Bat, Ball and Field: A Guide to the History, Miscellany and Magic of the Sport of Cricket

Brilliant book which had plenty for me a seasoned cricket fan. Bought this copy for my daughter who found the explanation of the basics of the game invaluable. But the anecdotes and stories are something you will want to dip into regularly.

The book is of some interest though nowhere in the same league as John Majors 'More Than A Game'. What I found so interesting is the way it is divided into 'Bat' 'Ball' and 'Field'. That's not a bad way of taking the topics I suppose. It is not as erudite in historical terms as John Major's History of Cricket - taking in the history of Lords for example - but then again the text is supposed to be more chatty and quicker to read. It also takes other aspects which John Majors book doesn't (and perhaps which book takes as mandatory acquired first reading) such as the different speeds of delivery of bowling, the different kinds of spin bowling.All in all a good book but not a seminal text. Good for reading on the beach or having in the water closet or on a coffee table, but not so good on history.