3 minute read
We don’t often discuss cricket books these days because reading about cricket is generally not what we want to do when we’re done reading about cricket for the day. King Cricket reader Sam Blackledge read one, though, and he sent us this review.
Journalism has come a long way in recent years. The old toxic culture of nepotism, favors after favors and ‘It’s all about who you know’ are being consigned to the bin, like so many copies of the News of the World and Piers Morgan’s autobiography.
We canceled our expense accounts, cleaned up our collective action, and now everything is completely fine and dandy.
So, with that in mind, here’s my completely unbiased review of a new book by some promising young writers, who I happened upon while idly searching the internet for Christmas gifts and had no previous connection with, to be honest.
The 50 most ridiculous Ashes moments by Dan Liebke and Alex Bowden is a witty, clever and highly detailed book, which will undoubtedly give PR people a ‘sideways look’ at everyone’s favorite/most painful cricket rivalry*.
All your favorite nonsense is here: Botham’s Headingley exploits; Waugh’s career-saving ton; Breed doesn’t run; Yelling loudly at a robot; Broad adjusts a sight for 15 minutes before being bowled for a golden duck.
As I flipped through the pages, I was transported back to watching the Top of the Pops chart from circa 1996. As each item ticked by and we got closer to the top, the permutations became smaller. Either Mark Morrison’s ‘Return of the Mack’ had made it to number one, or it hadn’t placed at all.
Suffice to say, readers won’t be disappointed by what Messrs Liebke and Bowden have picked as the most ridiculous Ashes moment of the last 50 years.
Cricket books are available at my house, especially during the holidays. For every Mike Brearley’s Art of Captaincy, there’s a Michael Vaughan’s Year in the Sun. (Summary: I was really good at hitting for a while.)
Early January is peak season for my local Oxfam chapter, volunteers gasp with joy as canvas bags filled with multiple untouched copies of Tuffers’ Cricket Tales are dumped at their feet. (Summary: I smoked some cigarettes and got a comment from Goochie.)
The 50 most ridiculous axle moments are different. This is a book that will sit proudly on my bookshelf, despite the fact that – as previously mentioned – I have no connection with the authors whatsoever.
As this winter has shown, wherever The Ashes goes, nonsense inevitably follows. This book will surely be called into action repeatedly in the years to come, whenever a friend or relative, upon seeing another England batsman trudge onto the track and throw one to deep extra cover, exclaims, ‘That’s absolutely ridiculous’.
Hello everyone, Liebke and Bowden, whoever they are. Apparently they also have a podcast. I wonder if it’s any good?
*Delete as appropriate depending on whether your chosen country is currently holding the urn or conducting another post-series structural assessment.
If we had been a little less lazy, we would have put together a STAR BUY! or RECOMMENDED! logo along with some 5/5 style images to go with the above unbiased review. But we’re lazy, so we didn’t do that.
We will include it though this link so you can buy the book and (a) support UK independent bookstores and (b) us. Sam for some reason doesn’t mention how shiny and full of color it is and therefore definitely worth £19 even from an unbiased perspective.
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