As a man he was revered by cricket''s multitude of followers and as a friend he was both loved and admired by his close circle of friends.This celebratory book brings together the best of Richie''s writing on a range of subjects from his love of cricket as a child to his all time XIs; from his thoughts on T20 to insight into his family life, along with his most loved sayings and best known pieces of commentary. All perfectly complemented with tributes from his friends and colleagues.Trade ReviewRemembering Richie Benaud collects plenty of well selected excerpts from his own various memoirs - Sunday AgeRemembering Richie is a celebration of the life of one of Australia's cricket icons - SA Life
£12.34
Rizzoli International Publications This is Cricket In The Spirit of the Game
Book SynopsisWinner of the WISDEN BOOK OF THE YEAR award and the TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE YEAR, this book is a celebration of the elegance and timeless beauty of cricket—its greatest and most stylish players, from past heroes to today’s stars, along with its idyllic and hallowed grounds.Cricket has been played for over three hundred years and in some ways remains largely unchanged. It is this timelessness, and the style and spirit in which the game is conducted, which is celebrated in This Is Cricket.The book brings together such idyllic settings as Sir Paul Getty''s Ground in Buckinghamshire, U.K., surrounded by rolling countryside, with the Otago cricket ground in New Zealand set against a backdrop of mountains, as well as the sport''s most hallowed pitches, including Lord''s (opened by Thomas Lord in 1814) and Melbourne Cricket Ground, which hosted the first-ever International Test match in 1877.Readers will venture on a Trade ReviewThis has won the 2021 Wisden Book of the Year award, and is a classic example of the coffee table genre that would grace any living room.' - The Cricketer Magazine, June 2021
£44.00
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Best of Enemies: Whingeing Poms Versus
Book SynopsisOne of the great rivalries in sport returns this summer, but what is it about a six-inch terracotta urn that en flames the passions of Poms and Aussies? Why do the English think that all Australians are alcoholic simpletons? Why do Australians think the English all have a stick up their backside? And why do they need (and needle) each other so much? In this humorous look at one of the truly great rivalries, written by "The Times'" cricket blogger and a professional Australian bar-room pontificator, the grudges, sledges, heroes and villains are laid bare.Trade Review"The quirky approach is refreshingly different from the usual chronological plod" - Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians
£5.10
Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd Cricket Made Simple: An Entertaining Introduction
Book SynopsisIm in the team can you come and watch me play? If you will be sitting by a cricket pitch this summer, mystified by the antics on the field in front of you, Cricket Made Simple is the book for you. Not only will it help to explain what is going on from the spectators viewpoint it will also raise you several notches in your loved ones esteem. After reading Cricket Made Simple, you will be able to talk knowledgeably about spin and swing bowling, off drives, knocking in, and know the difference between a googly and an off-break. You might even enjoy the matches much more as a result. Just as well because they can take up a whole day at junior level, or up to five days for a Test match. The author, a mother who has spent many seasons at her sons playing fields, provides a complete guide to the intricacies of cricket for all those bemused supporters to whom this sport is a complete mystery. She also includes valuable advice on supporter etiquette and preparing cricket teas as well as dealing with the inevitable washing mountain. Cricket Made Simple is for all bemused supporters, male and female, who loyally turn out to cheer in all weathers.
£6.95
The History Press Ltd Not Out at Close of Play: A Life in Cricket
Book SynopsisYou could argue that Dennis Amiss’ seven-decade cricket career started the day he was born, when his parents named him after not one but two celebrated cricketers.Or maybe it started when he was 7, sneaking into the Birmingham Cooperative Society to play a few matches with his friends – as long as they avoided the groundskeeper!Or perhaps it was on 7 April 1958; not only his fifteenth birthday, but also his first day as a professional cricketer.Whatever day you start on, there’s no denying that Amiss has had an extraordinary career. He is one of England’s cricketing greats, with 100 first-class hundreds to his name and a place as one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year. Hugely well-respected on and off the pitch, he didn’t shy away from controversy, taking part in the 1982 ‘Rebel Tour’ of Apartheid South Africa, and somehow ending up in the midst of the battle between World Series Cricket and the England Cricket Board.Not Out at Close of Play is the story of how passion, commitment and practice – and no small amount of stubbornness! – took a boy from the backstreets of Birmingham to worldwide cricket stardom.Trade ReviewDennis was not only one of the finest batsmen of his generation, he was a cricket innovator and influencer who then also went on to become a very successful administrator at the highest levels of the game. He has been a huge influence on the direction of my own career and I am extremely grateful to him for all of his support. -- Ashley Giles MBE MSDDennis is a Warwickshire legend on and off the field. One of best batters of his generation, he set the standard for players to follow. He was a hero of mine growing up and now I have the pleasure of calling him my friend. -- Ian Bell MBE
£11.69
Dialogue On Cricket
Book SynopsisSir Trevor McDonald is one of Britain''s most celebrated broadcasters and his devotion for cricket is almost as well-known as his legendary professional achievements.In this inspirational memoir, On Cricket, Sir Trevor explores his childhood in the Caribbean and celebrates his life-long love of the sport that followed him no matter where in the world his illustrious journalistic career would take him.Sir Trevor offers a wide-ranging commentary on cricket as a common language between England, the West Indies and beyond - a sense of belonging that knows no borders - and celebrates cricket as an engine of national identity and an essential feature of daily life and community.An exceptional storyteller and commentator, On Cricket is a love letter to the sport and a study of Sir Trevor''s oldest and most consistent passion: watching, debating and playing the gentleman''s game.
£16.00
Hodder & Stoughton My Sporting Life
Book Synopsis''A lovely kind of nostalgia, which colourises the black and white of yesteryear'' - The Oldie Review''He writes about them all with wonderful precision and a powerful evocation'' - Radio Times''Like my father before me, I believe that both the playing and watching of sport can teach us important lessons about ourselves by providing practical instruction in co-operation, tests of resolve and temper''For Michael Parkinson it was never really in doubt that he would spend his life in sport. His father, a fearsome fast bowler himself, indoctrinated young Michael from an early age into the Yorkshire cricket tradition and supporting Barnsley FC. All he ever wanted was to play cricket for Yorkshire and England.He rose through the ranks of Barnsley cricket along with his friends Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott. But while they went on to find fame on the field, he spent the next few decades watching, writing and talking abouTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR MICHAEL PARKISON:A lovely kind of nostalgia, which colourises the black and white of yesteryear * The Oldie Review *He writes about them all with wonderful precision and a powerful evocation * Radio Times *A quietly impressive book, which does something most celebrity autobiographies shy away from: it seeks the truth and, more often than not, finds it * Mail, on Like Father, Like Son *A joyous, breezy read . . . It is also beautifully written * Daily Telegraph on Parky *Funny and self-deprecating and just as laid-back as he is on camera * Independent on Parky *Engrossing and entertaining * Irish Time on Parky *
£18.00
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Batmaker of Copenhagen
Book SynopsisThe Batmaker of Copenhagen is the inspiring story of a cricketing hero who defied the German occupation to keep cricket alive throughoutthe Nazi occupation of Denmark during the Second World War.With Copenhagen under the iron grip of the Gestapo, and German U-boats preventing any supplies coming in from England, a humble cricket scorer sets out on an improbable and dangerous quest to find willow and produce his own cricket bats.Scouring the length and breadth of the country, hounded by Gestapo spies, and risking everything for the game he loves, the ''Batmaker'' undertakes his mission under the very noses of the city''s oppressors.His nemesis, a Gestapo chief by the name of ''Lucifer'', begins a quest of his own to crush the resistance in a battle of wills that shapes the course of the war. Based on a true story, this uplifting tale of passion and patriotism brings cricket and espionage together in a unique and gripping t
£16.99
Headline Publishing Group Playfair Cricket Annual 2024
Book SynopsisThe indispensable pocket guide to the cricket season.The 77th edition of the Playfair Cricket Annual is packed with all the information you need to follow the cricket season in 2024, as well as a review of events during the previous twelve months.Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia will all be touring England this coming summer, and here you''ll find comprehensive Test match and limited-overs records and career records to help you follow the action.County cricket is covered in unrivalled depth, with biographies of all players registered to the counties at the start of the season, full coverage of last summer''s events and a fixture list for all major domestic matches in 2024.There are also sections on women''s cricket and the major domestic T20 competitions from around the world, including The Hundred.For any cricket fan, the season is never complete without a copy of Playfair to guide you through it all.
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Bazball
Book SynopsisA TIMES, GUARDIAN, TELEGRAPH AND WATERSTONES BEST SPORT BOOK OF THE YEARGripping' Roger Alton, Sunday TimesThe inside story of how England transformed the way Test cricket is played.For 145 years, Test cricket had been played mainly in one way, but the old ways weren't working. After one win in 17 by the start of the summer of 2022, England needed something new.Then came Bazball', driven by new head coach Brendon (Baz') McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. They embarked on a brand of Test cricket that breathed life into an ailing format, breaking records as they began by winning 11 out 13 games. The once rudderless and ridiculed England Test team soon became cricket's most talked-about phenomenon.Told via a mixture of interviews with the protagonists and ringside reporting, Bazball is an unmissable read, marking one of the most thrilling revolutions in any sport. Updated to include E
£10.44
Simon & Schuster Ltd Last in the Tin Bath
Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM CRICKET'S HUGELY POPULAR COMMENTATOR With his infectious enthusiasm for the game, David 'Bumble' Lloyd blends immense knowledge and experience with an eye for the quirky detail and an unending fund of brilliant stories. This definitive autobiography recalls his childhood in Accrington, Lancashire, when, after a long day playing cricket in the street, he would get his chance to wash himself in his family's bath - but only after his parents and uncle had taken their turn first. From being last in the tin bath, he moved on to make his debut for Lancashire while still in his teens, eventually earning an England call-up, when he had to face the pace of Lillee and Thomson - with painful and eye-watering consequences. After retiring as a player, he became an umpire and then England coach during the 1990s, before eventually turning to commentary with Sky Sports. After spendin
£8.54
