This is a post all about cricket books - how much better can it get?!
Be warned: there are 11 books coming your way and they are all about cricket so pull up chair and enjoy!
Cricket - Know the Game
This is the 5th edition of an amazing book that introduces you to cricket, from the rules, to the skills, all the way to the equipment and training routines. The best part about it is that it is easy to understand and anybody of any age can pick it up and understand the game and how to play it. A great read if you are new to the game and want to know more.
Penguins Stopped Play - Harry Thompson
This is a novel written by an amazing cricket fan all about his trip round the world playing cricket with his team, the Captain Scott Invitation XI. The dream of a lifetime for any cricket fan: travelling round the world with your mates playing a game you love; the only catch is that you aren't very good; half your mates are desperate to try to get your whole team out so you can head to the pub and teams are no longer playing you because you are too bad. Can anything get better?
When I got this book for Christmas, I was immediately intrigued and excited and I was right to be: it's an amazing novel written by an amazing man about an amazing journey round the world. How much better can it get?!
The Wit of Cricket - Many Authors
How many times have you heard this joke: "the bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey"? In this collection of stories and jokes, there are more where that came from! Join various cricketing characters such as Henry Blofield, Brian Johnston, Shane Warne and many more. You'll find yourself on the floor with tears in your eyes laughing your head off at some of these jokes. I won't spoil it for you, but there are many hilarious mistakes from bowlers, batsmen, umpires and commentators, and they are all crammed into this book. Hilarious!
The Times - England's World Cup
This is a book that is dedicated to the Cricket World Cup 2019. With The Times newspaper articles for all 48 matches, and analysis for all of England matches, this is a book for the cricket fans who always want to relive that amazing summer.
Playfair Cricket Annual 2019 - Edited by Ian Marshall
Many cricket fans will think of Wisden when I talk about stats books however, this is just as good. With highlights from the season, all-time Ashes records, all-time records for everything and many matches from the summer, this book encompasses everything that happened in 2018. Can't wait for the 2020 edition to be released on April 1!
Test Match Special Diary
When we talk about TMS, we can expect some jokes will be involved, and sure enough, whenever Phil Tufnell and Jonathan Agnew are involved, there's more than enough laughter in this book. As we follow the team through the summer of joy, there are smiles and tears throughout the journey. An amazing read for the most avid of fans.
Now onto the biographies:
Moeen - Moeen Ali
The most wickets taken by an England spinner since Graham Swann, Moeen is one of the most successful all-round spinners in the modern game. He has been up there in the mix in the 2010s, along with the likes of Ravi Ashwin and Shakib Al Hasan. This autobiography talks through his life, starting out in Birmingham where he played with his mates in the streets, and moving to his short Warwickshire career before moving to Worcestershire and being spotted for England. A very interesting read.
Joe Root - Bringing Home the Ashes
Ever wanted to know the secret of becoming England's current test captain, taking the Ashes and being considered as one of the most dangerous batsmen in the modern game? The secret's in this book! Man of the series in the Ashes 2015, the man is 35th on the all-time test match runs list! Along with all that, he's taken 57 wickets as well! All this whilst just 29 years of age. That is impressive. Find out all about how he does it in this amazing read, including his triumphs in South Africa and just disappointment at the T20 world cup. Amazing.
Alastair Cook
When somebody talks about Ali Cook, many pictures come to mind: 5th on all-time test match runs scored ever; most prolific England test batsman; played in over 1/4 of England's test matches. However that's not the whole story. Behind an amazing batsman is also an amazing man. Even though there have been bumps in the road, he has always kept going. A truly amazing man who has done amazing things and will still be a figure for young players to look up to.
Now we come to perhaps the most well-known cricketer of the modern game: Ben Stokes. These are his books:
Firestarter
His journey started in New Zealand and, at a young age, he was into all sports. His father, Ged, was very supportive. When he moved to England, he gave up rugby league to pursue his cricketing career and boy we are glad he did! This book journeys with him across the globe and continues up until his unfortunate meeting with Carlos Braithwaite in 2016. However, let's not forget his achievements: the fastest ever hundred at Lord's; an amazing quick-fire 258 against South Africa and THAT CATCH to dismiss Adam Voges in the Ashes 2015 to produce one of the most famous poses of cricketing history. He's had many obstacles, including many meetings with Marlon Samuels, but he's pulled through and become one of England's best all-rounders ever, even being compared by many people to the great Beefy Botham. An amazing cricketer and that's not the last of him.
On Fire
If the topic of England's summer comes up, all there is to talk about is one man: Stokes. What started with an INCREDIBLE catch against South Africa in the opening match of the World Cup, to an amazing knock in the final against New Zealand (ball deflecting off bat to go for 6, whole country roars with relief) and then to go straight into a home Ashes series with Steve Smith and David Warner back from Sandpapergate, but that didn't bother him. In fact, it inspired him to go and get that 135* in Headingley, with probably Jack Leach's most important 1* that will go down in history. Ben has had a terrific summer and has followed it up with a century in South Africa in the 3rd test. There will be more to come from this incredible man.
That's all for the moment (half the readers sigh with relief) but wait! There's more! I have Shane Warne's autobiography on the shelf and have been promised Wisden 2020 when it comes out in April. So be on the lookout for future cricket posts!!!
The Times - England's World Cup
This is a book that is dedicated to the Cricket World Cup 2019. With The Times newspaper articles for all 48 matches, and analysis for all of England matches, this is a book for the cricket fans who always want to relive that amazing summer.
Playfair Cricket Annual 2019 - Edited by Ian Marshall
Many cricket fans will think of Wisden when I talk about stats books however, this is just as good. With highlights from the season, all-time Ashes records, all-time records for everything and many matches from the summer, this book encompasses everything that happened in 2018. Can't wait for the 2020 edition to be released on April 1!
Test Match Special Diary
When we talk about TMS, we can expect some jokes will be involved, and sure enough, whenever Phil Tufnell and Jonathan Agnew are involved, there's more than enough laughter in this book. As we follow the team through the summer of joy, there are smiles and tears throughout the journey. An amazing read for the most avid of fans.
Now onto the biographies:
Moeen - Moeen Ali
The most wickets taken by an England spinner since Graham Swann, Moeen is one of the most successful all-round spinners in the modern game. He has been up there in the mix in the 2010s, along with the likes of Ravi Ashwin and Shakib Al Hasan. This autobiography talks through his life, starting out in Birmingham where he played with his mates in the streets, and moving to his short Warwickshire career before moving to Worcestershire and being spotted for England. A very interesting read.
Joe Root - Bringing Home the Ashes
Ever wanted to know the secret of becoming England's current test captain, taking the Ashes and being considered as one of the most dangerous batsmen in the modern game? The secret's in this book! Man of the series in the Ashes 2015, the man is 35th on the all-time test match runs list! Along with all that, he's taken 57 wickets as well! All this whilst just 29 years of age. That is impressive. Find out all about how he does it in this amazing read, including his triumphs in South Africa and just disappointment at the T20 world cup. Amazing.
Alastair Cook
When somebody talks about Ali Cook, many pictures come to mind: 5th on all-time test match runs scored ever; most prolific England test batsman; played in over 1/4 of England's test matches. However that's not the whole story. Behind an amazing batsman is also an amazing man. Even though there have been bumps in the road, he has always kept going. A truly amazing man who has done amazing things and will still be a figure for young players to look up to.
Now we come to perhaps the most well-known cricketer of the modern game: Ben Stokes. These are his books:
Firestarter
His journey started in New Zealand and, at a young age, he was into all sports. His father, Ged, was very supportive. When he moved to England, he gave up rugby league to pursue his cricketing career and boy we are glad he did! This book journeys with him across the globe and continues up until his unfortunate meeting with Carlos Braithwaite in 2016. However, let's not forget his achievements: the fastest ever hundred at Lord's; an amazing quick-fire 258 against South Africa and THAT CATCH to dismiss Adam Voges in the Ashes 2015 to produce one of the most famous poses of cricketing history. He's had many obstacles, including many meetings with Marlon Samuels, but he's pulled through and become one of England's best all-rounders ever, even being compared by many people to the great Beefy Botham. An amazing cricketer and that's not the last of him.
On Fire
If the topic of England's summer comes up, all there is to talk about is one man: Stokes. What started with an INCREDIBLE catch against South Africa in the opening match of the World Cup, to an amazing knock in the final against New Zealand (ball deflecting off bat to go for 6, whole country roars with relief) and then to go straight into a home Ashes series with Steve Smith and David Warner back from Sandpapergate, but that didn't bother him. In fact, it inspired him to go and get that 135* in Headingley, with probably Jack Leach's most important 1* that will go down in history. Ben has had a terrific summer and has followed it up with a century in South Africa in the 3rd test. There will be more to come from this incredible man.
That's all for the moment (half the readers sigh with relief) but wait! There's more! I have Shane Warne's autobiography on the shelf and have been promised Wisden 2020 when it comes out in April. So be on the lookout for future cricket posts!!!
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