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And God Created Cricket

And God Created Cricket
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RRP: £20.00

Reviews

He's a commentator, not a writer
Review date: 2009-10-18 Rating: 2 out of 10

I love Simon the Analyst, but he should stick to that. Shame, as he's obviously put a lot of research into this, but it comes out as weak schoolboy humour. So bad, I had it send it back.

The best without a doubt
Review date: 2009-08-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

There are a lot of fine, and some very funny, books about cricket. If you only buy one, this must be it. Funny, perceptive, and hugely informative.

Irreverent potted history of English cricket told in Hughes normal enjoyable way .
Review date: 2009-08-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

Personally I don't, think you can give even a potted history of English cricket in around 300 pages but Simon Hughes has had a jolly good go with And God Created Cricket. As the bye line says it's an irreverent history but still it's can awful lot to cram in ...an awful lot of awful cricket in fact.
And if we accept that God did create cricket ( Richard Dawkins won't like it but there you go ) what would he make of his/her ( lets not gender assume here ) creation ? Well Hughes is optimistic about the game itself so we can assume that our deity would share that optimism about the game that has lasted over 400 years and is "incredibly resilient " and will last for some considerable time ...or at least until global warming lays waste to every cricket pitch . But English cricket ....well that's something different entirely . As I write England are sliding to an ignominious defeat in the 4th Ashes test at Headingley and its hard to disagree with Simon Hughes who concludes that the exclusive deal with Sky brokered by those complete chumps at the E.C.B. is "In danger of administering the last rites to the English game ". God created cricket then he created Rupert Murdoch ( or maybe that was the devil ?) to kill it off in the country that brought it to the world.
Hughes is pretty scathing ( though not enough in my opinion ) about the governing body of English cricket in this country and indeed about the I.C.C. and quite right too .The E.C. B . are in a league of their own , (indeed it should stand for extremely crappy bureaucrats ) for ineptitude but the I.C.C ( incompetent crappy bureaucrats ?) run them close. As Hughes constantly points out you cannot run the English cricket team autonomously and effectively if you have 18 other vested interests ( the counties ) working against all that is best for the team. As long as this system prevails , and it seems it always will , English cricket will operate with one hand tied behind it's back and it's pads on backwards.
Anyway putting that aside i may have given the impression that this book is all serious furrowed brow stuff but it's actually , like Hughes other books , funny and entertaining . The first couple of chapters regarding the early inception of the game are a bit tedious but once we get to Dr W.G Grace who "Had no more idea about bronchitis than Dr Who " it gets way more interesting and enjoyable. There are some great stats about players like Sydney Barnes , Frank Tyson, Denis Compton, Jack Hobbs , Wally Hammond and some priceless anecdotes about others Like Fred Trueman( "I'd ave been quicker in colour ") ,Ian Botham Geoff Boycott , Shane Warne, Graham Gooch and Mike Atherton . My own favourites involve the toss up for a test match at Headingley( we got hammered you may hear with no surprise what so ever ) between Viv Richards and Chris Cowdrey and Jimmy Ormond's magnificent riposte to some flint eyed sledging from Steve Waugh .
I don't, think And God Created Cricket is quite up to the standard of Simon Hughes other books . There is lot of information to impart but it's done in a jaunty easy style and once it deal with the games great charcters is hugely pleasurable to read. Comparisons could be made with Kevin Pietersen in fact .Bit scratchy and awkward at first but then once it's eye is in it flows and is just a joy to behold. The self effacing and genial Hughes is never likely to be nicknamed like the egotistical batsman "Fig jam " ( **** I'm good , Just ask me ) though . Hughes is good however , as this latest book testify's more than adequately .

One of the best
Review date: 2009-07-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

I used to be a TV cricket widow until 2005 - I loved every word of this book - the history bits - the funny bits and finished it just in time for the Ashes so I am now giving bits of info to my cricket mad other half - what a way to spend retirement - watching cricket on TV and reading cricket books - but this was certainly the best. His sense of humour is a delight.

Product Details/Specifications

Authors:
Simon Hughes

Recording label: Doubleday
Manufacturer: Doubleday
EAN: 9780385614993
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: 0385614993
Number of pages: 352
Publication date: 2009-06-05
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Published)

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