Cricket Books

[Goughy]

I just read a recent review and Archie signed off with "Recommended by the Mac." Now I don't read too many of the reviews so is this common or a sign that the end of days is upon us?

 

[G.I.Joe]

I just read a recent review and Archie signed off with "Recommended by the Mac." Now I don't read too many of the reviews so is this common or a sign that the end of days is upon us?

Could be worse. Could have signed off with "You stay classy, cricketweb"..

 

[watson]

Some book suggestions please.......

I belong to a women's only Book Club, but was drafted into the group because they liked the idea of having a "male perspective" on various topics and issues. So I get to be the token male.

Anyway, I thought that it was about time that the ladies were introduced to the masculine world of cricket via a cricketing classic that might also appeal to the feminine mind. I was was thinking of David Frith's book on Archie Jackson. Would that be a good choice, or are there better choices more suited to women folk?

(I do realise that I am setting myself up for some happy ridicule here, but some serious suggestions amongst the mirth would be good just the same)

 

[fredfertang]

You sly old fox - that's a clever way to get amongst the chickens - good luck to you!

As to the question the Frith book is an excellent idea - others that I would suggest might appeal would be Duncan Hamilton's biography of Harold Larwood, and Tresco's autobiography

 

[Red]

Some book suggestions please.......

I belong to a women's only Book Club, but was drafted into the group because they liked the idea of having a "male perspective" on various topics and issues. So I get to be the token male.

Anyway, I thought that it was about time that the ladies were introduced to the masculine world of cricket via a cricketing classic that might also appeal to the feminine mind. I was was thinking of David Frith's book on Archie Jackson. Would that be a good choice, or are there better choices more suited to women folk?

(I do realise that I am setting myself up for some happy ridicule here, but some serious suggestions amongst the mirth would be good just the same)

Depends on the sort of women. "On Warne" by Gideon Haigh is a really interesting read, and most of them will be familiar with Warne I'd imagine. He gives an outstanding account of one of the most prominent characters of recent cricket history.

btw, good luck with all those women Watson, you sly old fox....

 

[watson]

You sly old fox - that's a clever way to get amongst the chickens - good luck to you!

As to the question the Frith book is an excellent idea - others that I would suggest might appeal would be Duncan Hamilton's biography of Harold Larwood, and Tresco's autobiography

Might go with Frith's book then.

As for Shane Warne Monk, he cheated on his misses in a pretty tawdry way. Therefore, Gideon's book is unlikely to be well received I think.

Cheers.

 

[Red]

Haigh's writing elevates it out of the tawdry. Very accessible to the non cricket fan IMO

 

[Red]

Duncan Hamilton's Larwood is great as it has a lot of social commentary/history on Larwood's times. Appealing to anyone with an interest in that era.

 

[Spikey]

i read this in reverse so i was really hoping the firth book was the suicide one

 

[stumpski]

I would go with the Jackson book - it's quite short, so cricket-haters won't be put off, and of course it's a human interest story too. The tragic tale of the doomed young hero ought to appeal to the ladies.

 

[watson]

I would go with the Jackson book - it's quite short, so cricket-haters won't be put off, and of course it's a human interest story too. The tragic tale of the doomed young hero ought to appeal to the ladies.

That's what I thought stumpski, but wasn't sure. Thanks.

 

[zaremba]

I've never managed to see quite why Ed Smith's writing is so widely acclaimed - on the other hand his old man Jonathan's book, "The Following Game", is excellent

Somewhat to my surprise he's proved an excellent addition to TMS. Yes, he's trying quite hard to impress, but what he does is to ask the expert co-commentator a series of interesting questions designed to enlighten us about the game, rather than simply to describe the action and/or witter about cakes and buses and pigeons. And using this technique he manages to transform someone like Michael Vaughan from a smart-arse troll into a source of thoughtful insight.

 

[stumpski]

A candidate for CW's book of the year: Archie and Martin have taken a look at the story of Hedley Verity's historic - and symmetrical - return.


Cricket Web - Cricket Books: 10 for 10

 

[chasingthedon]

Bought a collection of works by my favourite cricket writer, Alan Ross - "Green Fading into Blue". Can't wait to dig in.

 

[stumpski]

He might not be England's top wicket taker for much longer but 33 years on Ian Botham's greatest hour can still provide a good read:


Cricket Web - Cricket Books: 500-1: The Miracle of Headingley '81


I didn't know there'd been an Alan Ross anthology, will have to seek that one out. I'm sure a review would be welcome!

 

[Dan]

I'm genuinely beyond parody now. I was headed to a party last Friday night, unintentionally walked past the house in which it was occurring, and figured I'd check out the shopping strip about 2 minutes up the road before heading back to the place.

I found a used bookshop and dropped $55 on cricket books. I have a problem.

Rhythm & Swing by Hadlee
The Game is Not the Same by McGilvray
A biography of Lindsay Hassett (can't remember the author or exact title)
Fifteen Paces by Davidson
Some book of photos (Egar? Edgar?) supported by essays from John Arlott.

 

[Dan]

The Lindsay Hassett Story by R.S. Whitington and An Eye for Cricket by Patrick Eager and John Arlott, ftr.

 

[stumpski]

I'm genuinely beyond parody now. I was headed to a party last Friday night, unintentionally walked past the house in which it was occurring, and figured I'd check out the shopping strip about 2 minutes up the road before heading back to the place.

I found a used bookshop and dropped $55 on cricket books. I have a problem.

Rhythm & Swing by Hadlee
The Game is Not the Same by McGilvray
A biography of Lindsay Hassett (can't remember the author or exact title)
Fifteen Paces by Davidson
Some book of photos (Egar? Edgar?) supported by essays from John Arlott.

That's about £30, not dirt cheap but I've seen worse in second-hand shops here. I do wonder if dealers want to shift their stock sometimes. Patrick Eagar is the son of the onetime Hampshire captain Desmond, I'm not sure if he's still active but cricket books in the 70s and 80s were full of his work.

 

[fredfertang]

The Davo book, in its genuine first edition (as opposed to the crappy SBC edition) with a nice dust jacket is pretty scarce (I won't say valuable because ebay has totally shafted the market for that sort of book)

 

[BoyBrumby]

Anyone read Peter Oborne's new tome on the history of Pakistani cricket yet? I'm a massive admirer of his D'Oliveira bio.

Tory he may be, but undeniably a fair minded chap. From the one-nation, paternalistic branch of the nasty party.