Exiles And Kings - Richard Jones

Sweet Summers: The Classic Cricket Writing of JM Kilburn

An evocative new book 'Sweet Summers: The Classic Cricket Writing of JM Kilburn' (Great Northern Books) edited by award winning writer, Duncan Hamilton, with an introduction by Geoffrey Boycott, captures a time when the true spirit of cricket existed.

"JM Kilburn was one of cricket's major romantic poets: the Coleridge to Neville Cardus' Wordsworth." Duncan Hamilton

"He was the very best of cricket writers." Dickie Bird

"Nowadays, I believe there are too many writers attached to cricket who know bugger all about it - Jim was different." Geoffrey Boycott

For more than forty summers, from 1934 to 1976, J M Kilburn's authoritative and elegant essays on cricket, captured the beauty of the game and the legends gracing it, among them Donald Bradman, Fred Trueman, Jack Hobbs, Keith Miller, Garfield Sobers, Hedley Verity and Walter Hammond. He writes of the days when 8,000 people watched Yorkshire's County Championship matches; when he travelled by ship on an Ashes tour with his friend Len Hutton; and of a bygone but beautiful period when one-day matches, coloured clothing and rampant commercialism in cricket simply didn't exist.

The scent of those long-lost 'sweet summers' is found in this new book: a collection of Kilburn's writings from the Yorkshire Post, Wisden and The Cricketer as well as his ten published books including 'In Search of Cricket'. Expertly compiled by Duncan Hamilton (author of the 2007 William Hill award winning book 'Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough') this book is perfectly timed as present-day cricket stumbles from one controversy to the next. In addition to Kilburn's cultivated and insightful words, the book also contains 42 superb archive images.

Duncan Hamilton says, 'Kilburn is worth reading not only because he was a knowledgeable and respected interpreter of cricket - well balanced, tough-minded and scrupulously honest in his verdicts - but also for the valuable historical and social perspective that reading him provides. Most of all he demonstrably cared about cricket. His heart was in it - and belonged to it.'

Geoffrey Boycott, has provided the introduction to the book, in which he says, 'When I was growing up in Fitzwilliam, television didn't dominate cricket in the way it does today. Even radio coverage of it was spasmodic. If I wanted to know what was happening at Headingley, I turned to the Bible of Yorkshire cricket - the Yorkshire Post and Jim's report, which was read like scripture throughout the county'. Later as a player, Boycott came to know Kilburn well and respected his judgement and his integrity, explaining: 'Jim was someone I could trust implicitly. Later on in my career, as the desire for tabloid scandal profoundly altered the relationship between journalists and players, I was always wary about talking to reporters who I didn't know. You could find something you'd said - usually innocuously or half in jest - either grossly inflated or ripped out of context and then spread across the back pages in huge dark type. Jim was different.'

The book also contains contributions from other leading cricket writers, commentators and legendary players including Dickie Bird, Richie Benaud, Richard Hutton, John Woodcock, Matthew Engel, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Geoffrey Moorhouse, David Frith, Derek Hodgson, Brian Close, Ray Illingworth, Stephen Chalke, Harry Gration, Chris Waters, Bob Appleyard and Don Wilson.

'Sweet Summers: The Classic Cricket Writing of JM Kilburn' edited by Duncan Hamilton, introduction by Geoffrey Boycott.

Hardback, £16.99, published by Great Northern Books - telephone 01274 735056 or go to www.greatnorthernbooks.co.uk.

Considered the most forward-thinking coach in international cricket, Bob Woolmer’s tragic and untimely death at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean do

Considered the most forward-thinking coach in international cricket, Bob Woolmer’s tragic and untimely death at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean dominated headlines around the globe for months. One small comfort is that he had just completed his magnum opus, a lifetime’s wisdom gathered from playing and coaching cricket at the highest levels.

Bob Woolmer’s Art and Science of Cricket represents the first time that a cricket coach and a sports scientist, both experts in their field, have combined their experience, insights and knowledge to create the most comprehensive book on playing and coaching cricket published to date. The book covers all the essentials such as batting, bowling and fielding but, unlike other coaching manuals, the aim of this book is to develop all-rounders who can show mental as well as technical strength.

The technical chapters contain photos of Allan Donald, Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes demonstrating the techniques and the book also contains a foreword by Richie Benaud. Bob Woolmer’s Art and Science of Cricket is divided into four parts; Discovering Cricket, Cricket Techniques, Thinking Cricket and Cricket Science. Including the latest cutting-edge research on the science of cricket, from answers to the mysteries of swing and spin to injury prevention and treatment, this trailblazing book is set to become the definitive cricket manual, telling you everything you need to know about becoming the best cricketer or coach that you can be.

AUTHOR DETAILS

Bob Woolmer was considered the most forward-thinking coach in international cricket at the time of his tragic death at the 2007 World Cup. He played at the highest levels of the game, from county to the Packer circus and the Test arena, but it was as a coach that he created an enduring legacy, whether with the South African and Pakistan national teams, as High Performance Manager for the International Cricket Council, or as motivator and mentor for township clubs in South Africa.

Professor Tim Noakes co-founded the Sports Science Institute of South Africa and is the Discovery Health Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Cape Town. He also directs the UCT/Medical Research Council Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit. An A-rated scientist, he is the author of four editions of Lore of Running (the ‘runner’s Bible’). He takes a keen interest in cricket-related research.

Dr Helen Moffett is a freelance writer, academic and avid cricket fan, and has lectured all over the world on the social, political and cultural aspects of the game. She has co-produced two films on cricket and nation-building in South Africa, and is the first woman to have been invited to give the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Lecture in the West Indies.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

Publication Date: 1st August 2008
Price: £30 Hardback
ISBN: 978 184773 3146

www.bobwoolmerbook.com

PA Photos - 100 Years Of Cricket

For the first time in its 140 year history, PA Photos offers up some of the most memorable sporting images from its massive archive in a landmark series of books that spans the whole of the 20th Century.

Most of the images featured in the books have lain unseen since first being used as news pictures. Hand-picked by PA Photos’ own archivists, each image has been scanned especially for these books, many from glass plates, ensuring the best possible quality of reproduction.

Sports fans will find these books a compelling addition to their shelves - a chance to see the people, and witness the great moments, of the last hundred years of the most popular sports in Britain. The general reader will be equally fascinated by the unique insight into our recent history that these pictures provide: to modern eyes, the crowds and backgrounds are as interesting as the subjects themselves.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

Type: Paperback
Date: November 2008
Price: £14.99

Buy online: click here

Krejza Reflects On Unbelievable Test Debut

Picked in the eleven as a gamble, Australia off-spinner Jason Krejza walked into the record books by taking eight wickets on debut in the final test against India on Friday.The 25-year-old bowler took five wickets in the space of 26 balls in his post-lunch spell as India collapsed to 441 all out to give Australia hope of a series-levelling victory."It's a bit of a blur still," Krejza told a news conference of his five-wicket burst."I tried to keep doing what I was doing. I was happy to get the wickets. It's still unbelievable to me."It was an important session this morning, we wanted to get a couple of wickets earlier, but it's definitely swung back into our favour."Krejza, a tall, loopy spinner, was chosen in place of seamer Stuart Clark as a second specialist spinner to exploit the spin-friendly conditions as Australia bid to avoid their first series defeat in three years."It's incredible. It's still pretty unbelievable, against the best players of spin in the world," said the bowler, who shifted from pace to spin as a young boy following two stress fractures in his back.Among his victims were Rahul Dravid, Vangipurappu Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly, four of India's top batsmen, and his rise comes at a time when Australia are struggling to find a replacement for the retired Shane Warne.Opener Simon Katich struck 92 not out and put on 115 for the unbroken third wicket with Michael Hussey (45) as the visitors moved to a confident 189 for two at stumps."We've got two batsmen who are very good and got us into a good position to win the game," said Krejza, whose father is a footballer from the Czech Republic and whose mother comes from Poland.Krejza became the sixth bowler and third Australian after Albert Trott and Bob Massie to take eights wickets on debut.He also entered the record books for conceding the most runs (215) by a test debutant."I think that's what good about Ricky (Ponting), a lot of spinners would have got taken off," he said of the skipper.

Records Tumble As Australia Women Win Again

Captain Karen Rolton's eighth international century and a second to opener Alex Blackwell headlined a record-breaking day for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars as they cruised to a 118-run win against India at Manuka Oval.Rolton's century (101) set the world record for the most number of One Day International centuries by a woman. Her first century in more than three years was scored off just 91 balls and helped the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars post 281 for three, their highest score against India.Blackwell's second One Day International century was brought up in the 49th over with twin sister Kate at the non-striker's end. On both occasions when she has reached triple figures at international level, Alex has had Kate at the other end to congratulate her.In reply, India was bowled out for 163 in the 46th over after again failing to mount a serious run chase."I had a good off-season, so I was really looking forward to this series. I hit the ball well in the Twenty20 match and was disappointed over the couple of games because I had plenty of opportunities but didn't take my chances to get a big score," Rolton said."As a team, we wanted to work on a few things today, especially with our batting. We wanted to try and score 300, so we fell just short of that."Bowling wise, I thought everyone did well. It was good to get a few more overs out of Leah Poulton and she managed to get her first international wicket. Emma Sampson and Ellyse Perry bowled really well to get two and three wickets each, and to finish with a couple of run outs was very pleasing."Rolton's feat was one of many on a remarkable day for Australian women's cricket. Among the day's other milestones:* The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars recorded their highest score against India (281-3)* Two players scored centuries in the same One Day International innings for Australia for the first time against a top-four ranked nation* Alex Blackwell scored her second international century and highest score (106 not out from 145) and carried her bat through the innings;* Rolton and Blackwell recorded the second highest partnership (166) for Australia against India for any wicket* Leah Poulton claimed her first international wicket.After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars posted 281 for three with Rolton and Blackwell's contributions ensuring the home team posted a huge total.India's innings began disastrously with MD Thiruskamini run out off a no-ball in the fourth over.For the third match in a row, India's chase never threatened the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars. By the 17th over, India had slumped to 51 for four with star batter Mithali Raj dismissed for 22. Despite a spirited 56-run partnership between Anagha Deshpande and Priyanka Roy, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars were able to keep the pair's efforts in check before cruising to another emphatic win.Ellyse Perry led the wicket-takers for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars with 3-21, while Emma Sampson took 2-24.The final match of the series will be played at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

ICC Urges 2011 Cup Hosts To Step Up Preparations

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has told the four host countries of the 2011 World Cup to speed up their preparations for the event.ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat told representatives of the Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh cricket boards during a meeting in New Delhi this week that they needed to fast track preparations that are running 10 months behind schedule.The joint World Cup committee met formally for the first time since it was formed in June 2007."The ICC had advised us to go into overdrive," Saleem Altaf, the director-general of the Pakistan board, told Reuters on Friday. "The budget for the World Cup would be approved next year in June."Altaf said the ICC would also be contacting the respective governments to discuss a common visa for World Cup visitors."They want a common visa like the one issued for the last World Cup in West Indies in 2007," he said.India is due to host 22 matches, including the final of the tournament, with 14 matches in Pakistan, nine in Sri Lanka and six matches.Pakistan and Sri Lanka will host the semi-finals while Bangladesh will host the opening ceremony.