Cricket Books

[stumpski]

Fantastic round-up there - I'm looking forward to getting my review copy of the Sparrow's book - and those limited editions seem to be on the increase ... in Australia.

[notrunout]

Hi,
I'd just like to mention a new cricket novel, "Guile and Spin" by Stuart Larner, available as an ebook on Amazon.

It tells the story of a man who can't stand cricket being enticed by a woman cricketer to help resurrect a cricket club in order to get government money.

He is coached by an Indian Mystic spinner and a man who runs a cricket museum in his spare room.

The book is full of lots of tips about how he gets into the right state of mind for his matches.

you can read the first 30 pages free on Amazon.

Guile and Spin eBook: Stuart Larner: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

[LongHopCassidy]

Bit the bullet with the 1-click Kindle purchase button and am now reading Leo McKinstry's 'Geoff Boycott: A Cricketing Hero'.

Holy thunder****s, Batman. One of the most brutal biographies I've read (not that it couldn't happen to a nicer guy).

Some of what I've read in there would probably get him into the semis in the Infamous battle, and beat a few match-fixers along the way.

Btw, anyone know other biographies/accounts out there with seriously controversial content? Cricket dirt is more addictive than I thought.

[jan]

I want to gift a book about cricket to a friend who knows nothing about the game (he watched a few t20 wc games only), any advice on an entry-level title please?

And for myself I got recommended "an awesome book by Michael Atherton" and not sure which one by him it is. Any of these perhaps?

Cheers

[Pup Clarke]

My guesses would be that it's his autobiography 'Opening Up'.

Some recommendations from myself include Nasser Hussain's autobiography 'Playing with Fire', 'Cricket and Conspiracy' by Peter Oborne which is about the career of Basil D'Oliveira and 'My Spin On Cricket' by Richie Benaud.

[fredfertang]

I think its probably his book on gambling - that was very well received

[LongHopCassidy]

Originally Posted by Pup Clarke

My guesses would be that it's his autobiography 'Opening Up'.

An Amazon review of Atherton's book:

Atherton has the qualities required on an opening batsman, he is single minded and extremely boring. Which is great news if you are scoring 189 against South Africa and batting for 3 days, but perhaps not the sort of chap you want writing an interesting book. Mind you, "Athers" never forgets to remind us how great he thought he was throughout the book, with plenty of gripping text such as "I was only 3 days old, but as I gripped hard onto my soother, I knew how great I was and how one day, I would be England Captain". And "I was batting for Manchester Grammar against Scumtown Boys Academy for Under-Privileged Skangers and had no qualms about teaching them a lesson by batting all day for a gritty seven not out, despite the fact that these oiks had to practice on a football pitch covered in dog turds, I had to because one day I was destined to be England Captain". Don't be expecting to see a lot of "knob gags" or hilarious accounts of how Jack Russell once got a Weetabix stuck up his bum, but if you are into gaining an insight into how great Mike Atherton thinks he is, then this is the book for you.

[Spikey]

Originally Posted by fredfertang

I think its probably his book on gambling - that was very well received

Once seen discounted from $60 to $5 by yours truly.

Still didn't purchase it.

[BoyBrumby]

Originally Posted by LongHopCassidy

Bit the bullet with the 1-click Kindle purchase button and am now reading Leo McKinstry's 'Geoff Boycott: A Cricketing Hero'.

Holy thunder****s, Batman. One of the most brutal biographies I've read (not that it couldn't happen to a nicer guy).

Some of what I've read in there would probably get him into the semis in the Infamous battle, and beat a few match-fixers along the way.

Btw, anyone know other biographies/accounts out there with seriously controversial content? Cricket dirt is more addictive than I thought.

Brett Hutchins's bio on The Don is probably the ultimate revisionist western.

By the way, I own a book by McKinstry called simply "Boycs" (which, looking at his Wiki bibliography, I suspect the book you've just finished is a resprayed version of) and I thought it fairly even handed.

Although, with all respect to the great man, what seems "even handed" as an assessment for him might be a complete hatchet job for less singular personalities.

[fredfertang]

New Books - An Overview for January 2013

It's that time of year again and, this time, an exclusive glimpse at the cover of the Cricket Book of 2013

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by fredfertang

New Books - An Overview for January 2013

It's that time of year again and, this time, an exclusive glimpse at the cover of the Cricket Book of 2013

Good stuff. I worked out I will need a minimum of $500 to afford the ones I want

[SJS]

Originally Posted by LongHopCassidy

Bit the bullet with the 1-click Kindle purchase button and am now reading Leo McKinstry's 'Geoff Boycott: A Cricketing Hero'.

Holy thunder****s, Batman. One of the most brutal biographies I've read (not that it couldn't happen to a nicer guy).

Some of what I've read in there would probably get him into the semis in the Infamous battle, and beat a few match-fixers along the way.

Btw, anyone know other biographies/accounts out there with seriously controversial content? Cricket dirt is more addictive than I thought.

Boycs is riveting and even if controversial it rings true as one goes through it and I am a big Boycott fan - Boycott the commentator that is :o)

[jan]

Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew by S. Karunatilaka, great

[stumpski]

Originally Posted by archie mac

Good stuff. I worked out I will need a minimum of $500 to afford the ones I want

For me space is as much an issue as cost. I have six or seven books on the sofa at the moment waiting for a home. Sterling work there Martin, as always. We ought to do a mini-season of CMJ I think, as we did for Roebuck. I have MCC in India and can start the ball rolling with that.

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by stumpski

For me space is as much an issue as cost. I have six or seven books on the sofa at the moment waiting for a home. Sterling work there Martin, as always. We ought to do a mini-season of CMJ I think, as we did for Roebuck. I have MCC in India and can start the ball rolling with that.

Good idea. I have quite a few of his efforts. I think I will do Seasons Past