Behind the Shades

by Duncan Fletcher

Before his resignation in April 2007, Duncan Fletcher had been the most successful England cricket coach of the modern era. In the glorious summer of 2005 Fletcher's management and coaching skills reached their apogee, as England regained the Ashes from Australia for the first time since 1985. Widely acclaimed as the greatest Test series in the history of the game, this five-match contest thrilled the nation with its extraordinary swings of fortune. It was a personal triumph for Fletcher, and the high point of his tenure as England coach. One of the most experienced and senior figures in the game, Fletcher now looks back over his life and career as he ponders his next step. What was it that drove him from a sporty and competitive Rhodesian farming family to the heights of international cricket? What lessons has he drawn from his successful business career in forging a winning team? Full of telling insights and frank assessments of the players and administrators he has had the pleasure and pain of working alongside, Behind the Shades is the riveting and revelatory autobiography of the man who put the pride back into the England cricket team.

Genres: Biography

378 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 2007

About the author

Duncan Andrew Gwynne Fletcher OBE is a Zimbabwean cricket coach and former cricketer, who has coached the England and Indian national teams. He led the Indian team to be the winners of the 2013 International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy.

He was England coach between 1999 and 2007, and is credited with the resurgence of the England team in Test cricket in the early 2000s.

As a cricketer, he captained the Zimbabwean test team following independence, winning the 1982 ICC Trophy and leading Zimbabwe in the 1983 Cricket World Cup.

With thanks to Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Brian Haining · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a cricket supporter for years and followed England's test side during Duncan Fletchers tenure, making the book an appealing read.

The book is written largely in chronological order detailing Duncan's upbringing, sporting life, and his move into cricket, culminating in his coaching of the English test side.

The book is well paced, and covers the different aspects of his coaching role, whether it be improving players, selection decisions, dealing with the bureaucracy of the ICC or ECB, or dealing with the press. He explains the rationale behind decisions of selection and how he didn't always get his own way and also discusses pivotal moments of matches.

I thought the book was an interesting read explaining many of the difficulties in handling a squad of players, often touring away from home for extended periods of time.

He comes across as a well-respected, dour, quiet man who relished his time as England coach

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inside the mind of a master cricket coach. Riveting, honest account of life on tour with the England cricket team. It has everything - coaching strategies, reasons behind picking players over others, interfering cricket board members. Funny, insightful, one of the best cricket books I've read.