Guest Review: Match of the Day Football Almanac: Six Decades of Trophies, Tournaments, and Timeless Moments By Nick Constable

Do you remember the Battle of Old Trafford? Shearer's dream debut hat trick? Or how many goals Haaland scored in his first Premier League season? Hope, heartbreak and victory, over the past 60 years Match of the Day has shown it all.

From bombastic debuts in August to May’s nail-biting end-of-season title races, the football calendar is filled with legendary moments. Packed full of stories from 60 years of football history, The official Match of the Day Football Almanac is your ultimate guide to the highs and lows of the football season.

With a foreword from Gary Lineker and featuring the most legendary footballing stories from the last 60 years of Match of the Day, this month-by-month guide includes giant-killing FA Cup battles, the birth of the Premier League and the dawn of VAR, all culminating in legendary World Cup and Euros tournaments – with stats and insights from the experts at Match of the Day along the way. This is the perfect gift for any football fan, and a fitting tribute to our favourite football programme.

Review: In August 1964, the first transmission of a football highlights programme “Match of the Day” was broadcast on BBC2. Since then, the programme has become a Saturday night institution in England and Wales. This book, published in 2024, celebrates 60 years of this iconic programme.

Initially available only to a limited audience in the London area who had access to BBC2, the programme featured highlights of a single match in the English Football League First Division. It then moved to BBC1 and gradually expanded. In 1992, the breakaway Premier League was formed and nowadays the programme will feature extended highlights of one main match, followed by briefer highlights of all that other day’s fixtures in the Premier League. The book is divided into 12 chapters, each focussing on one month, beginning with the season’s opening fixtures in August. Hence, the chapters cover: dream or nightmare debuts as the season kicks off in August; managers’ fears of the sack (not from Santa) in December; giant killing acts as the FA Cup 3rd round pits lower league clubs against the top league clubs in January; and possible title deciders in May. The chapters relating to June and July cover the performance of England men’s and women’s teams in international tournaments (spoiler alert - the chapter on the Lionesses’ achievements is now out of date).

As an interesting review of the history of “Match of the Day”, including its presenters, commentators and pundits, over its first 60 years, I found this to be highly informative. It should appeal to all football aficionados.

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Guest Review: Coming Home: Moments that Made Me By Freddie Flintoff

 In Coming Home, Freddie Flintoff zeroes-in on the crucial moments that made him - some highly celebrated, others less well-known, away from the cameras, but all pivotal in shaping the man he is.

As a boy, growing up in Preston, Fred fell in love with the game of cricket. It gave him his route through life; out on the pitch he felt at home. Through his eyes we see him picking up a bat for the first time, his early years on the field; that incredible performance to win the Ashes against the Aussies in 2005; face-downs with rivals; run-ins with the media; the doctors telling him he can't continue to play. On and off the pitch, in and out of the spotlight, Fred tells the whole story.

After retiring, Fred thought he'd left the game behind, relaunching himself in the world of entertainment, but following the car crash that turned his life upside down, it was cricket to which he returned.

Coming Home is a reflection on a unique life, a story like no other, and a love letter to the game that made him. Honest, open, reflective and funny, like the man himself, this is Freddie Flintoff, in full, in his own words.

Review: Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff (he was given the nickname at school because of the resemblance of his surname to the cartoon character Fred Flintstone) played cricket for Lancashire and England. Probably his greatest achievements came during the 2005 and 2009 Ashes-winning Test series against Australia. Following his retirement from playing professional cricket, he pursued a varied career in television, radio and on the stage. His television appearances include “A League of Their Own” and “Top Gear”. It was as a presenter in this latter programme that he was involved in a car accident in 2022 in which he was seriously injured. This, his latest book, is a reflective look back at his life and the decisions that shaped his career.

He talks candidly about his struggles with mental health and the eating disorder bulimia. He also discusses the problems he had with injuries during his playing career and also coming to terms with the after effects  following his car accident. He has latterly turned to coaching cricket, being part of the England coaching set-up and coaching one of the teams in the “Hundred” competition. He has also coached youngsters who hadn’t had the opportunity to play cricket before, this forming the basis for the television series “Field of Dreams”. It is this return to cricket in a coaching capacity that he refers to as “Coming Home”.

I found the book, with its short chapters, very readable. Although cricket features strongly, it is not just about cricket but is more a reflection of what opportunities and decisions can occur during one’s lifetime. As a candid account of a person’s life, I would recommend this book.

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Guest Review: Geoff Hurst: Last Boy of ‘66 By Geoff Hurst

And here comes Hurst. He's got... Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now. It's four!

Geoff Hurst's extraordinary hat trick turned him into a global superstar overnight. There is no player in the history of the game so universally identified with a single match.

But the full story of the nation's biggest ever sporting victory is about much more than those final moments. Here Geoff remembers his teammates, the times they spent on and off the pitch, the extraordinary journey they went on together, what football meant to each of them, their work ethic, their culture of team loyalty, their continued bond over the decades.

The enormous salaries paid to today's Premier League stars means that when they finish playing, few will ever have to work again. The 1966 team never had that option. They were payed £60 per match, and received a £1,000 bonus for winning. Most tried, and failed, to become successful managers, with Jack Charlton being a notable exception. Twenty years after they scored the England goals in the final, Geoff and Martin Peters were selling motor insurance. Ray Wilson was an undertaker.

Yet all remained aware they achieved something on 30th July 1966 which may never be repeated, and did so staying close to their roots. The day after the final Alan Ball stopped at a motorway cafe on the M6. One or two people asked to see his winner's medal, then left him to his egg and chips. Geoff mowed the lawn. 'That's what you did on a Sunday'.

In Last Boy of 66 our 1966 hat-trick hero takes us back to those very different days. A definitive and important eye-witness account, to be treasured by fans and historians for generations to come.

Review: In 1966, England won the football World Cup with Geoff Hurst famously scoring a hattrick in the final. This book, published in 2024, is his account, written with the assistance of the journalist Jasper Rees, of that World Cup competition and his teammates. The title of the book arises from the fact that, since 2023, he is the last surviving member of the 11 England players who played in the final (there were no substitutes at that time).

The book, illustrated with numerous photographs, gives details of the author’s life, his family and career. In the main, it describes the 1966 competition and his teammates. It is not just the 11 who played in the final that are featured but also the other members of the squad, the manager Alf Ramsey and the coaching staff. There are also chapters covering other, sadder aspects, such as tragic incidents in the author’s life and the high rate of dementia amongst retired professional footballers. Clearly, a book detailing the fates of his teammates will strike a sombre note, but this is more than balanced by the the respect and affection he felt for his teammates as Alf Ramsey built a team that won the ultimate prize in football.

As a schoolboy, I was part of the World Cup fever that swept the country in 1966 and this highly readable book brought the excitement flooding back, as well as providing fresh insights into the buildup and the matches. I would recommend it to all football fans.

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Guest Review: The Croucher A Biography of Gilbert Jessop By Gerald Brodribb

Review: Gilbert Jessop (1874-1955) was a cricketer who played for Gloucestershire and England. In his early days he was known for his fast bowling, but it was as a big-hitting batsman that he gained more fame, his crouching stance at the wicket earning him the nickname “The Croucher”. His most famous innings came in the fifth Test Match against  Australia at the Oval in 1902. Needing 263 runs to win, England were quickly reduced to 48 runs for 5 wickets on a rain-affected pitch when Jessop went out to bat. He decided to attack the bowling in his own inimitable style and scored 104 before he was finally out with the score at 187 for 7. His century was scored in only 75 minutes off 76 balls and, to this day, is still the fastest century in a Test Match by an England batsman. The match was still not over, but England’s tail end managed to accumulate the winning runs, with the last pair anecdotally “getting ‘em in singles” to give England a dramatic victory by one wicket.

Jessop’s childhood and his early career as a teacher before breaking into first class cricket with Gloucestershire and Cambridge University is outlined. As well as describing “Jessop’s Match” at the Oval in 1902, the book details his career with Gloucestershire for whom he made his debut in 1894. He took over the captaincy of the county from the great W. G. Grace in 1900, his performances often outshining the rest of the team. His cricketing career was effectively ended following the outbreak of the First World War, but he continued to play and be involved in golf. He also worked as a journalist and writer. At the end of the book is a short statistical section detailing his cricketing achievements, particularly his remarkable fast-scoring feats.

As an informative biography of one of the lesser-known cricketers of the so-called “Golden Age”, and having seen the bat that Jessop used in scoring his famous century in 1902 in the museum at Lord’s cricket ground, I found this to be an interesting and enjoyable book. It should appeal to all cricket lovers.

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Guest Review: Broadly Speaking By Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad is the ultimate competitor - someone addicted to the pressures of Test cricket, the big occasions and being thrust into the heat of battle.

For over seventeen years, he's left it all on the field. A multiple Ashes winner and World Champion, Broad was integral to some of the greatest England teams of all time. His awards and achievements, however, don't tell the whole story. He has always been a cricketer of more than mere numbers. Broad's passionate and spontaneous behaviour has mad him a fan favourite. No other player feeds off the crowd quite like he does.

In his autobiography, Broad shares the moments from the game which have made him and those that almost broke him. What's clear, however, is his unwavering belief in his own ability to become one of the best ever.

Candid, entertaining, and refreshingly honest, this book reveals the personal side of a true cricketing great.

Review: Stuart Broad was a professional cricketer who played for Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire and appeared in 167 Test Matches for England, as well as numerous One Day and Twenty 20 Internationals. He announced his retirement just prior to the end of the final Test Match in the 2023 Ashes series against Australia. This is his autobiography, written with the assistance of the journalist Richard Gibson.

The book covers his childhood, starting with his premature birth, weighing in at just 2 pounds 2 ounces, and his first couple of weeks of life in an incubator, before growing into the 6 foot 6 inches fast bowler who took 604 wickets in Test Matches. The story finishes with the 5th, and final, Test against Australia, when it appeared he had written his own script for how he wanted to finish. Although an autobiography, with the author’s personal reflections on his life in cricket and on what the future may hold, the timeline jumps around and the chapters are interspersed with ones describing the five games in that 2023 Ashes series.

With numerous colour photographs and a section at the end giving his career statistics, this is an interesting, although brief, autobiography by one of the more colourful characters in cricket. It should appeal to all lovers of the game.

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Guest Review: Treasures of Lord’s By Tim Rice

Review: Lord’s cricket ground in North London is the headquarters of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and is considered to be the world headquarters of cricket. This iconic ground, especially its pavilion and adjoining museum, is home to a huge collection of artworks and other artefacts connected with the history of the game. This book, compiled by the lyricist Tim Rice, is a concise, lavishly illustrated volume describing some of the more famous items in the collection. The author is probably best known for his collaboration with musician Andrew Lloyd Webber, but he is also a keen student of cricket and has been a former president of the MCC.

The opening chapter of the book describes the founding of the ground and its forerunners (the current site is the third venue founded by Thomas Lord) and its subsequent development. This is followed by chapters and illustrations covering the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries (the book was published in 1989), and a final chapter on some of the more idiosyncratic artefacts. These include the famous “Ashes” urn, which was presented to the captain of the England/MCC touring team in Australia in 1883 and which is competed for in Test Match series between England and Australia.

Comprising a mixture of text covering the history of the ground and famous players; illustrations of the artworks; and detailed notes about the provenance of the artworks, their subject(s) and the artists who created them, this is a fascinating insight into the treasures housed in cricket’s headquarters. It should appeal both to followers of the game and those interested in art history.

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Guest Review: The Cricketer Book of Cricket Disasters & Bizarre Records Edited by Christopher Martin-Jenkins

Review: Christopher Martin-Jenkins (1945-2013) was a cricket commentator and journalist. He was also editor of the magazine “The Cricketer”. The sport of cricket lends itself to all sorts of unusual statistics and records, and this book, published in 1984, is a lighthearted compilation of some of the more unusual or remarkable achievements that were sent to the magazine.

The entries come from all over the world, including places as diverse as Fiji and Denmark, as well as from the more well-established cricketing nations. There are unusual records involving batting, bowling and wicket-keeping, together with bizarre incidents involving animals. There is also a chapter on some of the more esoteric local rules governing both first class and village cricket grounds. The book is well-illustrated with numerous photographs, several of which are from a bygone age, and humorous cartoons.

I found this to be an amusing collection of bizarre and unusual events and one which should appeal to all cricket enthusiasts.

Guest Review: Fifty Years in Cricket By Len Hutton

 

Review: Len Hutton (1916-1990) was a professional cricketer for Yorkshire and England. This is his autobiographical account, written with the assistance of the journalist Alex Bannister. Len Hutton made his first class debut in cricket for Yorkshire in 1934. This book, published in 1984, marked 50 years since that debut, hence the title.

A prolific batsman for Yorkshire, Len Hutton made his debut for England in 1937. His career was interrupted by the Second World War, and could have been curtailed altogether as a result of a bad accident during training with the Army, resulting in a broken left arm and wrist. After enduring bone grafts and periods in hospital, his left arm was healed but was found to be 2 inches (5 centimetres) shorter than his right. Nevertheless, when first class cricket resumed after the War he continued making big scores for Yorkshire and England. At the time, there was a distinction between amateur and professional cricketers, and it was the custom for the captain of England to be an amateur. However, he achieved the distinction of being the first professional to captain England in 1952. He had a successful time as captain, winning 11 matches and losing 4, including a famous Ashes series win in the 1954-1955 tour of Australia, the first win in Australia since the “Bodyline” tour of 1932-1933. However, ill health and the the constant strain on his body were taking their toll and he was forced to retire from playing later in 1955. He was knighted for services to cricket in 1956 and was later appointed an England cricket selector.

The book covers his childhood and his formative years playing club cricket for Pudsey St Lawrence before being invited for trials with Yorkshire. He also describes meeting various legends of Yorkshire cricket such as Wilfred Rhodes and George Hirst. Other chapters go on to describe the various highs and lows of his career and the characters he played with and against. The final chapters describe who, at the time of publication, were the outstanding players of the day, and conclude with reflections on the state of the game, particularly the turbulent events that had been happening to his home county of Yorkshire.

Although I thought the narrative of the book jumped around quite a lot, I found it to be a fascinating and nostalgic account of cricket either side of the Second World War. There are accounts of many of the cricketers of the era, accompanied by several photographs. I occasionally found the author’s views a little outdated, but they were the common views held at that time, and ones with which I was familiar from my own parents. Overall, this book was an interesting window into cricket during the pre and post-war years and will appeal to anyone wanting to know more about that era.

Guest Review: Flannelled Fool and Muddied Oaf The Autobiography of Peter West

Autobiography of the BBC's cricket anchor man for many years, also famous pipe smoker and car lover. 

Review: Peter West (1920-2003) was a radio and television sports commentator and presenter, and a newspaper sports columnist. This is his autobiography, published in 1986. The title is a quote from the poem “The Islanders” by Rudyard Kipling, and is a reference to Peter West’s two favourite sports of cricket and rugby.

A keen sportsman at school, he was unable to continue playing seriously due to back problems. On leaving school, he entered the Army shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. However, the same back problems led to his being invalided out of the Army in 1944. Faced with having to find a new occupation, he turned to journalism and, as a result of meeting the legendary cricketer C. B. Fry who recommended him to the BBC, he started working on a freelance basis as a commentator on outside broadcasts. He worked in broadcasting for many years, commentating on over thirty different sports, but mainly on cricket, rugby and tennis. He also appeared as a presenter on a number of light entertainment programmes. He compèred a number of the televised “Miss World” competitions, but is probably best remembered for his stint as presenter of “Come Dancing”. This was a long-running programme in which teams of amateur ballroom dancers from various regions of the UK competed against each other in categories such as Modern, Old Time, Latin American and Formation.

The book’s chapters cover the sports of cricket, rugby and tennis, and the various light entertainment radio and television programmes with which the author was associated. There are a number of photographs of the various characters he encountered over the years. At the end, there is a concluding chapter outlining his plans for retirement. Overall, I found this to be an interesting and nostalgic account of someone who was a familiar voice on radio and a familiar face on television over a considerable number of years.

Guest Review: Encyclopaedia of World Football By Tim Hill

Review: This is a compilation of people, clubs and countries involved in association football throughout the world. Published in 2010, and therefore somewhat outdated, it gives short biographies and histories of famous players, managers, clubs, countries and major competitions.

The book is very detailed and is illustrated throughout with excellent photographs. I found the chapters on clubs and countries particularly interesting, providing their histories and the honours won. As intimated above, the chapter on heroes of the modern game is now out of date.

As a weighty tome on the history of the beautiful game, this is a detailed and well-illustrated entry. It should appeal to all fans of the game, and is also a good introduction to readers new to the sport.

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Guest Review: Gower: The Autobiography By David Gower

From the moment he hooked his first ball in Test cricket to the boundary, David Gower has been in a class of his own when it comes to style and panache. In 114 Test matches, he scored over 8000 runs at an average of 44 which ranks him with the post-war greats. His elegant play is always a joy to watch and certainly there hasn't been a better and more entertaining left-hander since Sir Garfield Sobers. Yet because of his natural gifts, he has often attracted criticism for his "laid back" approach and "lack of application". In the book, Gower answers these charges and sets out his side of the story about his two spells of captaincy for both club and country. He puts his man-management record on the line alongside those of fellow captains Mike Brearley, Bob Willis, Mike Gatting and Graham Gooch, and attacks the current mentality of Test selectors "where runs around the block seem to count for more than runs in the middle". There are also many light-hearted moments in the book: visiting casinos and nightclubs in the company of fellow "rogues" Ian Botham and Allan Lamb, dumping a hired car at the bottom of a lake in St Moritz, and "buzzing" Robin Smith from a Tiger Moth while he was batting on the 1991/92 Australian tour.

Review: David Gower was a cricketer who played in 117 Test Matches for England between 1978 and 1992. He also captained the side on 32 occasions. Following his retirement from playing, he turned to television commentating and writing columns for newspapers. This autobiography, written with the assistance of the journalist Martin Johnson, was published in 1992. It therefore does not include the last part of his playing career, although there is a brief reference to his recall to the England team in July 1992.

Often described as an elegant and stylish left-handed batsman, he made batting look easy when things were going well. However, he also had his detractors who often described his style as languid, and were infuriated when he got out to what appeared to be a casual stroke. His record stands up well to scrutiny, however, and he scored the fifth highest aggregate of runs in Test Matches for England players. He also had a sense of humour and adventure, that led to his being involved in a number of scrapes. Amongst those described in the book is the time when, after receiving a lecture from his captain on the appropriate dress code when staying in hotels during away matches, he turned up for breakfast wearing a dinner suit. Probably the most infamous incident occurred when he took a joyride in a biplane from an aerodrome adjacent to the ground where the England team were playing against a state side in Australia, and persuaded the pilot to “buzz” the ground whilst play was in progress.

These, and other incidents, together with details of his playing career and the many characters he played with and against are described in the book, which is sprinkled liberally throughout with his wry sense of humour. I enjoyed reading it, despite the fact that it is now out of date. I would recommend it to all cricket lovers.

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Guest Review: Big Ron: A Different Ball Game By Ron Atkinson

Ron Atkinson is one of English football’s most recognisable and popular characters, having been involved in management for a quarter of a century.

He remains the only Englishman to have won major trophies with three different clubs: Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa. At West Bromwich Albion, he was one of the first managers to promote black footballers, including Laurie Cunning- ham, who went to Real Madrid, Cyrille Regis, who became an England international, and Brendon Batson MBE.

After retiring from management, Ron evolved into one of the most familiar and forthright commentators on football. Yet that career came to an end in April 2004 with a single, unguarded comment about the Chelsea defender, Marcel Desailly. Atkinson was labelled a racist and driven from the game he loves.

Review: This is the autobiography, published in 1998, of the former footballer and football manager Ron Atkinson, a larger then life character universally known as “Big Ron”.

He played for a number of years for Oxford United, as they rose from non-league status up to the old Second Division of the English Football League. Following his playing career, he move into management with non-league Kettering Town and lower league Cambridge United, before managing a number of high-profile clubs such as Manchester United and Atletico Madrid. As a manager, he achieved the feat of winning three major trophies with three different clubs: the FA Cup twice with Manchester United, and the League Cup once each with Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa. Towards the end of his management career he spent some time as a TV pundit.

Throughout his career “Big Ron” was always a flamboyant and outspoken character, and this comes across in this book. There are numerous colourful stories about various characters on the field, in management and in the boardroom. These range from tales of a transfer deal in his Kettering Town days when a player was swapped for a lawnmower, to multi-million pound deals for players in the Premier League. His frankness comes across in the book, when he criticises certain players for their attitude, and there is a whole chapter devoted to certain individuals with whom he would not go on holiday.

Overall, this is an interesting insight into the world of football provided by a fascinating, if controversial, character and will appeal to all followers of the beautiful game.

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Guest Review: Greatest Moments of Cricket By Ralph Dellor and Stephen Lamb

Little Book of the Greatest Moments of Cricket is a 96-page hardback book written by Ralph Dellor and Stephen Lamb. A collection of articles celebrating the most iconic moments in cricketing history, it is sure to bring back memories of the most emotional events, as well as remembering those events that stretch further back into the golden age of cricket. Whether it is the Ashes or other memorable matches against some of England's greatest rivals such as the West Indies, Sri Lanka or South Africa, this is a fantastic celebration of cricket.

Review: This is a collection of 30 short articles, each describing an iconic event in the history of cricket up to the 2005 Ashes series between England and Australia. Each article is accompanied by high-quality photographs, although occasionally these do not match exactly the text.

The games featured cover Test Matches, One Day Internationals and a one day County game. The choice of articles is very subjective, and is heavily weighted towards more recent times. For example, although the initial article describes the first reference, in 1882, to the Ashes in a mock newspaper obituary, only 8 more articles feature matches played prior to the 1970s.

This book will be of interest to cricket lovers, with many photographs of players from yesteryear, and will generate discussion about which moments should have been included.

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Guest Review: Behind Closed Doors By Gary Lineker and Danny Baker

'Football is a simple game. 22 players chase a ball for 90 minutes, and at the end the Germans always win.'

This book is inspired by the stories Danny and I have shared with each other about what life in football is really like: in the dressing room, in the commentary box, on the pitch and - with the appropriate pixellation - in the showers afterwards.

What's it really like to play with Messi? I wouldn't know, but I have starred alongside him in an advert for Walkers crisps. And, well, his performance was world-class.

And what is a life in football really like? You won't learn much from the dull-as-dishwater post-match interviews - it's a world of secrets, superstitions, laughs and personalities, and let me tell you, half of it you won't believe.

I've looked back at my playing days, from England to Leicester, Everton to Barcelona, Tottenham to, er, Nagoya Grampus Eight, and shared the chaotic behind-the-scenes secrets of Match of the Day - and Danny has chipped in with stories from a lifetime following the game as a fan.

From Italia '90 to Leicester's Premier League fairytale, from yellow cards to World Cup trophies (I've never been awarded either), from Gascoigne to Maradona, you'll find it all here - everything you always wanted to know about football, but didn't realise that you did.

Inspired by the No.1 podcast Behind Closed Doors

Review: The TV presenter and former footballer Gary Lineker, and the broadcaster, journalist and writer Danny Baker have presented a series of lunchtime podcasts recorded in Gary’s kitchen. This book is based on, and is an expansion of, those podcasts, discussing aspects of football not always apparent to the public.

Gary, who holds the record for goals scored for England in FIFA World Cup finals and who won the Golden Boot for being the top goalscorer during the 1986 World Cup (he may mention this in the book) gives a professional footballer’s perspective, whilst Danny, a lifelong Millwall supporter, gives the fan’s perspective. The resulting volume is a very amusing, and sometimes irreverent, account of the beautiful game. A flavour of the book is given by the chapter headings, which are a collection of footballing clichés or famous quotes from matches. Hence, there are anecdotes from World Cup campaigns, nights out with Paul Gascoigne, and what happens in the “Match of the Day” studio with Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy. At the end of the book is an appendix giving the recipes of some of the dishes enjoyed by the two authors during their lunchtime sessions.

I found this a very amusing book and would recommend it to all football aficionados. It was also interesting to read the biographical details of the two authors and their different routes to enjoying the sport.

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Guest Review: More Cricket Extras By David Rayvern Allen

A collection of anecdotes, statistics and trivia from the world of cricket. The book lists cricket's greatest hits which features extraordinary feats with bat and ball. It looks at some unlikely but famous cricketers and recounts tales of hi-jinks from the cricket broadcasting world.

Review: This is a follow-up to the author’s previous book “Cricket Extras”. It is a collection of anecdotes and strange facts relating to the sport of cricket. Divided into different chapters covering such topics as varied as: cricket and politics; disputes that ended up as court cases; and famous cricketing thespians, the book is trawl through some of the stranger stories relating to the game. It covers some of the more unusual events that have occurred throughout the world. At the end of the book, there is a short collection of cricket-related poems, some amusing and some reflective.

Although somewhat dated (the book was published in 1992), I found it to be an amusing and quirky collection of anecdotes. It should appeal to all enthusiasts of the game, wherever they are in the world.

Guest Review: Rhythm and Swing By Richard Hadlee

Review: This is the autobiography of the New Zealand cricketer Richard Hadlee, written with the assistance of the journalist Richard Brecht. It also includes a chapter by Richard Hadlee’s wife, Karen. Richard Hadlee was an all-rounder who played Test Match cricket for New Zealand during the 1970s and 1980s. He also had a spell playing county cricket in England for Nottinghamshire. Although he became known as an all-rounder, achieving the county “double” of 100 wickets and 1,000 runs for Nottinghamshire during the 1984 season, it was his seam bowling that was the stronger of the two disciplines. Just prior to the book’s publication (1989) he became, at the time, the world’s leading Test Match wicket taker, with 374 wickets, when he dismissed the Indian batter Arun Lal in November 1988.

Unusually for an autobiography, the book does not follow a chronological pattern but has chapters on specific topics, such as all-rounders, bowlers, batsmen, county cricket, touring and umpires. It is clear that, from a young, raw fast bowler, the author matured into a very thoughtful cricketer. What comes across is his attention to detail and his very meticulous preparation. It is probably this that allowed him to maintain high performance levels over what, for a fast bowler, was a relatively long career.

Unsurprisingly, the book concentrates a lot on cricket in New Zealand and its administration. Nevertheless, I found it a useful insight into the life of a dedicated, professional cricketer, and it is a book that should appeal to all cricket fans.

Guest Review: The Book of Fred By Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff

This is not a book of life lessons. But Freddie Flintoff has had a moment to reflect and he's noticed that throughout his four decades, although there's been little method in the madness, there has been the occasional common thread.

The Book of Fred is filled with anecdotes, observations and the odd opinion all told with Fred's trademark humour and no-nonsense style. Fred's approach to life draws on the sublime (his series winning performance in the 2005 Ashes) and the ridiculous (singing Elvis Presley's 'Suspicious Minds' in front of a live audience), from highs (making the transition to top TV presenter) to occasional lows (accidentally upsetting the lovely Bruce Forsyth), from the profane (discussing Shane Warne's barnet with Hollywood royalty) to the profound (why 'having a go' leads to self-respect).

Throughout, Fred shares his code for success, happiness and a life fully lived - and gives his readers a laugh, some joy, and (the occasional) pause for thought along the way.

Review: Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff is a former professional cricketer who played in 79 Test Matches for England, captaining the team on 11 occasions. Probably his greatest achievements came during the 2005 and 2009 Ashes-winning Test series against Australia. He retired from first class cricket after the final Test Match of the 2009 series. Following his cricket career, he has pursued a career in television and radio, featuring in such television programmes as “A League of Their Own” and being one of the presenters of “Top Gear”.

This is his latest book, which is a collection of anecdotes and opinions about life in general. It is divided into chapters covering different topics such as friendship, fame and money. “Freddie” Flintoff has always been a larger than life character, achieving notoriety for some of his off-field antics. What was not so apparent during his playing career was his struggles with mental health and the eating disorder bulimia, about which he has opened up in recent years. He bravely discusses these issues in the book.

Although I thought this was going to be a book mainly about cricket, it is more a personal insight into a person who, away from the cricket field and television cameras, is a very private character with much the same doubts and insecurities as most people. Although I found the writing style to be quite rambling, their are some interesting observations and a few humorous moments. If you are expecting a book about cricket, you will be disappointed, but it is a fascinating insight into the character of an individual to whom success and fame came at an early age, and who has now had the opportunity to reflect on his life.

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Guest Review: Shane Warne: My Illustrated Career By Shane Warne

The Ashes reached new levels of excitement in 2005, with England's priceless win under Michael Vaughan's leadership, and Freddy Flintoff and co's determination to end Australian domination of the past 18 years. One man who kept the Australians in the series, right up until the last day of the final test match at the Oval, was their talismanic leg bowler Shane Warne. Quite simply, Warne is the finest cricketer ever to play the game - and acknowledged as such by his contemporaries and commentators alike. With over 600 test match victims, he managed to take 40 wickets against England, but still ended up on the losing team. Putting the torrid tales of his private life aside, Warne always lets his spinning do the talking for him, becoming the scourge of many international batsmen. Now, for the first time, we provide a superb biographical account of his career in pictures, with commentary from the great man himself. Supported with photographs from his own personal collection, plus superb professional photography of his key moments in first class cricket - this book will chart the rise of the game's greatest exponent of not only spin, but also of never-say-die cricket. Released with perfect timing for the upcoming Ashes contest in Australia in 2006, this is the story, in pictures of a sporting legend that everyone will want to buy.

Review: Shane Warne, who recently passed away, was an Australian cricketer who played in 145 Test Matches between 1992 and 2007. Described as the greatest leg spin bowler ever, he took 708 wickets, a total second only to the Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. He was also a useful late middle order batsman, scoring 3,154 runs during his Test career. Following his retirement from playing, he took up coaching and was also a knowledgeable television commentator.

This book, published in 2006, is an illustrated autobiography of his life and playing career up until that date. Comprising numerous colour photographs and blocks of text, the book covers: his boyhood; Ashes series against England, as well as matches against the other Test playing sides; one day matches; and his time as captain of Hampshire. His approach to cricket, and to life in general, comes across in the book. Never one to shy away from confrontation, his career had its fair number of controversial moments. However, his playing record speaks for itself, and he was a key member of a very successful Australian side.

The book is more of a photographic record, so by its very nature the narrative is fragmentary. However, the high quality of the photographs means that it is an interesting record, and is a fitting tribute to an exceptional cricketer.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: Keane: The Autobiography By Roy Keane

The book will include a new chapter covering events that followed the books publication: Keane's vindication by the FAI report; the punishment meted out by the FA and Mick McCarthy's resignation.

Brilliantly reviewed, Roy Keane's riveting, brutally honest autobiography has the potential to be one of the year's biggest paperback bestsellers.

Review: This, as stated in the title, is the autobiography of the Irish international footballer Roy Keane, written with the assistance of another former Irish footballer Eamon Dunphy. Roy Keane was born in Cork in Ireland and played professional football in the English and Scottish top divisions for Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Celtic. He made 67 appearances for the senior Republic of Ireland team. Following periods in football management, he is probably best known nowadays as a television football pundit. The book was first published in 2002 whilst he was still a player with Manchester United (a follow up autobiography was published in 2014).

Roy Keane’s childhood in Cork is described, together with his progress in schoolboy football before starting his senior career with Cobh Ramblers in the Irish National League. From there, he was signed by Nottingham Forest before moving on to play for, and captain, Manchester United. He describes playing under such legendary managers as Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson. Known throughout his playing career as a tough, uncompromising midfielder, he was also noted for his volatile temperament. His disciplinary record was to cost him as the 1998-1999 season drew to a close, when a yellow card picked up in the semi-final of the European Champions League meant that he was suspended from the final when Manchester United achieved an historic treble by winning the Premier League, the FA Cup and the European Champions League. Throughout the book, it is apparent that he sets very high standards for himself and for others around him, and is quick to criticise when he believes those high standards are not being met. This came to a head just prior to the 2002 World Cup held in Japan and South Korea when he expressed his dissatisfaction with the facilities of Ireland’s training camp, leading to a falling out with the manager and his returning home without participating in the finals.

Roy Keane is clearly a very driven person, and this comes across in the book, which is an insight into his personality and some of the characters in professional football. It is illustrated with many colour photographs, although at times the captions of the photographs do not correspond with the text of the book. There are also a few factual errors in the book. For example, the family of the late Bob Paisley, a former manger of Liverpool, may be surprised to read that the Durham-born Paisley is described as a Scotsman. I should also add a care warning that there is a lot of strong language throughout the book. Despite this, I found it to be a fascinating account of one of football’s characters.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: The Glovemen: The World’s Best Wicket-Keepers By Jack Pollard

This is an analytical study of the art of the wicket-keeper and its most successful practitioners, from the legendary John Blackham, who kept wicket for Australia in the first test, to the modern-day test wicket-keepers. Marsh, Dujon, Evans, Grout, Knott, Engineer, Wasim Bari, Oldfield and a host of others are all discussed, their strengths and weaknesses evaluated, their temperaments and personalities examined. The book also includes an extensive appendix of wicket-keeping records - ranging from the most dismissals in a career to fewest byes conceded (per runs scored and per balls bowled).

Review: There are many books on the game of cricket that feature batters and/or bowlers, but very few that feature the specialist fielding position of wicket-keeper. This book is the exception to the rule. The wicket-keeper is the player in the team whose job is to stand behind the wicket and to stop the balls from the bowler that have gone past the bat and not hit the wicket, thus preventing the conceding of runs known as “byes”. He or she also has the best opportunity after the bowler to dismiss the batter, either by catching the ball if it has hit the bat, usually on its edge, or by stumping the batter if he or she has stepped outside the popping crease in attempting to play a stroke.

This book, published in 1993, is a history of famous wicket-keepers in the men’s game, from the late 19th century up until the book’s compilation and publication. It describes the many characters who have filled the position and also discusses how the role and tactics have evolved over the years. It is also interesting to see how the protective equipment (wicket-keepers wear pads and are the only member of the fielding team allowed to wear gloves, hence the title of the book) has improved over the years. At one stage, because of the limited protection offered, wicket-keepers suffered numerous injuries from the constant pounding their hands, and other parts of the body, took from balls bowled at great pace. The author, Jack Pollard, is Australian and the book gives more coverage to Australian cricket than to the other Test Match playing teams. There are numerous photographs throughout, and it was good to see old pictures of some of the famous wicket-keepers whose names, but not their faces, were familiar to me. There are also detailed statistical appendices at the end of the book giving details of the number of dismissals, and records of the fewest byes conceded. Because these details are included in the appendices, I thought that some of the statistical detail included in the chapters was redundant.

Overall, I would say that this is quite a niche book, and because of its emphasis on Australian cricketers, it would have limited appeal in other countries.