| Cricket Facts, Figures & Fun |
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by Liam McCann |
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Entertaining pocket history of the game from its origins to the present day, all interspersed with a wealth of facts, records, snippets and stories. Published in time for the 2007 World Cup series. "The Port Elizabeth ground is more of a circle than an oval-it's long and square" - Trevor Bailey "I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that before, and it's the second time it's happened today" - Brian Johnston "Vengsarkar taking a simple catch at square leg, the ball literally dropping down his throat" - Bob Willis In the 1830s William Clarke, one of Nottinghamshire's first professional cricketers, realised the value in organising a touring 'England' side that would take on both club and county sides nationwide. He made his debut aged just seventeen in 1816 and only retired some forty years later. He became licensee of the Trent Bridge Arms in the early 1830s and opened the ground of the same name in 1837. By 1846 he had formed his All England XI touring side (composed of the best county players) and they played their first match against twenty men of Sheffield later that summer. Although they lost, the idea of local club sides taking on a star-studded outfit was appealing to the masses. So popular were the games that Clarke could afford to pay his players £4 per match. He'd proved to the powers that controlled the game that, if managed properly, touring could turn a tidy profit. "I hope no one's house is burning down. It's much too nice a day to be left without a house" - Henry Blofeld "That's what happens when, in cricketing parlance, the wheel comes off and you can't steer the boat" - Bob Willis "The wicket didn't do too much, but when it did, it did too much" - Mike Gatting "The only possible result is a draw. The alternative is a win for England" - Richie Benaud "That's what cricket is all about: two batsmen pitting their wits against one another" - Fred Trueman Please Note: This title ships from the UK. Liam McCann lives in rural Surrey near Guildford in the south of England, where he was born. Always a keen sportsman he was Surrey county champion in three of the athletics field events and won a British Universities Medal in 1993. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Physiology and Psychology. Instead of finding work in the sports industry, Liam formed a rock band that toured Europe for four consecutive years. He is currently completing his second Ed Sampson adventure novel.
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