What my cricket-mad brother is reading and listening to …

After my Mum obliged my request to make some remarks on the blog about her recent reading, I asked my brother if he was interested in doing the same some time. Within an hour or two he had supplied me with the paragraphs below – not keen at all!

As you will see, three out of four items are cricket related which reflects his current No 1 passion. The Oval will be Mike’s home for these five days for he’s a member of Surrey cricket club, and never misses a home test match. I do wonder which’ll will win on Saturday afternoon though – I believe Crystal Palace are playing at home. Here’s his report …

Listening

The Great Rock ‘N’ Roll Swindle (download) – Includes certain notorious B Sides and a wonderful version of You Need Hands – ideal for easing the stresses of work – especially when played REALLY loud and singing along.

Duckworth Lewis Method – A quirky reflection on all things cricket by the Irish duo of Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy) and Thomas Walsh (Pugwash) brought out just in time for the Ashes. Stand Out moment – A whole song about Shane Warne’s first ball in England against Mike (Fatty) Gatting. The line “If it had been a cheese roll it would never have got past me” follows the chorus of “Jiggery pokery, trickery chokery, how did he open me up? Robbery! Muggery! Aussie skull-duggery! Out for a buggering duck.” ..and that sums it up!

Reading

You Are the Umpire: An Illustrated Guide to the Laws of Cricket. Following in the footsteps of the classic You Are the Ref, it makes a wonderful toilet companion of challenges on the laws of cricket and light information about some of the world’s cricketing greats. A meaty and useful volume.

Ashes to Ashes [35 Years of Humiliation (and about 20 minutes of ecstasy) watching England v Australia] by Marcus Berkmann. Berkmann has previously written a couple of light-hearted books about amateur Cricket. This book is a must for 40-something fans as it covers their lifetime from Boycott, Edrich and Luckhurst through Packer, Brearley and Botham, and the 3Gs (Gower, Gooch and Gatting) to Vaughan, Pietersen and Flintoff. The book gives an account of every Ashes test during the period, interspersed by comments of Berkmann’s friends. Not too heavy and a good companion to the series.

Thanks Mike.
Fingers crossed for England!

Leave a Reply