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••SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023••India's first Test series win in England in 1971 was epic and magical, with a resonance far beyond the scorecards. The cricket was riveting, with twists and turns right up to the last ball, and the excitement was garnished by a baby elephant parading the outfield of The Oval on the final day. The victory had immense significance for a country that had gained independence from Britain less than 25 years earlier and was tottering on the brink of a history-defining war. In the background were the British illusions of moral and cultural superiority even as decolonisation went through its final phase. The Indians often accepted these illusions as they struggled for the most basic necessities of life, battling against poverty, malnutrition and illiteracy. Thus, the victory provided a major equaliser for the national psyche. Elephant in the Stadium examines the many reasons for the myth and magic that still surround the triumph, including the complex historical relationship between Britain and India.

Over thirty years ago, historian Marion Stell tracked down the women who played in the inaugural international Test cricket series against England in the summer of 1934–1935. Their stories and this extraordinary time in Australian sport are told here for the first time. After the contentious'bodyline'mens'series in 1932–1933, sporting relations between Australia and England were at an all-time low. The long traditions built on fair play and sportsmanship had been shattered and controversy raged in the media. At the same time, a group of talented young women were invited to play for their country. Hailing from all classes and backgrounds, these exceptional players defied social and family expectations to pursue the sport they loved, gaining recognition and celebrity in Test series here and abroad. Drawing from rare source material, photos and interviews with the original players, The Bodyline Fix shines a long-overdue light on gender, race and class in 1930s Australia. The impact and legacy of these early sportswomen lives on to inspire current generations.

'AB hopped over the boundary rope and onto the field, grinning at the sight and sound of a packed Wanderers Stadium. He swung his bat from side to side and listened to the crowd roaring his name.'So begins the wonderfully entertaining story of the rise to fame of one of South Africa's favourite sporting stars. Written specifically for youngsters aged 10 –14, it takes the reader close to all the action, and the ups and downs. AB was already building a name as a great schoolboy tennis and rugby player, but when he decided to focus on cricket the word spread quickly about a talent that could not be contained. With two brothers a lot older than him, AB learned early how to play hard and never give up. In this inspiring story we watch as AB progresses through high school, then'varsity, and learns how to play against the best. In his first Test series, AB struggles and wonders if he's good enough to make it at this level. However, the outcome is an inspiration to sports fans and readers who love a good story.

As a former county player, Andrew Murtagh is often asked,'who is the best batsman he has ever played with or against?'His answer is always unequivocal—'Richards.'And then comes the inevitable rider—'Barry, that is, not Viv.'It is a travesty that the cricket world has largely forgotten Barry Richards—a cricketing genius. Debuting for South Africa in 1970, his run-scoring, technique, and audacious, extravagant strokeplay took the breath away. A glittering international career beckoned. However, the apartheid storm burst, and Richards had played his first and last Test series. Consigned to plying his trade for Hampshire, Natal, and South Australia, Richards became increasingly frustrated and disenchanted with the game he had loved. Following retirement, personal tragedy and professional controversy continued to stalk him, though he has now come to an uneasy acceptance that he will be forever known as the genius lost to Test cricket.

Stoddy's Mission is the story of the sensational First Great Test Series between Australia and England. No cricket tour book has been delayed as long as this one (just on 100 years) and no Test series has better deserved a chronicle in book form. This is the story of the First Great Test Series between Australia and England. AE Stoddart and his team sailed to Australia late in 1894 and played five sensational Test matches against Australia. With the teams level at 2-all before the decisive Melbourne Test in March 1895, public interest was frantic. Without the benefit of television or radio broadcasts, cricket-lovers in Melbourne crowded outside the offices of the Argus and Australasian as they tried to catch a glimpse of the score on the progress board. It's said that even Queen Victoria demanded to be kept up to date with events during the'match of the century'.No cricket tour book has been delayed as long as this one (just on 100 years) and no Test series has better deserved a chronicle in book form. Highly-respected cricket author and magazine editor David Frith brings back vividly the action in those five Tests and the personalities of the Australian and English cricketers who made them so exciting. Widely acknowledged as one of the game's leading researchers and historians, David Frith is also a fine writer, and the result is a book which recaptures the freshness of a memorable tour as though it took place only yesterday.

No season exerts a grip on the hearts of English cricket followers quite like the summer of 1981. For the first time in a generation, the whole country was transfixed by a Test series. What made it all the more remarkable was that the fortunes of the national team, not to mention those of the game in general and the country itself, seemed at rock bottom.During the course of an Ashes series that shifted from the mundane to the fantastical with breathtaking speed, the third Test at Headingley proved to be the turning-point. Amid record unemployment and the worst outbreak of civil unrest in a century, England, 500-1 against at one stage (odds taken by two members of the Australian team), achieved the most improbable sporting triumph of the 20th century, mounting a dramatic comeback to beat Australia by 18 runs. The names of Ian Botham, Bob Willis and Mike Brearley duly became forever entwined with what readers of the Observer recently voted'Most Memorable Sporting Moment'.500-1 recreates the match with the aid of those who were there - players, officials, groundstaff, spectators and media - while placing events in their full context, tracing a timeless tale in rich, vivid and unprecedented detail.As the thirtieth anniversary approaches, 500-1: The Miracle of Headingley has been fully updated to reflect the impact that Test had on the game and those who watched it, at a time of struggle in both the game and society as a whole.

An essential biography of a cricketing great, exploring his achievements as a player, manager and political activist.This ground-breaking biography of Sir Clyde Walcott explores the extraordinary life and achievements of a man who was both an important activist and one of the greatest cricketers of all time.In the 1950s Walcott was part of the legendary ‘three Ws'batting triumvirate with Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell that helped give West Indies cricket a new identity distinct from its colonial past. After test cricket he became a prominent administrator and advocate of Black consciousness, managing the great West Indies teams that dominated the sport in the 1980s. A vocal supporter of using cricket to apply pressure to the South African apartheid regime, in 1992 he became chairman of the International Cricket Council – the first Black man in that influential role.Shining a light on Walcott's largely ignored part in effecting change through the vehicle of cricket, this book also shows how he contributed to dramatic social transformation in Guyana as cricket and social organiser for the country's sugar estates from 1954 to 1970, bringing about improvements in the living conditions and self-esteem of plantation workers while promoting the emergence of several world-class cricketers from a previously neglected corner of the Caribbean.

The master cricket writer on the battle between two cricket superpowers: Australia and India.FEATURES A PREVIEW TO THE 2024-25 BORDER-GAVASKAR TROPHY'This rivalry has got bigger and bigger. It's not just Australia and India. The entire cricketing world is watching.'– Ravi ShastriCricket superpowers Australia and India share a unique rivalry that has produced some of the greatest – and most heated – battles the game has seen. In Indian Summers bestselling author and journalist Gideon Haigh has captured a century of fierce competition between the two nations, from Bradman versus Hazare through to Warne versus Tendulkar to Cummins versus Kohli, from 1986's unforgettable tied Test in Chennai to 2021's Indian coup in Brisbane. He relives the titanic struggles of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the World Test Championship, the ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup, and explores the near-mystical bond of two countries divided by a common game.From over three decades of covering cricket's greatest matches, Gideon Haigh has brought together a collection from this most glorious cricketing contest and its most infamous moments, from colonial times to the present day.'As a cricket writer Gideon Haigh has few peers, past or present... a class act.'– Sydney Morning Herald'The Bradman of cricket writing'–Sunday Telegraph'The finest cricket writer alive'– The Australian'Australia's finest writer on cricket'– The Times'The world's greatest living cricket writer'– The Guardian

Playing to Fix tells the story of a group of Dubai street cricketers who chased down the dream of international cricket, working their way from dusty, tape-ball cricket on desert pitches to the international stage and almost reaching the pinnacle of world cricket... only to throw it all away by being drawn into the murky world of match fixing. This is the story of the United Arab Emirates team, who were on the brink of qualifying for the 2019 T20 World Cup in England. Instead of making it to the finals, a number of the players were seduced by the illegal betting syndicates operating across in the Indian subcontinent. They fell from the incredible high of competing against – and in some cases beating – the world's best cricketers, to the shattering low of being caught by the ICC's anti-corruption unit for match fixing, resulting in lengthy bans and a very public humiliation. With unprecedented insight and access to those fighting to rid cricket of fixing, experienced cricket writer and award-winning journalist Paul Radley lifts the lid on this incredible story. He explains how cricket's ruling bodies caught the cheats; details the secret meeting on a Dubai beach, which descended into chaos, violence and ultimately saw the team drawn into the scandal; and tells a story so bizarre it includes bogus sponsors, Siberian huskies, the team being evicted from a hotel and a cross-border search for an AWOL wicketkeeper.

Lost Cricket Stickers brings you the inside story of the 1983 cricket season, locating lost heroes and discovering their journeys with the help of a Panini sticker album.1983 was a pivotal year for cricket. India won the World Cup and England lost to New Zealand at home, both for the first time. There was a 35-minute century and a 14 all out. Yorkshire came bottom of the Championship (and won the John Player League), while South Africa tour rebels, banned from playing for England, dominated the county game. Thatcher won a landslide election victory post-Falklands.This is a warm, funny and insightful tale of tracking down a fondly remembered player from each county, each with his unique take on then and now. The book is based on the only cricket sticker album of the era.Four decades on, the county game has transformed. The Hundred and video analysis have replaced the John Player League and pub sessions after a long day in the field. But is that for better or worse?

From Azeem to Ashes charts the last, miserable days of Joe Root's captaincy in early 2022 through to the T20 World Cup victory before the breathless Bazball Ashes finale at the Oval. It's a book written for cricket lovers by a cricket lover, with voices from clubs, the boardroom and the commentary box. September 2020: cricket is in the headlines for the first time since the 2005 Ashes. But the focus is racism, not runs or wickets. Azeem Rafiq's treatment has ignited fierce debate about prejudice and class. The book never ducks uncomfortable questions posed by the Rafiq affair. Why do England's cricket teams - men's and women's - look so unlike the nation they represent? How can grassroots participation be developed and preserved? In the franchise-driven, global circus of modern cricket, what place is there for Tests - or even 50-over games? From Azeem to Ashes takes a hard-nosed but affectionate and humorous look at cricket. It's a book written for those who want to protect its future.

An Unusual Celebrity: The Many Cricketing Lives of Bill Bowes is the inspiring story of one of English cricket's most popular personalities, who dedicated his life to the game from the 1920s to the 1980s.An often devastating bowler for Yorkshire in the 1930s, Bowes was a crucial part of one of the greatest ever county teams. He bowled Bradman first ball during the famous'Bodyline'series but was tainted for some by his regular use of the'bumper'.Tall, unathletic, modest and playing in glasses, Bowes did not fit the mould of the typical opening bowler. Captured in North Africa in 1942, he spent three years in prisoner-of-war camps, and helped others through the ordeal. On release, he played for two more seasons before serving as a respected and forthright journalist for 25 years.A man of many talents, as part of the Yorkshire coaching staff, he nurtured Fred Trueman and Brian Close, but he was also a broadcaster and popular public speaker, while his other interests included magic and film-making.

The most famous sports book in the world, Wisden Cricketers'Almanack has been published every year since 1864. The selected writings from the 161st edition contained in this eBook offer trenchant opinion, compelling features and an authoritative voice on the worldwide game.The Shorter Wisden is a distillation of what's best in its bigger brother – and the 2024 edition of Wisden is crammed, as ever, with the best writing in the game. Wisden's digital version includes the influential Notes by the Editor, and all the front-of-book articles. In essence, The Shorter Wisden is a glass of the finest champagne rather than the whole bottle. In an age of snap judgments, Wisden's authority and integrity are more important than ever. Yet again this year's edition is truly a “must-have” for every cricket fan.@WisdenAlmanack

Cricket's Hard Men takes an innovative look at character, psychology and mental health in cricket to produce a fascinating study of the sport's toughest players.So, what actually constitutes a hard man of cricket? The truth is there is no simple definition. Whether it's resilience to defy injury from players like Kepler Wessels, Mike Atherton and Allan Border; sheer physicality from cricketer turned cage fighter Adam Hollioake; the bloody-mindedness to snub tradition by Douglas Jardine and John Reid; a chest-thumping need from Arjuna Ranatunga to show pride for a flag that had a reputation of being soft in the cricket world; or the blind courage of Brian Close, each player has his own unique story, told here through in-depth research and exclusive interviews.The author consulted prominent ex-cricketers and broadcasters before studying this select band, from Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

A social media trial can break you. There were 100,000 tweets of abuse for days on end, all premised on a set of untruths pushed by someone hugely powerful because he had played for the national team. Against the entitled, I never stood a chance. The online trial forced me and the family to draw on every last bit of inner strength, and yet left permanent scars. Having served the ban, I wanted closure in the form of this book. But no one knows better that there will never be a full stop. I will not get back the two years of opportunities that I lost, or the days and evenings when I was almost a stranger to my daughter. For two years, my wife and I never had a quiet dinner where we could just relax. There was not one evening when we didn't discuss the issue and the book. Which outsider can quantify the impact it had on the mental health of my family? On my wife, my mother, my sister and my daughter? I became cynical about a number of things, and it will be tough to change that. Writing this book and putting the truth out there has drained and exhausted me. The truth is that the falsehoods piled up against me, ratified by all-knowing social media trolls, changed my life and that of my family. There is no going back to what we were. This was our Long Covid.

Cricket's Hard Men takes an innovative look at character, psychology and mental health in cricket to produce a fascinating study of the sport's toughest players.So, what actually constitutes a hard man of cricket? The truth is there is no simple definition. Whether it's resilience to defy injury from players like Kepler Wessels, Mike Atherton and Allan Border; sheer physicality from cricketer turned cage fighter Adam Hollioake; the bloody-mindedness to snub tradition by Douglas Jardine and John Reid; a chest-thumping need from Arjuna Ranatunga to show pride for a flag that had a reputation of being soft in the cricket world; or the blind courage of Brian Close, each player has his own unique story, told here through in-depth research and exclusive interviews.The author consulted prominent ex-cricketers and broadcasters before studying this select band, from Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Cricket was once used as a tool to colonise. What happens when those countries grow up? Overthrowing Cricket's Empire unearths the audacious stories of teams toppling the cricket colossus, England. From W. G. Grace's Ashes-igniting run-out to Calum MacLeod's modern heroics, the book spans 150 years of fierce history. New Zealand's unexpected draws in 1949, Zimbabwe's poultry farmer heroics, Ireland's audacious chase and hair, India's elephantine triumph and South Africa's spin saga are all etched in defiance. This is a book about a bunch of Davids taking on Goliath. Every chapter has tales of the greatest English players and the men who stood up to slay them. The narrative transcends sport – a testament to resilience and national identity. Amid victories, there's human drama. Overthrowing Cricket's Empire isn't just about cricket; it's an odyssey of liberation, the essence of competition. Cricket is a sport that builds nations, and this book takes you through it brick by brick.

WINNER OF THE CRICKET WRITERS'CLUB DEREK HODGSON BOOK OF THE YEARLONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2024'This entertaining book is gripping reading for any cricket buff'Sunday Times'An epic contest superbly retold... a fascinating slice of social history, it is a spellbinding read'Vic Marks'You should go out and buy it now, because the book is brilliant'SpectatorDavid Kynaston and Harry Ricketts relive the compelling story of a gripping Ashes-deciding Test match that heralded the dawn of an new era for English cricket.The Ashes are on the line as England and Australia meet at Old Trafford in July 1961 for the fourth Test. For most of the match, England have their noses ahead – until a dramatic final day, of intensely fluctuating fortunes, as the tourists eventually storm to victory. In short, an Ashes classic, told here by David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts in vivid and immersive detail, recreating the sometimes agonising experience of millions of armchair viewers and listeners.At the heart of Richie Benaud's Blue Suede Shoes are two strikingly contrasting personalities: England's captain, the Cambridge-educated, risk-averse, establishment-minded Peter May; and Australia's captain, the charismatic, risk-taking, open-minded Benaud – a contrast not only between two individuals, but between two cricketing and indeed national cultures. Whereas Benaud and Australia symbolised a new, meritocratic era, May and England seemed, in what was still an amateur-dominated game, to look back to an old imperial legacy out of sync with the dawning Sixties.The sharply observed final chapters take the story up to the present day. They relate the'after-lives'of the match's key participants, including Ted Dexter, Bill Lawry and Fred Trueman as well as May and Benaud; trace the continuing chequered relationship between English cricket and broader social change; and, after six more decades of fierce Ashes rivalry, wrestle with the perennial conundrum for all England supporters – why do the baggy green caps usually beat us?

An Unusual Celebrity: The Many Cricketing Lives of Bill Bowes is the inspiring story of one of English cricket's most popular personalities, who dedicated his life to the game from the 1920s to the 1980s. An often devastating bowler for Yorkshire in the 1930s, Bowes was a crucial part of one of the greatest ever county teams. He bowled Bradman first ball during the famous'Bodyline'series but was tainted for some by his regular use of the'bumper'. Tall, unathletic, modest and playing in glasses, Bowes did not fit the mould of the typical opening bowler. Captured in North Africa in 1942, he spent three years in prisoner-of-war camps, and helped others through the ordeal. On release, he played for two more seasons before serving as a respected and forthright journalist for 25 years. A man of many talents, as part of the Yorkshire coaching staff, he nurtured Fred Trueman and Brian Close, but he was also a broadcaster and popular public speaker, while his other interests included magic and film-making.

Forgotten Pioneers tells the extraordinary tale of the world's first professional women cricketers. Founded in 1890, the'Original English Lady Cricketers'played exhibition matches all over Britain. Enormous crowds flocked to see them and sceptical journalists were gradually won over by their obvious skill. However, the women were more than just cricketers: most evenings, they performed in local theatres and music halls, singing, dancing, fencing and putting on acrobatic displays. But after their triumphant first season, something went wrong; midway through 1891 the organisation collapsed acrimoniously. Although poor weather and changes in personnel played a part, there was a strong suspicion of fraud by the team's (largely male) managers. A court case followed in 1892 and the OELC vanished from the headlines. As women's cricket continues to reach new heights in the 21st century, this book tells the story of the forerunners of today's professional stars.

Cricket in Poetry tells the fascinating story of cricket's strong ties with poetry. It may be cricket's rural origins, its slow pace or the literary ambitions of its aristocratic patrons, but the game has inspired more poetry than any other. Some of it is moving, some is funny, and some is arch and clunky. Two poems stand out: Vitai Lampada and At Lord's. Both were penned by the sons of prosperous families. One poet, Henry Newbolt, was a toff. The other, Francis Thompson, was a religious writer and Jack the Ripper suspect. While the two were growing up, county cricket was coming of age. The book charts the game's early days from the countryside of the south to the industrial towns and cities of the Midlands and the north. It recalls the famous matches, W.G. Grace and Gloucestershire on their first visit to Old Trafford and the first Ashes Test. And it celebrates the heroes, from Hornby and Barlow to Ranjitsinhji and the great victory calypsos of those'two little pals', Ramadhin and Valentine.

Batting for Time: The Fight to Keep English Cricket Alive is the exploration of a sport in existential crisis. In a rapidly changing sporting and social landscape, county cricket - an institution whose history spans more than 150 years - finds itself confronted with the most uncertain period in its long history. The proliferation of lucrative global franchise leagues has threatened to leave behind a member-owned English structure deep-rooted in the Victorian era. Pitting traditionalists against modernisers, and romantics against pragmatists, the need for change has sparked a host of civil wars, creating deep divisions among those who care for the English game.Using the 2023 season as a backdrop, Batting for Time explores the precarious state of English cricket, asking what it is we expect from our domestic game, who it primarily exists for and where things might go in the future. What must English cricket do to survive?

'The definitive telling of the life of a West Indian hero'Sir Clive Lloyd The brilliant all-rounder Frank Worrell had to wait until 1960 to become the first permanent Black captain of the West Indies cricket team, denied for a decade by the elitism, insularity and racism of Caribbean cricket's rulers. When his chance finally came, Worrell transformed a talented but unfocused team into the most exciting side in the world and led his men into unforgettable series against Australia and England. Worrell was universally admired as one of cricket's great captains when he was knighted in 1964, but three years later, he was dead aged just forty-two. Not merely an extraordinarily talented and record-breaking sportsman, he served the University of the West Indies after his retirement – along with the cricket team and the political federation, one of the three truly unifying elements across a fractious and diverse region. This biography, by the author of the acclaimed Fire in Babylon and with a foreword by Sir Clive Lloyd, is the definitive telling of Frank Worrell's life and legacy. It reveals how an upbringing in Barbados, cricketing adventures around the world and a determination not to be cowed by the powers that ran island cricket, shaped a great West Indian cricketer into a great West Indian, who changed the game forever.

The story and history of The Baggy Green – Australia's premier sporting icon.The baggy green cap worn by Australian Test players is an icon. It's the pride of Australian cricket. With the face of the game everchanging, the wearing of the baggy green has always been the pinnacle for Australian players. The baggy green cap is revered by everyone with a connection to Australian cricket. The Baggy Green book charts its evolution with reflections from many past and present Test players. It explores the cap's history, mystique and worth, with insight from the sport's greatest figures, museums and leading auction houses.

The ‘faces on a wall'in this book are Northamptonshire's captains since 1878, whose portraits appear together in the pavilion at Wantage Road. An astonishingly diverse bunch, they represent the changing face of the county game over the past century and a half.As cricketers, they range from cheerfully hopeless to solidly competent, to world-beating. As characters they are an astoundingly varied group, encompassing a peer who went bankrupt, the husband of a famous artist's favourite model, an England football international, an outstanding bowler (but with woods and jack), a gallant leader who died on active service, the man who revitalised both Northamptonshire and England teams after the Second World War and the shrewd skipper described by Mike Selvey as the best county leader of his time.This book reflects the unique flavour of county cricket and the remarkable assortment of individuals who have led Northamptonshire over nearly a century and a half.

Set during Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket revolution, this book tells the story of the Australian Test cricketers plucked from the backwaters of the domestic game to take on full-strength international sides.Some became cricketing greats. Others were lost in the footnotes of history. But all have important stories to share.From 1977/78 to the reconciliation, two Australian sides competed in parallel universes: World Series Cricket's glamorous rock star realm and the attritional reality of Test cricket fought by predominantly younger, poorly paid men honouring the baggy green. Friendships were broken, and new bonds formed, as the public first sided with the traditional game before backing World Series Cricket in greater numbers.Kerry Packer eventually won the cricketing war. However, Test cricket survived because of those who carried the Australian banner for the game. These players became known as the'Establishment Boys'and until now they have barely been acknowledged.

Late in 1930, a cricket team from the West Indies visited Australia for the first time. It arrived at precisely the time when Australia's modern iconography was being forged: Don Bradman was in the ascendant, Phar Lap dominated the racetrack, Nellie Melba returned home, Charles Kingsford Smith was breaking aviation records and the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was nearing completion. A Long Way to Go follows the tourists'journey around this vast, unfamiliar country - which, battered by the Great Depression, may have been sliding into social and political chaos, but still managed to field the world's most formidable cricket team.

Cricket was once used as a tool to colonise. What happens when those countries grow up? Overthrowing the Empire at Cricket unearths the audacious stories of teams toppling the cricket colossus, England.From W.G. Grace's Ashes-igniting run-out to Calum MacLeod's modern heroics, the book spans 150 years of fierce history. New Zealand's unexpected draws in 1949, Zimbabwe's poultry farmer heroics, Ireland's audacious chase and hair, India's elephantine triumph and South Africa's spin saga are all etched in defiance.This is a book about a bunch of Davids taking on Goliath. Every chapter has tales of the greatest English players and the men who stood up to slay them. The narrative transcends sport - a testament to resilience and national identity. Amid victories, there's human drama.Overthrowing the Empire at Cricket isn't just about cricket; it's an odyssey of liberation, the essence of competition. Cricket is a sport that builds nations, and this book takes you through it brick by brick.

The Cricketers of 1945 is the compelling, poignant, and above all human, story of the reawakening of English cricket in the immediate aftermath of the world's most destructive war.The book brings to life the summer's Victory Tests, played on home soil between England and Australia, as well as the personal stories of the players and their families, plus those of some of the hundreds of thousands of spectators who flocked to the matches to celebrate the return of something approaching normal life after the ordeal and sacrifice of the war years.This vivid account is illuminated by fresh archival research, encompassing the diaries and personal letters of both cricketers and cricket lovers, giving the reader a strong sense of what it was like to be alive at this unique time as much of the world awoke, or was still awakening, from the nightmare ordeal of the long years of conflict.

CRICKET LEGEND. WARTIME HERO. FOOTBALL STAR. WILD MAN.'McKinstry's biography will fascinate cricket lovers'– THE TIMES'An eye-popping biography'– DAILY MAIL'This meticulously researched biography reveals the man behind the controversy in glorious detail. An exquisite read'– THE SUNBill Edrich's story is one of cricket victories, explosive controversies, wartime glory and a life lived to the fullest.571 first-class matches from 1934 to 1958. 36,965 runs. 29th on all-time lists. 86 centuries. 479 wickets. Bill Edrich was one of the biggest cricket stars of his time along with Denis Compton and Len Hutton. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1940 and played football for Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur during the 1930s.In the first biography for 30 years, award-winning writer Leo McKinstry recounts Edrich's audacity both as a cricketer and an RAF pilot. Edrich's flying prowess brought him a promotion to Squadron Leader and won him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) after his part in a courageous daylight raid over Cologne in August 1941.The same action-filled intensity applied to his turbulent private life. A man of keen amorous enthusiasms, he was married five times but rarely allowed his ardour to be inhibited by any wedding vows. Equally unrestrained was his fondness for alcohol and partying, though this trait brought him into conflict with both the cricket and the judicial authorities. After one particularly exuberant display of intoxication during a home Test match, he even lost his place in the England team, only to return for the famous Ashes triumph of 1953.A history of cricket victories, explosive controversies, wartime glory and a life lived to the fullest, this compelling biography reveals the story of one of cricketing's greatest characters.

As a bowler with Warwickshire, he was tipped to play Test cricket for England. An ambition that was killed by coaches who tampered with his bowling action. With the result that, within months, he went from an England contender to free transfer. Steve recalls that time of his life with no bitterness – just humour and gratitude at playing when county cricket was filled with the world's best. If his derailed career was a test, a much bigger one lay ahead. A Cricket Man is more than a cricket book, it is also a love story and a life story. Perryman became a fine bowling coach, helping Warwickshire to the Championship title. Always beside him, inspiring him was his beloved wife Carol. She was his cornerstone… until their lives were turned upside down when Carol was diagnosed with cancer, and she passed away in 2018. Perryman recounts that heartbreaking time in his life, in powerful chapters where his sadness is underpinned by strength, and heartbreak is accompanied by joy at having shared so much of his life with Carol. An ultimately uplifting story is complete when Steve finds a new love. A Cricket Man will resonate with cricket fans – especially Warwickshire supporters who remember Steve as a promising young bowler – but ultimately it's an inspiring human tale, packed with love and filled with emotion.

Almost Invincible is the story of the West Indies in the 1980s, one of the greatest teams in Test cricket history, at their brilliant best.During the English summer of 1984, captain Clive Lloyd had an array of all-time greats within the ranks, including Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Desmond Haynes, Joel Garner, Jeffrey Dujon and others.Facing an England team in transition but still possessing skipper David Gower, star all-rounder Ian Botham and the in-form batsman Allan Lamb, the West Indies followed a series victory over Australia with a 5-0 win in England, a series that was famously nicknamed the'Blackwash'.The book examines all the side-stories connected with the tour - from the ridiculously frenetic schedule to the closely fought one-day series, from the county tour matches to the intricate details of the five Tests. Author Richard Sydenham has spoken to many of the central characters and reflects on the tour's legacy, both in cricket and social terms.

Yorkshire Grit: The Life of Ray Illingworth is a fascinating account of one of English cricket's most outstanding figures told by award-winning writer Mark Peel. Raised in the harsh world of Yorkshire cricket, Illingworth's all-round ability and tactical acumen made him an indispensable member of their great sides of the 1950s and 60s. Leaving Yorkshire in 1968, he went on to captain Leicestershire to unprecedented success, and also became one of England's finest captains and the first man since Douglas Jardine nearly 40 years earlier to regain the Ashes in Australia. Yet for all his success on the field, Illingworth's attritional tactics and refusal to compromise made him a controversial figure. His return to Yorkshire as manager was marred by a clash with Geoff Boycott, while his time as England's chairman of selectors and manager saw clashes with Mike Atherton and other top players. In this first biography of Illingworth for nearly 50 years, Peel reappraises a dominant personality who never shied away from controversy.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 – CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE CRICKET SOCIETY AND MCC BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024'The gripping story of England's transformation from prissy blockers to double world champions'The Times'A must-read for any cricket lover'Nasser Hussain, Former England captain and Sky Sports commentatorThe inside story of how England became the first men's team to hold both of cricket's World Cups simultaneously, from the players and key people involved.When England lifted the T20 World Cup in November 2022, they became the first ever men's team to be One-Day International and Twenty20 world champions simultaneously. In English sport, triumphs aren't just rare – they also tend to be followed by a collapse. England's white-ball cricket side was different: a team that followed scaling the summit by doing so again. They became, as Australia's captain put it, “the benchmark” for the rest of the world. White Hot tells the full story of how England built one of the most extraordinary sides ever seen in limited-overs cricket. First in 2019 and then in 2022, they produced a series of mesmerising performances to win two World Cups. It is a story of the vision and strategy that underpinned England's transformation from white-ball stragglers into a side at the very cutting edge of their sport. It is a story of a golden generation, and the development of a system that passed on those values to the players that came next. And it is a story of how a conservative sporting culture shed its inhibitions to become a hub of innovation where players were free to be aggressive - even in the most important games. Featuring exclusive interviews with players at the heart of the 2019 World Cup win, including Joe Root and Jason Roy; the 2022 World Cup victory, like Harry Brook, Sam Curran and Alex Hales; and double world champions including Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood. With insight from coaches and administrators, including Trevor Bayliss, Rob Key, Matthew Mott and Andrew Strauss, it reveals how England changed their culture, attitude to unorthodoxy and approach to risk forever. White Hot examines this incredible journey in forensic detail. This is captivating reading for cricket fans - and anyone who wants to understand how a floundering team can become record-breakers.

The most famous sports book in the world, Wisden Cricketers'Almanack has been published every year since 1864. The selected writings from the 160th edition contained in this eBook offer trenchant opinion, compelling features and an authoritative voice on the worldwide game.The Shorter Wisden is a compelling distillation of what's best in its bigger brother – and the 2023 edition of Wisden is crammed, as ever, with the best writing in the game. Wisden's digital version includes the influential Notes by the Editor, and all the front-of-book articles.In an age of snap judgments, Wisden's authority and integrity are more important than ever. Yet again this year's edition is truly a “must-have” for every cricket fan. In essence, The Shorter Wisden is a glass of the finest champagne rather than the whole bottle.@WisdenAlmanack

A great cricket series, as reported by a great cricket writer. High hopes were held for the Ashes of 2023. They were exceeded in an instant classic of five Tests between a bold England and a battling Australia, finally drawn two-all. Ashes 2023 captures all the drama and skill, as well as the controversy over a stumping at Lord's that followed in the tradition of Bodyline as a clash of cultures and of stereotypes. With a foot in both camps, Gideon Haigh wrote for The Australian in Australia and The Times in the UK. This book mixes his popular match reports with new material to create a priceless memento of an unforgettable series.

Nothing compares to the Ashes. The Ashes is always coming, even when it is finished. The Ashes is where hope, expectation, magic and chagrin flourish in equal measure, and performance is permanently burnished.'The best cricket writer in the world'Guardian'The Bradman of cricket writing'Sunday Telegraph'The finest cricket writer alive'The Australian'Australia's finest writer on cricket'The Times'The most gifted cricket essayist of his generation'Richard Williams, Guardian In On The Ashes, Gideon Haigh, today's pre-eminent cricket writer, has captured over a century and a half of Anglo-Australian cricket, from WG Grace to Don Bradman, from Bodyline to Jim Laker's 19-wicket match, from Ian Botham's miracle at Headingley to the phenomena of Patrick Cummins and Ben Stokes, today's Ashes captains. From over three decades of covering The Ashes, Gideon has brought together an enduring vision of this timeless contest between Australia and England - the world's oldest sporting rivalry - from the colonial era to the present day.

When New Zealand beat India to win the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 it was more than a David v Goliath for the sport, it was the culmination of the greatest era in the country's cricket history.Since the turn of the century the Black Caps, despite the country's tiny playing pool compared to most of the cricketplaying world, have produced an outsized number of brilliant and influential players.In this book, long-time cricket journalist Dylan Cleaver dives deep into the best players of the era, from the elegant and erudite Cantabrian Stephen Fleming to the fire-breathing and bustling Neil Wagner, a Black Cap legend despite his highveld upbringing.These are the modern greats of New Zealand cricket.Stephen Fleming, Tim Southee, Nathan Astle, Martin Guptill, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Shane Bond, Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum, Trent Boult, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Tom Latham.

Award-winning cricket writer Scyld Berry brings us a heartfelt celebration of what county cricket has been for more than a hundred years - an integral part of English life.Drawing on 60 years'experience of watching county cricket, the author provides an in-depth profile of each of the 18 first-class counties, delving into the past to explore how the game took off, in no small part thanks to the legendary W.G. Grace.With change and possible existential threat looming in the shape of The Hundred franchise, and the proliferation of T20 tournaments around the world, the England and Wales Cricket Board is looking to cut the County Championship to just ten games per season.There's never been a more pertinent time to unpick the workings of this centuries-old institution and examine why its survival is so important.

All-India and Down-Under is the dramatic story of two cricket tours undertaken in the aftermath of the Second World War. For seven years the war had put the careers of England's cricketers on hold. Then, in 1946, England played three Tests against ‘ All-India'. However, it proved to be the last such tour: by mid-1947, Indian partition had cut the country in two, a process that was violent and bloody. While the tourists were in England, struggling in a cold, wet summer, their own country was in turmoil. As that tour drew to a close in September, the MCC sent a party of war-weary cricketers to Australia to play the first Ashes series since 1938. The English were ill-prepared, some scarcely out of uniform, while others carried the physical and mental scars of the war years. For the aging captain, Walter Hammond, it would prove a tour too far. The book follows the cricketing drama of both tours amid the political uncertainty of the time, with a Labour government struggling to disentangle Britain from its Empire.

Gilly: The Turbulent Life of Roy Gilchrist is the tragic account of a cricket meteor who crashed to earth all too quickly because of his flawed temperament. Born into grinding poverty in rural Jamaica in 1934, Gilchrist's prowess as a phenomenal fast bowler quickly gained him international recognition, but the failure to curb his unstable temperament saw him sent home from the West Indies tour of India in 1959 for dangerous bowling. A victim of the class-ridden clique that ran West Indies cricket, Gilchrist hardly helped his cause by refusing to alter his aggressive demeanour. Excessive gamesmanship and constant fights on and off the field, culminating in a prison sentence for attacking his wife with a hot iron, not only put paid to any hopes of reviving his Test career; it also tainted his reputation irrevocably. Sadly, he lived his final years as a pauper afflicted by disease.

Cricket World Cup: The Indian Challenge is a complete match by- match catalogue of India in the Cricket World Cup with scorecards. It details the little-known story of India's turning point-a victory in March 1983 over the then invincible West Indies in Guyana, before Kapil Dev's team sensationally lifted the World Cup three months later. It relives India's forgotten triumph in the 1985 World Championship in Australia. It depicts how Sachin Tendulkar inspired Yuvraj Singh to perform at his best in India's successful campaign in the 2011 World Cup.And why the Indians disappointed in 2015 and 2019, but have home advantage in 2023.

The master cricket writer on the greatest sporting contest of all.'[Haigh's] books are prized, and his latest, On The Ashes, would surely make a fine gift for a cricket tragic'- The Australian'As a cricket writer Gideon Haigh has few peers, past or present. This cameo history of the Ashes (drawn from years of writing) confirms his standing as a class act.'- Sydney Morning HeraldFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ON WARNENothing compares to the Ashes. The Ashes is always coming, even when it is finished. The Ashes is where hope, expectation, magic and chagrin flourish in equal measure, and performance is permanently burnished.In On the Ashes, today's pre-eminent cricket writer Gideon Haigh has captured over a century and a half of Anglo-Australian cricket, from W. G. Grace to Don Bradman, from Bodyline to Laker's Match, from Botham's Miracle at Headingley to the phenomena of Patrick Cummins and Ben Stokes, today's Ashes captains.From over three decades of covering the Ashes, Gideon has brought together an enduring vision of this timeless contest between Australia and England—the world's oldest sporting rivalry—from the colonial era to the present day.Praise for Gideon Haigh:'The Bradman of cricket writing'-Sunday Telegraph'The finest cricket writer alive'-The Australian'Australia's finest writer on cricket'-The Times'The world's greatest living cricket writer'-The Guardian'The most gifted cricket essayist of his generation'- Richard Williams

WINNER OF THE MCC / CRICKET SOCIETY BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER OF THE HEARTACHES'CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK THE YEAR AWARD An England cricket tour is a unique phenomenon, with its own pressures, challenges and remarkable highlights. It presents its participants - shorn of the usual support networks they enjoy at home - with a prolonged test of skill, physical stamina and mental resilience. Now Simon Wilde, author of the acclaimed England: The Biography, examines in The Tour the delicate chemistry that makes for a successful tour and why others disintegrate so badly. Since the 19th century, England has been sending its cricket teams around the world to take on their rivals. Initially, these trips were undertaken by boat, meaning players could be away for many months, often in alien conditions. With air travel reducing journey time and facilities much improved, the challenges still remain: homesickness, isolation, hostile crowds - not to mention an opposition determined to win at all costs. For some, the experience can be too much, while others thrive in the heat and dust of battle.The Tour looks at all aspects of the history of England's cricketers abroad, including the burden placed on the captain, who is expected to combine on-field acumen with the deft touch of an ambassador off it. There have been diplomatic incidents aplenty, from Douglas Jardine's Bodyline tactics to Len Hutton's tour of the Caribbean, as well as the special pressures of playing in countries such as India and Pakistan during periods of unrest. Touring has never lost its romance. There have been serious scrapes, from court cases to car crashes, but also much fun, whether joining in with the Barmy Army or David Gower famously taking a Tiger Moth for a spin. Wilde explains how this seemingly anachronistic activity has been adapted from an instrument of imperial soft power to a relentless cricket circus that never ends. Simon Wilde has once again created a masterpiece of insight, information and entertainment, an aspect of cricketing life that few will ever forget: the tour.

Shane Warne, who died in 2022, is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest cricketers of all time – and the greatest spin bowler ever. Warne in Wisden records the highlights of an exceptional career – handpicked from all Wisden publications over more than 30 years and curated for a global audience.Warne in Wisden features coverage from Warne's first Test against India in 1992 – where he took one wicket – to his retirement from Test cricket in 2007, having taken 708 Test wickets. It includes complete reports and scorecards for key Tests, as well as Wisden's assessment of his impact on the English county game and the Indian Premier League, and his journey from master spinner to global celebrity.Warne combined a prodigious talent for leg-spin with a turbulent life off the pitch. While Wisden's focus was generally on his cricket, Warne in Wisden also relates the controversies and rows that earned him a occasional mention in the Chronicle section of the book.Wisden's authoritative and independent voice/writing provides a unique insight into one of the most discussed cricketers in history.Warne in Wisden includes:Cricketer of the Year by Vic Marks, 1994'A Spin-Doctor Writes'by Ashley Mallett, 1997Five Cricketers of the Century, 2000-13Leading Cricketer in the World, 2004-2005'The mighty craftsman'by Mike Atherton 2007'The Ashes Masters'by David Frith 2009The ebbs and flows of Warne's 21­-year­-long careerHis obituary and related articles from Wisden Cricketers'Almanack 2023Scorecards of his most significant Test matchesColour plate section

For more than two generations of Indians, and cricket fans from elsewhere, Sachin Tendulkar is a name that opened doors and hearts wherever you were on the planet. Even in the days before the social media revolution, Sachin was a truly global icon. It didn't matter if you were in Sydney or South Africa, Kolkata or Kingston, Sachin's name was a conversation starter. The teenage wonder who exploded into the global consciousness with his bloodied nose in Pakistan in 1989, before becoming the greatest batting sensation ever, transcended the boundaries of sport. As with Jesse Owens, Ali, Pele and Maradona, Sachin's role in making Indian cricket a household phenomenon globally can never be underestimated. It was not just the runs he scored. It was the manner in which he scored them – with matchless flair, scoring 100 international hundreds in the process. How do we celebrate Sachin on his 50th birthday? The prodigy with the baby voice, scoring hundreds in abundance with the exuberance of the teenager that he was then? The legend who won India many a close encounter? Or the genius around whom a very good Indian side was built in the 1990s? For a generation of fans who grew up in the 1980s and 90s, it was always Sachin and then daylight. Many of them have also passed on now, but the stories they shared with their children will always remain. On his 50th birthday it is time to add to these stories. The very best from India and beyond on the man they adore. Like Sachin, his stories are also immortal.

Virat Kohli, the undisputed monarch of the cricket world today, is no stranger to loss. His biggest support both on and off the field-his father Prem Kohli-succumbed to a cerebral stroke when Virat was only 18 years old. In a fitting tribute that would've made his father proud, Virat returned to the field to continue an innings just a few hours after his father passed away. In Driven, Vijay Lokapally recounts happier times in the journey of Virat's rapid rise to international stardom-an account punctuated with little-known stories from fellow players, coaches, and intimates. Virat is already the recipient of countless accolades including the Arjuna Award, the Padma Shri, India's highest sporting honour-Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, the title of BCCI's'International Cricketer of the Year'as well as the ICC's'ODI Cricketer of the Decade'. But for him, it's not about the fame or the money, or the roar of the crowds. Few know of his altruistic nature and his dedication to numerous charities for underprivileged children. What has not escaped the public eye though, is how this wizard of the willow wears his heavy mantle with such insouciant ease. In this revised and updated World Cup edition, readers can now delve deeper into Virat Kohli's cricketing journey with two new chapters, including one dedicated to his performance in the World Cups. Additionally, this edition features new images that offer a visual insight into his career, and an entertaining statistics section that provides fascinating cricketing statistics and records.

Cotton, Cricket and Football: Billy Cook, the Life of a Lancashire League Legend is the colourful story of one of Lancashire's greatest sportsmen of the pre-war era, told from the perspective of his daughter, a mill-worker in Burnley.Billy Cook played cricket in the golden era of ‘ Gentlemen and Players'but he was no gentleman. He played to win and he played for money - the money generated by the cotton mills of Lancashire.Billy played with and against some of the legends of the time, including Syd Barnes, Archie MacLaren and Learie Constantine. In the winter he was a hard-tackling full-back for Oldham Athletic, who achieved national notoriety for his win-at-all-costs approach to the game.Billy's sporting career was interrupted by his service on the Western Front, where he narrowly avoided death. He returned to the Lancashire League to set records that still stand today. Cook was the archetypal hard-nosed professional, who entertained the working men of Lancashire for more than 30 years.

A TIMES, GUARDIAN, TELEGRAPH AND WATERSTONES BEST SPORT BOOK OF THE YEAR'Gripping'Roger Alton, Sunday TimesThe inside story of how England transformed the way Test cricket is played.After one win in 17 by the start of the summer of 2022, England needed something new. For 145 years, Test cricket was played mainly in one way: batters laid a foundation before daring to attack – and, even then, only if circumstances were favourable. Bowlers tried to bowl maidens, calculating that they would eventually force an error. But the old ways weren't working.Then came'Bazball', driven by new head coach in Brendon ('Baz') McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. What followed was one of the most thrilling revolutions in any sport, as a rudderless and ridiculed England Test team became – almost overnight – cricket's most talked-about phenomenon. They embarked on a brand of Test cricket that breathed life into an ailing format, breaking records as they went on to win 11 out 13 Tests before taking on world champions Australia in a dramatic Ashes contest that ended 2–2.Lawrence Booth and Nick Hoult, two of the game's most respected writers, had a ringside seat for all the action. Their book will reveal how Bazball swept the England dressing room and transformed the team's fortunes. Told via a mixture of interviews with the protagonists and insights gathered by the authors during their own close-up reporting, Bazball is an unmissable read. As Rob Key said after he appointed McCullum:'Buckle up and get ready for the ride.'

The Last Corinthian: The Cricketing Life of MJK Smith is the story of the illustrious cricketing career of Mike Smith, one of England's most popular captains. At Oxford he broke records by scoring centuries in each of his three Varsity matches and captained the team in his final year. He was appointed captain of Warwickshire at the age of 23, and captain of England six years later. Predominantly a leg-side player, he was a prolific run scorer in county cricket, and also an outstanding fielder at short-leg. Mike played in 50 Test matches and led several successful overseas tours. His democratic approach, modesty, integrity and unfailing good humour made him one of England's most admired captains. Mike is England's only living double international, having played rugby for England against Wales in 1956. The book draws on extensive interviews with Mike to tell his story, as well as eye-witness accounts and anecdotes from former team-mates and opponents, including Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Dennis Amiss and Bob Barber.