Bats, Balls & Bails - Hardcover

Scott, Les

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593061462 ISBN 13: 9780593061466

Publisher: Bantam Press, 2009

Synopsis

Never before has the whole world of cricket been collected in one, really quite large volume. Les Scott has collected a lifetime of anecdotes, records, quotes and cuttings to make "The Essential Cricket Book". With a century of sections detailing everything from balls and slips to pavilions, umpires and teas; all the Test-playing nations, first-class counties as well as minor counties and clubs, plus universities; tournaments from the Ashes through the old John Player League to the Sheffield Shield (not to mention the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash); bizarre dismissals and of course LBWs, all the great games and characters of cricket are brought to life. It's all here: the first player to wear a helmet, the first man to attempt a reverse sweep, the games when camels (or mackerels) stopped play, the batsmen given out 'absent, thought lost on the Tube' and 'retired, suffering from measles', or simply the last England bowler to take a wicket with the first ball of a Test Match.

About this title

About the Author

Les Scott is a journalist, writer and broadcaster who has collaborated on successful autobiographies with Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Greaves, Tommy Docherty and Fred Trueman, among others, as well as working for national and regional newspapers and in television, film, theatre and radio. He has also recently co-written the Sunday Times bestselling autobiographies by Liverpool footballing legends Tommy Smith and Ian Rush.

From the Back Cover

The world of cricket never fails to produce a wealth of stories, from incredible feats and dreadful performances to the downright bizarre and, let's face it, plain stupid.

In Bats, Balls & Bails: The Essential Cricket Book, renowned anecdote hunter and gatherer Les Scott has collected everything you could possibly want to know about this most sublime of sports - and quite certainly a few things that defy belief.

Who was the first player to wear a helmet? When did camels, mackerel and an iguana stop play (not simultaneously, we hasten to add)? What is the origin of the word 'umpire'? Which players were given out for being 'absent, thought lost on the Tube', 'thinking he was caught' and 'retired, suffering from measles'? When did A. Fielder set a record, and what was so special about L.B.W Forten (think about it!)?

From Fred Trueman trivia to Bradman's batting brilliance, the occasional lack of Grace from the iconic W.G to the belligerence of Botham, Bats, Balls & Bails brings all the great games and characters from cricketing lore to life. In a handy century of sections, with quotes, notes and comprehensive records from counties and minor clubs to international tournaments (not forgetting the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash), it is simply a book no cricket-loving household should be without.

Edition details

• Publisher: Bantam Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593061462
• ISBN 13: 9780593061466
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 544