Cricket abounds in literature that documents some of the best moments of the game. For more than a century, iconic writers like Neville Cardus, CLR James, Jack Fingleton, Ray Robinson, E. W. Swanton, John Arlott, R. C. Robertson-Glasgow and David Frith and Gideon Haigh in modern era have given us rich stuff to treasure. Ramachandra Guha’s “A Corner Of A Foreign Field” and Rahul Bhattacharya’s “Pundits From Pakistan” are two outstanding additions to the list of great books on the game. In recent times, there has been a glut of cricket books, some outstanding and some average. We take a look at five books which arrived this year for the Indian fans to savour.
Champions, The World’s Greatest Cricketers Speak: Mike Coward (Bloomsbury India)
Coming from one of the respected cricket writers from Australia, this is an insightful study of a champion’s mind. Cowards draws his subjects from a rich collection of achievers. His work is summed up well in his foreword by Richie Benaud who says, “Mike Coward has skilfully extracted from the players the essential character required to be successful both on and off the field at the elite level.” Coward travels to places far flung as New Delhi, Barbados, London and Potchefstroom, apart from Australia, to conduct his well-researched interviews. From Sachin Tendulkar to Kapil Dev, from Bishan Singh Bedi to Erapalli Prasanna, from Bhagwat Chandrasekhar to Gundappa Visvanath and Sunil Gavaskar to Anil Kumble, the author also manages to speak to Tiger Pataudi in one of the latter’s last interviews. The 58-strong cast, as Coward proudly proclaims, hails from 14 countries and includes 37 Test captains. An enviable catch indeed because the list has cricketers like Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Doug Walters, Shane Warne, Arthur Morris, Graham McKenzie, Wes Hall, Neil Harvey, Michael Holding, Richard Hadlee, Rahul Dravid, Alan Davidson! They share their views on chapters that deal with leadership, courage, philosophy and the spirit of cricket, signing of with some humorous anecdotes. It is a fine tribute to some of the greats of the game and who better than Coward, who always loved coming to India and writing on the fascinating cricket in the sub-continent.
The Corridor Of Certainty, My Life Beyond Cricket: Geoffrey Boycott (Simon & Schuster)
Geoffrey Boycott was a much esteemed figure in world cricket, even when he presented an irritating visage of a batsman who loved nothing but his batting. There was nobody like Boycott. At the end of a torrid over by Michael Holding in a Test in the Caribbean, he fell to the final delivery and returned to a stunned dressing room. His teammates obviously appeared keen to get his reaction. Unfazed, Boycott reportedly informed them something like, “But for me, England would have been five down.” Well, such flattering self-assessment could have come from none but Boycott. This is a book that throws light on some personal aspects of the stubborn opener’s personal life, mostly his successful battle with cancer of the tongue. It was unimaginable: The garrulous Boycott unable to utter a word.
What strikes most is his forthright assessment of contemporary cricket, views on some individuals who brought dignity to cricket, and most notably his views on Fred Trueman and Brian Clough. In true Boycott style, he tears apart the myth that Packer-backed cricket saved cricketers from poverty. “Rubbish” he thunders in response and goes on to demolish that theory, accusing the exercise of setting “friend against friend.” The chapter on sledging has an interesting argument. “The Spirit of Cricket is a nebulous theory that is spouted by people who believe everyone should do the decent thing and walk.” It comes, unsurprising, from a batsman who would rub his shoulders or arm when he nicked. Boycott was one great character and an acknowledged great. His book narrates honestly some important events of his life, the most significant his elevation to Yorkshire captaincy, which the great opener terms his greatest cricketing regret. It left him with more foes than friends. This honest book will swell his list of fans.
KP, The Autobiography: Kevin Pietersen (Sphere)
This is the book to buy. An exciting offering from an exciting batsman! He played on his terms but sadly did not bow out on his own, held responsible for everything that harmed English cricket. In a tell all book, Pietersen comes out blazing, sparing none, especially directing his anger at Andy Flower, the coach who gunned for this fantastic stroke player. The general impression of Pietersen is that he is a divisive force in the dressing room. He gives his side of the story in this racy account, actually gripping at some stages. A batsman known to bat audaciously, he brings the same flavour to his writing as he picks his detractors and smashes them one by one. Paul Downton, sitting in judgement, is described as a lower-order batsman with a Test average of under-20. Pietersen makes this grand discovery from Google. “The stories you’ve been told over the last few years have left a lot of gaps. I want to tell my side of the story now,” and Pietersen goes on to destroy a few reputations with his scathing pen. The bowlers have suffered from his bat for long.
The Indians would love the chapter Friends. “There is a culture in India that appreciates it if you double down and go for the big shots. I’ve built all my relationships with foreign cricketers while in the IPL (Indian Premier League),” writes Pietersen. What would he say now that Delhi Daredevils has released him for the 2015 edition? Pietersen reproduces an email from Rahul Dravid on playing different spinners. It is an education on batting really. He rates Virender Sehwag high, “Everybody smiles when he walks into a room. An out-and-out superstar, but the most carefree joker in the world. He’s just a joy to be around. There is a lot to read and enjoy. The sore point is Pietersen gets his RCB mate Virat Kohli’s surname wrong. Not just once he calls him Kholi. But it is a riveting read indeed.
How Sachin Destroyed My Life: Vikram Sathaye (Popular Prakashan)
He makes his living by making people laugh. He calls himself a cricket humorist and entertainer, travelling with the Indian team many times and performing his stand up acts to their delight. He can leave you in splits with his mimicry. He tells you why Virender Sehwag whistle while his bats, What MS Dhoni listens to in the dressing room, Why Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) will never teach English to the Punjab team. How did he get Sachin Tendulkar to ‘endorse’ his book by writing the foreword despite the title being apparently against him?
“Sachin has been watching my cricket standup routines for the last 6-7 years and once in a gathering of close friends in a World Cup celebration party he even made me imitate his batting style and mannerisms. He had also heard my humorous observations on cricketers so in a way he had an idea of the kind of book I would be writing. When I showed him the book title he was surprised and asked me with a smile “When did I destroy your life”? I told him that I will read the chapter to him and if he feels it is not right I shall change the title. As soon as I finished the chapter he laughed and said “No problem, go ahead, I will be happy to write the foreword for the book.” You won’t be unhappy if you bought this book. It would be a welcome addition to your cricket library.
Final Test, Exit Sachin Tendulkar: Dilip D’Souza (Random House India): A book on a match! I remember reading “A Tale Of two Tests” by Richie Benaud. It relived the Tied Test and the Manchester Test in the 1961 Ashes. The author does a wonderful job of recreating Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test at the Wankhede Stadium. “A compelling, and different read of a Test match that stopped the nation,” says Rahul Dravid on the cover. He is right. It is a fine tribute to a fine cricketer.
