CRICKET BOOKS

The description of a cricketer as a legend is applied far too often to men who simply don’t merit it. On this occasion however no one is likely to argue with the use of the word to add lustre to the names of the subjects of Ian Brayshaw’s latest book

With Archie’s review this week is being of a distinctly mainstream title Martin has dug out something for the hardcore cricketing bibliophile. Surely there can be no other sport where such a good book can be written about the life of a man of such modest achievements?

There is no series quite like the Ashes, particularly for publishers, and once again on the eve of the game’s most famous contest we have a new history appearing – from Archie’s review it sounds like one for the new enthusiast so will doubtless find its way into many a Christmas stocking

Given its timing some will question the motivation behind the suggestion that Steve Smith might have been playing for England this winter, but doubtless it will help sell a few copies of the man’s autobiography in the Northern Hemisphere

Author Ken Piesse has kindly agreed to us running an extract from his latest book, so keep your eye on the front page in the coming days

The quality is so high this year that the Review team may need to be sent overseas again in order to deliberate on our Book of the Year – according to Martin the Maldives are very relaxing in December

We haven’t reviewed many books about club cricket, and probably won’t be looking at too many more in the future, but there are plenty around so it is not a subject we can ignore

Whilst on the subject of the lower echelons of the game Archie has a look at an entertaining follow up

Publisher’s take note; whilst Archie and Martin don’t agree on everything, they would both like you to view photographs, statistics and an index as essential

……. and of course it would be a great surprise if, when in such a mood, Martin did not present us with a review of something on the theme of Lancashire cricket