Ashes to Dust

by Graham Cookson

"Ashes to Dust" charts the disastrous 2006/7 Ashes Test series from the point of view of a member England's incredible phalanx of committed supporters - The Barmy Army. Many members of this dedicated, and some would argue, slightly crazed, group watched every ball of every day of the Ashes. But, as their cricket team failed miserably, the focus quickly turned to trying to at least out-doing the Australians in the one area where we are world leaders; sarcasm and humour - black, black humour. Rubbing shoulders with the Barmy Army, the Aussie cricket fanatics, as many celebs as possible, the stewards and police, and paying particular attention to engaging in banter with the 'irony-free' natives, Graham Cookson, who quit his job to embark upon the trip of a lifetime, saw his dreams of English victory turn into his biggest nightmare - total humiliation at the hands of Australians. Having become a national hero back in the UK thanks to his deadpan appearances as BBC Radio "Five Live's Barmy Army" correspondent as the Ashes lurched from disaster to even worse, and writing a hugely poplar blog on yahoo.co.uk, Graham also spent a night on the tiles with Sky TV's David Lloyd - Bumble to all cricketing fans - witnessed the dampest of squibs that was the Barmy Army Christmas party and tells how he watched England's only success of the tour - victory in the ensuing One Day international series - from the comfort of his home in Lancashire, having returned home battered and metaphorically bruised from his chastening experience. Bloody typical! "Ashes to Dust" is not written by a well-paid journo sitting in an air-conditioned press box wringing their hands at the horror. It is written by someone who has sung, shouted, drunk and exchanged insults with the Aussies on behalf of Queen and Country, and occasionally taken the spoils. It's about feeling real pain whilst watching the demise of your team, sometimes in blistering heat. It's about dreams turning into dust.

Paperback

First published May 31, 2007

Reviews

[Karen]

The conversation went a little something like this....

Cookie - "I'm your new boss."
Me - "I wanted to be made redundant. I was going to write a book."
Cookie - “I've written a book."

And so it came to pass that I read this book. If you ever look at my book reviews you will know I read classics and smut. Ashes To Dust falls into neither category although I was hopeful that a single man down under would get some action, alas it was not to be. The closest Cookie got to a shag, other than the Lucky Shag, was a blow up doll at the GABBA.

So what can I tell you about this book? It's funny. It's about cricket. It's written by one of the best bosses I ever had. I'm not trying to get some great bonus or promotion out of this. I got my golden ticket.

My favourite bits:

1. Perfect grammar. I love to see apostrophes in the right places. Makes me wonder who did the editing.
2. Bumble. I love him, the man is a legend.
3. Aussie soaps. Sons And Daughters, I used to run home from school to watch it.
4. Some of my favourite words, brouhaha and capitulation
5. Cookie went to Gingistan - what does that really mean?
6. The Wiggles. Murray Wiggle was sex on legs.

Fab book for cricket lovers. Fab book for me because it made me admire my Cookymonster all the more.

Thanks for the laughs. Thanks for the support. Thanks for letting me wax your legs. Thanks for the car park walks. Cookie, you are a legend.

[Lee Dobson]

One of the greatest books about watching England lose and having a great time and understanding it is not just about winning...Great stuff...thoroughly recommended