The Twelfth Man 2011

23 and articles over the years that have enhanced the content of our Twelfth Man magazine. This heavyweight collection of his work (just over 350 pages) starts with an unpublished essay from 1952 and ends, fittingly, with reflections of the Ashes Test at The Oval 2009 (also previously unpublished). In between you’ll enjoy again a vast anthology of David’s writings on the summer game across a wide landscape of cricketing topics and subjects. You’ll also find five pieces that were first published in the Society’s Twelfth Man . From tributes to Fred Trueman and Brian Close in the 1970s to pieces on Dickie Bird, Bob Taylor and Jack Simmons in the 1980s – why has he not written for us more? Favourite pieces for me? Too many to choose from, but here are three: ‘The Great Departed’ from 1968, ‘John Arlott: the Mighty Oak’, and ‘My Friend in the North’, (2003) remembering Tony Woodhouse. Today, thankfully, we can continue to enjoy David’s writings in the pages of The Wisden Cricketer , via his regular feature on the players he has known down the years, as well as honest and robust book reviews and knowledgeable obituaries from time to time. A good friend to the Wombwell Cricket Lovers’ we hope again he will share with us a little bit of ‘history’ as the Society celebrates its 60 th Anniversary in 2011. Until David’s seventh visit though, enjoy his book – you won’t be disappointed. M.P. South Yorkshire Senior Cricket League Handbook 2011 Edited by Jim Beachill This splendid 200 page South Yorkshire league handbook must rank amongst the best around and would be a credit to any County Club. Under the editorship of the League’s dedicated General Secretary (amongst his other roles) Jim Beachill, the 2011 edition has everything any local cricket follower could possibly require: enjoyable features and articles; a very useful Club Directory; complete tables, reviews, averages and reports from last season; 2011 fixture details for all four South Yorkshire divisions, plus Cup games and a comprehensive records section to round it all off. The SY League welcome both Conisbrough and Kexborough for the 2011 summer and there are others waiting to join. Proof indeed that the game is alive and well in this part of the county – thanks to the tremendous hard work and effort of the League officials, headed by Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Bentham. M.P. Ashes 2011 by Gideon Haigh Published by Aurum Press (hb) – £12.99 I first encountered the author when I bought his amazing book, Mystery Spinner in an ‘OP Shop’ (that’s what the Aussies call Charity Shops) in Melbourne and I have come to love searching for bargains there. The Australian cricket/sports magazines are so different to ours and always there are great books. That book really impressed me so much that although I had to leave it behind in my daughter’s bungalow in Coldstream, I made her promise not to let it go back to some OP shop or other, but keep it until I return. I love spending weeks in Australian summers, (last time I found myself umpiring every Saturday, which of course brings me in to contact with real lovers). Gideon is recognised as a top journalist ‘Down Under’ and his reports of the Tests are always my preferred read. The beauty of this book is the fresh approach so reading this book is just like reading a collection of newspaper cuttings. It is so refreshing to read reports written by a professional, rather than the ever- increasing number by the ghost written efforts of retired players. What a great Ashes Series this was too, First Test: drawn – remember Peter Siddle’s hat-trick, then three centuries for England in 517 for one; Second Test: England won by an innings; Third Test: crushing win for Australia, followed by fourth and fifth to England, both by an innings. An amazing series and Gideon describes each day’s play like a latter-day Arlott, Swanton or Kilburn (my favourite – and he was a lovely man). This is a book I will keep and re-read, unlike so many modern cricket books: glossy covers, big-name authors, but which I don’t finish and give to charity shops. I have no reservations in recommending this book to members. At £12.99 it is a bargain. N.H. Tony Greig A Reappraisal of English Cricket’s Most Controversial Captain by David Tossell Published by Pitch Publishing (hb) – £14.99 When you think of post-war English allrounders that have made a significant impact at Test level most followers of the game will probably offer several names: of course Ian Botham, perhaps the late Trevor Bailey and in recent times Andrew Flintoff. Yet there’s one name that certainly should be added to that list – Tony Greig. This is sports journalist David Tossell’s third cricket book on essentially the ‘modern’ game. Previously (2007) his book Grovel! The Story and Legacy of the Summer of 1976 and (2010) Following on: A Year with English Cricket’s Golden Boys , which looked at what had become of the 1998 England U19 cricketers that won the U19 World Cup, were both well received. This profile of the South African-born cricketer (of a Scottish father and South African mother) is well overdue and most welcome. Welcome because a generation that only remembers Tony Greig for his misinterpreted ‘grovel’ quote before the West Indies series of 1976 or his significant part in the setting up of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket (that in many ways shaped cricket’s future and secured greater financial security for its players) and later Channel 9 cricket commentator in Australia, should read this book to discover, or recall Tony Greig, the talented and brave cricketer: attacking right-hand batsman, high class slip fielder, medium-fast or off-spin bowler and inspiring England captain. This is rounded assessment and with the approval and input of Greig himself. What of Tony Greig’s connections with Wombwell Cricket Lovers’? Well he visited just once – in July 1976 – at the time England captain and in the middle of that humiliating series against the West Indies. Would a modern-day England captain make time in his schedule at the height of the English summer (especially when things on the field were not going well) to visit a Cricket Society? Personally I doubt it. M.P.