Around the Wicket: Edward Pettigrew's Diary of a Year at Little Lampton Cricket Club

by Vernon Coleman

Around the Wicket is the story of a year in the life of the Little Lampton Cricket Club - a club which seems to have more than its fair share of misfits, ne'er-do-wells and disaster prone members and supporters. MCC member and bestselling author Vernon Coleman believes that the best - and most entertaining - cricket is played at village level.`This new cricket club will bowl you over! A book to be savoured over and over again.' - The Guardian`It's a non stop comic book, eminently easy to read. The village cricket match will never be the same again after you've read this.' - Chester ChronicleVernon Coleman is the author of over 100 books which have sold over two million hardback and paperback copies in the UK and been translated into 25 languages. His books include Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War (which has been filmed), Mrs Caldicot's Knickerbocker Glory, Mr Henry Milligan, It's Never Too Late, Paris in my Springtime and the Bilbury series.What the papers say about Vernon Coleman and his Coleman writes brilliant books - The Good Book GuideColeman is a very funny writer - This EnglandHe writes lucidly and wittily - Good HousekeepingCompulsive reading - The GuardianBrilliant! - The PeopleetcDr Vernon Coleman, is a qualified doctor and numerous TV and radio series have been based on his medical books.For more about Vernon Coleman's books please see his page on Amazon Author Central or for more information visit www.vernoncoleman.com

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

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Reviews

[Stephen A. Matthews · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Low Average (2 seems about right):

I had wanted to like this book more and hoped it would score a five (five runs). Was it funny? In parts. Was it about cricket? In some parts but could have been about almost anything in others. The glue was the format of events in a village and village cricket club over a year (a format used by several others). Some of the stories/anecdotes were tortuous and vaguely cricket related. And, some were not particularly funny. Some of the cricket stories were not funny and some of the non-cricket stories were. It was an easy read but at times it read as awkward and somewhat juvenile. I almost gave up several times but decided I would read in chunks and I hate abandoning play half way through. The book really was a mixed bag and relied heavily on numerous dated stereotypes (ok) and was sexist (not ok). Indeed, it seemed like the author tried too hard to get cheap laughs and many times these just did not land. Yes, there were some very funny moments in among these stories - akin to beautifully bowled outswingers flying past the edge of the bat and deriving a wicket - but there were many more unfunny moments too (akin to friendly full tosses and dolly drops that get what they deserve). Overall then, a low average across the year. I settled on a 2 as when it’s all averaged out that seems about right; and it’s where the club ends up. i might have given it a three but my energy was sapped and I was run out attempting to add another run.