In A Different Realm
Martin Chandler |Published: 2025
Pages: 518
Author: Niaz, Nauman
Publisher: Private
Rating: 4 stars
As simply an author is a wholly inadequate way in which to describe Nauman Niaz, so rather than attempt to introduce him in this review I will simply invite anyone who is unfamiliar with the man and who wants to have some idea of what he is all about to take the time to read this and this.
It is as well that Nauman is not a man who needs a great deal of sleep as he must have put many, many hours into this project, his homage to what have been, in strictly cumulative terms the greatest innings of them all.
The result is In A Different Realm, a title which neatly sums up the sort of individual scores that mere mortals, and indeed some very good batsmen, can only dream about. There have, of course, been some remarkable innings of much smaller size than 300, but that is the benchmark that a batsman must have reached in order to merit a mention in In A Different Realm.
The book begins with two forewords. The first is from Michael Down, Nauman’s co-publisher and something of a polymath himself being an expert on subjects as diverse as cricketana, nuclear science, Bob Dylan and Manchester United. Following on from Dr Down is a contribution from the only man to record a quintuple century in First Class cricket, Brian Lara.
As his subject demands there is something from Nauman by way of an analysis of the achievement he is writing about, but by far the bulk of his book is taken up with individual essays about the innings with which he is concerned. The first part of the book, in descending order of runs scored, examines each of the 36 First Class innings of 350 or more and the second, this time in chronological order starting with Andy Sandham, the 30 triple and one quadruple century that have been recorded in the Test arena.
To those of us who care passionately about cricket, and I do not suppose there will be many taking the time to read this review who do not, then most of the innings covered by In a Different Realm will be familiar, as will the back stories of the men involved. That should not however serve as any disincentive to acquiring a book which, it has to be conceded, is not the first to be written on the subject.
But despite the familiarity of the material there is still much to be learned about the innings themselves. In particular although I have always been aware of BB Nimbalkar’s unbeaten 443 in a Ranji Trophy match in December 1948 the unusual reason as to why he did not have the opportunity to add the ten runs that would have taken him past the then record of 452 held by Donald Bradman had passed me by.
I knew a little more about Hanif Mohammad’s long time record 499 and the unfortunate run out that brought that huge innings to an end, but it was a particular pleasure to read a full and authoritative account of that one from the pen of a fellow countryman of Hanif.
Moving into the Test arena the innings become even more familiar, but to read again detailed accounts of innings like Len Hutton’s 364 at the Oval in 1938 and Garry Sobers 365 not out at Sabina Park twenty years later brings those games of long ago back to life.
One thing that certainly deserves mention is the question of Nauman’s unique writing style. In that respect he is very clearly a product of his education at the Universities of Oxford and London. His knowledge of English grammar and the depth of his vocabulary are redolent of a bygone age. His scientific training is obvious yet, and this is what sets him apart from every other cricket writer, at the same time he allows himself to be influenced by the purple prose of Neville Cardus. The result is that even familiar material is a pleasure to read.
So In a Different Realm is highly recommended. In addition to the excellent narrative the book is extensively illustrated, all of the images being of photographs or other items from Nauman’s vast collection. The only problem is likely to be, at least for those living outside Pakistan, securing a copy of the book. The good news on that is that although Boundary Books have all but sold out their initial allocation more copies are on the way. The book comes in a standard hardback edition as well as a specially bound, slipcased and signed and individually numbered limited edition of 50 copies.
Leave a comment