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My Favourite Cricket Stories
- GenresAnthologies
144 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1986
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
John Arlott
144 books7 followersLeslie Thomas John Arlott was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet and wine connoisseur. With his poetic phraseology, he became a cricket commentator noted for his "wonderful gift for evoking cricketing moments" by the BBC.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 25, 2021
This is famous cricket commentator John Arlott's selection of twelve cricket stories.Some are fictitious and some pertain to actual events.
As John Arlott says in his introduction,the best cricket stories are concerned less with cricket than with cricketers.
Among the writers is Arthur Conan Doyle,with a rather interesting story about "Spedegue's Dropper" who is selected out of nowhere and wins a Test match with his venomous deliveries after a jittery start.
Also included are articles by Neville Cardus,who was awarded a knighthood for his elegant cricket writing.His description of the "demon" bowler,Fred Spofforth is pretty good.
Arthur Mailey describes bowling to Victor Trumper,who died very young,but is considered among the greatest batsmen by many.
These stories mostly pertain to English county cricket and some are about village cricket.Some are over a hundred years old.
However,for the most part,this book did not meet my expectations.I could not get interested in several of the stories at all.I expected greater humour and drama.
As John Arlott says in his introduction,the best cricket stories are concerned less with cricket than with cricketers.
Among the writers is Arthur Conan Doyle,with a rather interesting story about "Spedegue's Dropper" who is selected out of nowhere and wins a Test match with his venomous deliveries after a jittery start.
Also included are articles by Neville Cardus,who was awarded a knighthood for his elegant cricket writing.His description of the "demon" bowler,Fred Spofforth is pretty good.
Arthur Mailey describes bowling to Victor Trumper,who died very young,but is considered among the greatest batsmen by many.
These stories mostly pertain to English county cricket and some are about village cricket.Some are over a hundred years old.
However,for the most part,this book did not meet my expectations.I could not get interested in several of the stories at all.I expected greater humour and drama.
April 20, 2022
Classic stories- some are a little too dated (Mitford), but others are still engaging today. Cardus, Conan Doyle and Mailey are especially recommended! The standout for me was Barker’s tale of Harold Gimblett.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews