WII - ASHES CRICKET 2009.NEW & SEALED GAME (see trailer
 | £13.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Mar-09-2010 21:08:15 GMT Bid now | Add to watch list |
WOODWORM HOLDALL KIT FLIGHT HAND CRICKET BAG
 | £4.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Mar-09-2010 21:08:40 GMT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Handmade Birthday Card - 3D Cricket boy/man(ref165)
 | £0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Mar-09-2010 21:08:43 GMT Bid now | Add to watch list |
WILLS CRICKET SEASON 1928-29 JC WHITE SOMERSET
 | £2.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Mar-09-2010 21:08:44 GMT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Fatty Batter: How Cricket Saved My Life (then Ruined It)
 BUY HERE! |
RRP: £7.99
Our Price: £2.68 (subject to change)
Reviews
Rubbish cricketers make brilliant writers
Review date: 2009-12-11 Rating: 10 out of 10
When I was young, I had the cricket-based dice game Owzthat. The premise was simple. You rolled one cylindrical die and the batsmen scored 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 runs; if it came up on 'Owzthat' you rolled another to see if and how he got out. Then you ran through the whole team before swapping over. Of course, if you were a solitary type of boy, you could play on your own.
Or if you were really solitary, bordering on autistic, you could construct a whole County Championship with all 17 counties playing each other, with Minor Counties added in to make up the numbers - there was no Durham then - and weight things so that they didn't win, then go through all 162 games. I did that. Leicestershire won, beating off a late surge from Gloucestershire, mainly thanks to the batting of Roger Tolchard at number six.
I could go on. But the point is that I was pretty sure no-one else had ever done this. Wrong. Michael Simkins did, which is why, more than just about any author I have ever read, I'd like to meet him. Kent won his league, by the way. Well you did want to know, didn't you?
This marvellous book is partly about loving cricket despite not being very good, partly about growing up in provincial England and a lot about being male. The parts covering Simkins' youth could bring you to tears of laughter and melancholic nostalgia at the same time, they are so beautifully written. The second half, basically a collection of stories from his time leading his XI, the Harry Baldwins, are mostly just fun but still a cracking read.
It isn't true, despite the strapline, that cricket ruined his life. Actually cricket has made, shaped and bettered his life. And, although he can't actually be that bad a player - he got a century once - Simkins slots nicely into the tradition that poor quality cricketers often make top notch writers on the subject; see also Marcus Berkmann's 'Linseed & Fishpaste' and the late Harry Thompson's glorious 'Penguins Stopped Play', which is debatably even better than this.
Sadly too, good cricketers are often complete knobs and Simkins's limited experience of meeting them bears that out to some extent. That doesn't stop the parts on becoming a commentator at county grounds for a long-forgotten premium rate service being enjoyable. The part on blagging his way into the Test Match Special commentary box is pure gold too.
You really don't have to like cricket to enjoy this book. But it helps.
Another winner
Review date: 2009-10-27 Rating: 10 out of 10
Having read De Tour De France by Michael Simkins, I was intrigued to see if his same laconic and dry style was evident in his other books. I wasn't to be disappointed. If you've never read this author, treat yourself to one of his books.
Fab, funny, well written book.
Review date: 2009-09-04 Rating: 10 out of 10
THis book is great. I bought it for my husband (a cricket fan), who really enjoyed it.Then I read it and LOVED it...it is very amusing and entertaining even if you aren't a hard-core cricket fan. Now my 18-year old son is reading it.
It makes a great present for really any kind of vaguely sports- minded person. I will definitely buy more written by this author.
sidespliting
Review date: 2009-08-05 Rating: 10 out of 10
A very,very funny read from cover to cover for anyone who has played or tried to play the game of cricket.
Product Details/Specifications
Authors:
Michael Simkins
Recording label: Ebury Press
Manufacturer: Ebury Press
EAN: 9780091901516
Binding: Paperback
Dewey decimal number: 796
ISBN: 0091901510
Number of items: 1
Number of pages: 320
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Published)
Similar Products
- What's My Motivation?
- Detour De France: An Englishman in Search of a Continental Education
- Not Dark Yet: A Very Funny Book About a Very Serious Game
- Rain Men: Madness of Cricket
- Zimmer Men: The Trials and Tribulations of the Ageing Cricketer