Reviews (1)

Devils RULE!!!!!
This book is a behind the scenes look into the life of one of the best netminders ever... Brodeur.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Hockey - General    5. Ice Hockey    6. Sports - General    7. Cricket    8. Sports & Recreation / General   

Reviews (9)

Cricket is NOTHING like baseball!!!
For years, my West Indies friends have said "Cricket is just like baseball" and I just couldn't get it.Mr. Eastaway does a fantastic job of explaining the terminology and the rules so that I can now watch a match and understand fully what's going on.Mostly I learned not to ask "why they call it that" because, as he says, for some words, there is no logical explanation.

If you want to know about cricket just ask me
I'll be honest I haven't read this book, because I already know all there is to know about cricket, being a cricketer over in Engalnd myself.However I wanted to write something about cricket on amazon, because more people need to understand it.I'm a sport lover in general, in fact I actually watch baseball quite a lot, as we have one channel on terrestrial TV in England that shows MLB matches.But cricket is the original bat and ball game, i'll give you a few pointers on the great game.
A fantastic guide for the recently initiated
I had the pleasure of catching two of the five days of an England test match against South Africa at the Oval during a recent holiday in London.As an American and an avid baseball fan, all I had ever heard of cricket was "boring", "incomprehensible" and, yet again, "boring".I found my two days at the Oval fascinating and was fortunate enough to not only have the patience to pay attention to the game during those two days, but also to stumble upon this great book at a bookstore on Fulham.I was even more fortunate to find the book between the two days I attended, read it from cover to cover, and have become a bit of a pest now to my American nonbelieving friends.Cricket is a great sport and if you want the quick and dirty, well here it is.From Googly to Howzhat, it's all here.Now I know enough to pester my Indian neighbors during the next test match.I wish I had this book last year during the World Cup.Great read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ball Games    2. Cricket    3. Rules    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Sports & Recreation / Cricket   

Reviews (3)

excellent book on the early social history of Indian cricket
Ram Guha is both an environmental historian and an avid cricket enthusiast. He dons the latter avatar here to write a fantastic history of Indian cricket. This is not just a history of cricket, but a history of Bombay in the late 19th-early 20th centuries as well, along with commentary on the battle fought by the Untouchables, and a biography of the Baloo brothers, all rolled into one. He also introduces what he calls the 'Empire of Cricket' hypothesis- that the English were encouraged that the Indians took to cricket, because they thought it was some sort of justification for their imperial mission.
One of the best books on Indian cricket
The title is deservingly flattering but then there are only a handful of Indian books on Indian cricket (Guha's own "Wickets in the East" is the 5 star rare-to-find masterpiece.) The book begins with a meticulous and stirring history & commentary on early Indian cricket. The focus gradually shifts onto the Quadrangular-Pentangular 'communal cricket' in Bombay from 1900s to the 1940s until MK Gandhi wisely raised his walking stick andput a stop to it. The high point of this book is Guha's reliving the cricketing struggles and exploits of the chamar (a still oppressed Indian caste) Palwankar brothers. After this Dr. Guha moves onto more contemporary stories in Indian cricket. This falls flat because in my opinion, it is tooearly to talk about the social ramifications of Indian cricket. (FYI, the Indian cricket is usually comforabally upper caste/class, despite the barriers broken by the Palwankar brothers many years ago.) But the story of early Indian cricket, the Palwankar brothers, and the description of early Indo-Pak cricket are more than enough to make this book a worthy read. Guha's writing talent lies in being able to provide a passionate commentary to this history while making sure one does not intrude on the other.

Indian cricket pre-Test History
Why did the Indian sub-continent take to cricket so completely? And why can't India have a proper sporting relationship with Pakistan? Why are the fans so passionate, and why is Sachin Tendulkar revered as a God?Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - India & South Asia    2. Cricket    3. History    4. History: World    5. History of specific subjects    6. India   

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Subjects:  1. Cricket    2. General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. History    6. Sports & Recreation / Cricket    7. West Indies   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architectural Design    3. Architectural Firms    4. Architecture    5. Design and construction    6. Engineering - Civil    7. England    8. General    9. Individual Architect    10. London    11. Lord's Media Centre (Lord's Cr    12. Lord's Media Centre (Lord's Cricket Ground, London, England)    13. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    14. Science/Mathematics    15. Structural Engineering    16. Towers    17. Architecture / General    18. Cricket    19. Public buildings: civic, commercial, industrial, etc   

Reviews (7)

Well written but not my cup of tea
I'm too far removed from the author to appreciate this book. This memoir is written with the assumption that the reader is familiar with his articles on cricket, is as avid fan of the game of cricket and an avid reader. Well, I have the third qualification for this book except that I haven't read his favorite book: Vanity Fair. To someone who follows cricket will come away with much more from reading this book.

Lives up to its reputation
Beyond a Boundary reached number 3 in the UK Observer Sport Monthly's poll of the best fifty sports books of all time.It is burdened with enormous praise; amongst the quotes included on the cover are: `To say "the best cricket book ever written" is pifflingly inadequate praise' and `Great claims have been made for [Beyond a Boundary] since its first appearance in 1963: that it is the greatest sports book ever written; that it brings the outsider a privileged insight into West Indian culture; that it is a severe examination of the colonial condition.All are true.'
Fortunately about more than Cricket
The best blurb endorsing Beyond a Boundary is "To say `the best cricket book ever written' is piffingly inadequate praise."It succinctly conveys this is a great book, is about cricket, is about other things as well, and is written in language you don't use that often.Beyond a Boundary was published in 1963, but was written over most of the previous 35 years or so.The author, CLR James, was a West Indian Cricket fan, journalist, and patriot.The book is organised according to his reminisces of other Cricket players, most significantly better players than James (although it sounds like James was a quality player, just not an international class player).Now, any American thinking about reading this book already knows there is no such thing as a "famous cricket player".These people may be national heroes in other places, but one of the most famous cricket players, WG Grace, was to me just a name that reminds me of a floor wax company. So be forewarned that James is prone to using phrases like "the story of which is known to all" when for me little was known.Read more

Subjects:  1. Ball Games    2. Cricket    3. Essays    4. Social conditions    5. Sociology Of Sports    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Sports and state    9. West Indies    10. Caribbean islands    11. Cultural studies    12. Sports & Outdoor Recreation    13. USA   

Reviews (2)

TheDying Art ?
What strikes readers of Brearley's treatise on captaining a cricket side is its relevance so long after it was written. Though it deals with a dying era of wildly eccentric English cricketers the likes of which we will never see again (Close, Dexter, Underwood, Cowdrey et.al) and the golden era of county cricket that professional sport finally replaced, his thought's on the game still hold as true as the day he penned them. Captaincy is still all of the things Brearley discusses and very little he doesn't. Even his predictions seem to be by a man who had seen the future. His discussion of the new trend of 'sledging,' the over aggressive nature of the modern players and his distaste for themseem more than justified today.
Excellent insight into cricket captaincy
I don't have much to compare against (as it is the only cricket-related book I've read), but it makes an excellent read. Most of Brearley's arguments are based on sound logic, and he relates some pretty interesting anecdotes to back it up. A lot of these are however from English county cricket, and many readers may not be able to relate to them. The book is still a very compelling read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who's involved in playing the game, or interested in reading about it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Reference    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Cricket    5. Management & management techniques    6. Television   

Subjects:  1. 1965-    2. Anecdotes    3. Australia    4. Cricket players    5. Sports    6. Waugh, Steve,    7. Cricket   

Subjects:  1. Cricket    2. General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sports & Recreation / Cricket   

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Subjects:  1. Almanacs    2. Cricket    3. Reference    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sports & Recreation / Cricket    6. Yearbooks, annuals, almanacs   

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Reviews (2)

Time to declare for the Don
When Nelson Mandela commenced his long walk to freedom, just over a decade ago, he wanted to know whether Sir Donald Bradman, Australia's only cricketing knight, was still alive. A few days ago 'The Don'celebrated his 92nd birthday (born 27/8/08)and despite finishing his Test cricket career in 1948 is still regarded as the greatest Australian. Bradman's name is synonymous with fair play, modesty and excellence. His Test average of 99.94 per innings is double that of most other top-line batsmen (Graeme Pollock of South Africa is second, with an average of 60.97, and I deem myself as very fortunate in seeing his best score of 274 at Durban in 1970). British Labour peer, Lord Charles Williams, has written a superb book which places Bradman's outstanding feats in the context of Australia growing-up in the world. As Williams notes,the heroes of most other nations are symbolised by the warlike spirit of nationalism. However, Australia has never had a civil war or national revolution, nor has it ever been at war with near- neighbours. Thus, for Australians sport has become an integral part of politics and Aussie sporting champions achieved a status several notches higher than elsewhere.Accordingly, Bradman's deeds against an English 'army' clad in white was not to be compared to Babe Ruth's baseball feats (and the pair did meet in 1932)but rather to George Washington's victories against the British redcoats!( yes, I am exaggerating and The Don would have cringed at such suggestions but it simply helps to explain why opinion polls of today invariably rate him as the greatest Australian-not just the best cricketer or sportsman).Williams taps into the Australia psyche brilliantly and records just how important Don Bradman was to a fledgling Depression-era nation at the end of the world. Bradman and champion racehorse Phar Lap gave Australians something to cheer about as both proved themselves against the great nations of the world ( Phar Lap won brilliantly at his only start in the USA before dying in his paddock). For anyone remotely interested in Australia or cricket this book is required reading. UPDATE (27/8/01) Sir Donald Bradman would have been 93 today-but unfortunately he died on 25 February 2001, an event that almost brought the nation to a standstill, causing much introspection about the man, his deeds, and his influence on the nation.

A 5 star book for a 5 star Australian hero
.When Nelson Mandela commenced his long walk to freedom, just over adecade ago,he wanted to know whether Sir Donald Bradman, Australia's onlycricketing knight, was still alive.As I write this review "TheDon" is only one day off his 92nd birthday(born 27/8/08). Any lover ofcricket, the world over, knows the name of Bradman-his name is synonymouswith fair play, modesty and excellence.His test batting average of 99.94runs per average is almost double other quality test batsmen.(I considermyself fortunate in seeing the second best, South Africa's GraemePollock,average 60.97, make his best score of 274 in Durban in 1970). Infact Bradman only needed to make 4 runs in his last test innings to averagea 100-instead he was out for 0-one of the few 'ducks'of his career. BritishLabour peer, Lord Charles Williams,has written a superb book which is asmuch about Australia as it is on our nation'sgreatest sportsman.Williamsplaces Bradman's great feats in the context of Australia growing up in theworld. As Williams notes, the heroes in almost every other countrysymbolised the spirit of warlike nationalism. However Australia has neverhad a civil war or revolution, nor been at war with her near-neighbours.ForAustralians sport became an integral part of politics and sportingchampions achieved a status several ranks higher than elsewhere. Thus,Bradman's deeds against an English 'army'clad in white,were akin not toBabe Ruth's baseball feats (and the pair did meet) but rather, assignificant as George Washington's victories against the British redcoats!!Even today, many years retired, Bradman is always rated as the greatestAustralian in opinion polls ( not just the best sportsman).Williams tapsthe Australian psyche brilliantly, particularly the Depression era where afledgling nation, at the end of the earth, needed heroes. The two 'stars'who provided the boost to national confidence in those dark days are stillremembered as Australian icons-'Big Red' (the champion racehorse Phar Lap,who died in the USA after brilliantly winning at his only Americanstart)and Don Bradman. For anyone remotely interested in Australia andcricket this is a must-read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 2-3    2. Cricket    3. General    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Australia    7. Biography: sport    8. CRICKET PLAYERS    9. Sports & Recreation / Cricket   

Subjects:  1. Cricket    2. Law    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Social law    6. Sport & leisure industries    7. Sports & Recreation / Cricket   

Reviews (1)

Ok Book, great pics
Not bad! Really great photo's in the book ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Cricket    3. Mascarennas, Mark    4. Pictorial works    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Sports Memorabilia (besides cards)    8. World Cup (Cricket)    9. Soccer (Association football)    10. c 1990 to c 2000   

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Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Biography: sport    3. Cricket   

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Reviews (1)

One of the great Cricket autobiographys.
Mike Atherton the fromer England Captain and opening Batsmen has written an informative and at time insightful book in to his career and life. Opening Up presents you with the facts and is a straight shooting book on everything fronm the England Test Team to life after retirement.Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Biography: sport    3. Cricket