Description
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 MSD
Dennis 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
