Product Description

Between 1980 and 1993, Simon Hughes was a regular on the county circuit, playing for Middlesex until 1991 before moving on to Durham at the end of his career. In that time, he played alongside some of the great characters in cricket: Mike Brearley, Mike Gatting, Phil Edmonds and Ian Botham. This is not an autobiography of a good county pro, but a look at the ups and downs, the lifestyle, the practical jokes and sheer hard yakka that make such a poorly paid, insecure job appeal to so many. Now a respected journalist and broadcaster, Simon Hughes has written a brilliant, amusing and wrily self-depracating book, packed with hilarious and embarrassing anecdotes about some of the greatest cricketers of the last 20 years.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30430 in Books
• Published on: 1998-04-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
‘You won’t read a better inside story of cricket and the men who play it for a living. Vigorous, funny and full of insight from a gifted observer. It was a book waiting to be written and Simon Hughes has done it.’ (Michael Parkinson )

‘Terrific.’ (Harold Pinter )

‘A devastating account of English cricket and its shortcomings... The book describes the shocking lack of ambition, dedication, coaching and leadership in English cricket.’ (Mike Brearley, Observer )

‘A brilliant commentary on the life of a county cricketer.’ (Mike Selvey, Guardian )

‘You will never read a better book about the bizarre circus known as county cricket ... a very funny, often outrageous book.’ (Ian Wooldridge, Daily Mail )

‘Hughes may never have scaled the heights as a cricketer, but he has become a wonderful writer on the sport ... gaspingly candid ... One thing is clear from this book - he had a really good time. So will anyone sensible enough to read it.’ (Marcus Berkmann, Daily Telegraph )

‘Sharp and funny ... his book sails neatly between self-glorification and self-pity and lays bare the real truth of the athlete: a dark life of angst and self-doubt lit by sudden piercing shafts of transcendent adequacy.’ (Simon Barnes, The Times )

‘May be the first cricketer’s autobiography ever to tell it like it is, from dressing-room to bedroom ... Hughes is rivetingly unguarded.’ (Tim de Lisle, Wisden Cricket Monthly )

‘As life-lived-through-sport, it is pure Hornby ... The book that cricket needed.’ (Simon Wilde, The Times )

About the Author
Simon Hughes won four championship medals with Middlesex between 1980 and 1991. He retired in 1994 to write for the Daily Telegraph and commentate for TV. He is the author of one previous book, From Minor to Major.

Customer Reviews

An articulate and humourous account of the game Hughes loves
Perhaps I'm biassed. After all, I'm a student who'd love to play for Middlesex (and, like Hughes, their training runs go past my back garden). The difference is that I'm no good at cricket. But Hughes never quite loses the sense of wonder at his own ability - or good fortune - that so many young cricketers would feel given the chance to play for their county. It's this love for the game that pervades the book. Add to that good humour and insider knowledge and you have a winning combination. If you are a county-cricket wannabe, or if you were twenty years ago, you simply must read this book. And if you wondered what it was like to play when England actually won things you should read it too. Hell, you should just read it anyway. You'll love it.

I learned a great deal about cricket
Being Scottish I have always viewed cricket from the outside. The only knowledge I have of the game comes from watching television, when it is usually the highest level that is shown. Simon Hughes has opened my eyes to the other side of the coin, how the cricketer who does not quite make it spends his sporting life. I can certainly recommend this book to anyone who has a passing interest in this wonderful sport.

The best I've ever read.
I am young and I don't read much and I was given this book for a present. I didn't even pick it up for ages but once I started reading it I found it fascinating. You discover the most bizarre stories which made me laugh for ages and discover some of the biggest characters in the game. You realise the lack of motivation in cricketers as well which is what possibly leads to our national side's continued failure. Hughes takes you through all the emotions of being a professional cricketer, both on and off the field. This book is so easy to follow and so fascinating to read. I've started reading the second book which is good but not quite as good as this book and I'm going to have to read it again soon!