Legends of Cricket - Geoff Armstrong
Geoff Armstrong in his latest book profiles the 25
greatest cricket players of all time - the list was
selected by a panel that included Ian Chappell, Martin
Crowe, Richie Benaud, Ian Botham, Allan Border, Sir
Richard Hadlee and Sunil Gavaskar. Buy
Legends of Cricket Now
Legends
of Cricket, published by Allen & Unwin is a wonderful
coffee table book, packed with great cricketing stories
and history, interesting pictures and above all the
wonderfully researched profiles on some of the greatest
player ever to have graced the hallowed fields of
Test cricket around the globe. Armstrong has written
a number of sporting books including The history of
the Sheffield Shield, The true story of Phar Lap and
also collaborated with Steve Waugh helping him write
his cricket diaries.
Geoff
Armstrong's Legends of CricketThe number one player
was a forgone conclusion, Sir Donalds Bradman. Armstrong
said on the panels decision:
"When
the list came out it caused a stir in the UK because
Dr W G Grace was at No. 14. The English felt he should
be No. 1,"
"The
school of thought was that before he came along the
game didn't exist. He made it popular." Armstrong
said.
It
took Armstrong a year to complete his research and
a major problem was fitting everything the players
had achieved into the space allocated for each profile."That's
why I liked Barry Richards so much he only played
four Tests."
He said. I
was quite surprised to see Barry Richards listed as
number 24 in the list of 25 all time greats, Sir Donald
Bradman rated Richards a lot higher and I thought
given the panels obvious experience and knowledge
he would have listed higher. Richards also afforded
one of the most enjoyable stories of the book:
Fellow
South African, wicketkeeper Denis Lindsay, says that
if presented with a challenge, Richards was tremendous
"but if there was no challenge, then he would
get to 50 or get to 100 and just toss it".
Lindsay,
recalling a match at Durban said: "One day, when
we were playing in Durban, Barry got to about 40 and
he turned around to me and said, 'Come on, let's have
a little bit of fun here'.
He
then played for the next half an hour with the edge
of the bat and was still hitting balls through the
covers for four. That's how great Barry was."
What
makes this book so special is the input from the current
and former Test players who have either grown up admiring
the greats, or have had the honour of playing alongside
them. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, arguably the
greatest batsman of the modern era, offer their opinions
on the greats; Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Vivian Richards.
Talking of the former Antiguan, Tendulkar said:
I
always really flipped over Vivian Richards batting.
His effortless batting was something that I was so
fond of.
In
the book, former Australian captain Ian Chappell tells
of an incident in a Test in Adelaide against the West
Indies in the early 1980s involving paceman Len Pascoe
and all rounder Viv Richards.
"Lenny
was bowling to Viv, and he's bowled him three bouncers
in a row," Chappell remembers.
"After
the third one, Len was walking back past umpire Max
O'Connell and Max said, 'Len, that'll be enough for
this over'.
And
a voice came from the other end: 'Max, please don't
stop him.' It was the voice of Viv Richards."
Ian
Chappell concluded: "Intimidation is a two-way
street."
Armstrongs
essay on Shane Warne who is listed at number 4 provides
a great insight into the highs and lows of the Victorian
spinner. At a time when most people thought that the
art of spin was dead, along came Warne to resurrect
the art and bring an exciting way of bowling, so much
so that most Australian bowlers now try to emulate
Warne more than any other bowler.
Greg
Chappell, current Redbacks coach said this of Warne:
"I remember coaching the Australian A team back
in the mid 90s. Shane was the only one of the established
side who came to the Australia A team and wished the
guys good luck. He remembered where he came from and
he remembered that he was once a young player whod
needed some help. I respect him for that."
With
so many great omissions from the list such as Glenn
McGrath, Javed Miandad and Bill OReilly, is it possible
to ever have a list where everyone agrees? Theres
only one player thats streets ahead of anyone else.
Known as the greatest cricketer to have played the
game; Sir Donald Bradman at least we are all agreed
on one thing! Buy
Legends of Cricket Now
It
is impossible to sit here and mention all the great
players listed, the fine stories told by their peers
and the great profiles written by one of crickets
most respected writers. Go out and buy this book without
hesitation, you wont be sorry. Available in hardback
from all good booksellers.
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