What are the best cricket books?

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We can’t tell you what the best cricket books are, but we can tell you some good cricket books. Here are three of our favourites, together with a few more that are worth a read.


Fatty Batter by Michael Simkins

Fat kid takes to cricket after seeing Colin Milburn waddling around.

The first half is about Michael Simkins’ childhood. He grew up in a sweet shop, obsessed with the game. The second half is about the team he started as he approached middle age.

Read more about Fatty Batter | Buy it


Cricket, Lovely Cricket? by Lawrence Booth

Lawrence Booth writes the weekly cricket email The Spin for The Guardian and you’ll know him from their over-by-over reports as well.

Booth might be a journalist, but he’s also a cricket fan. This isn’t an autobiography, it’s more a collection of funny stories and musings.

Buy it


Pommies: England Cricket Through An Australian Lens by William Buckland

A book about the management of English cricket might not sound like a great read, but this is so much more than that.

William Buckland considers the facts and draws conclusions with far-reaching ramifications. Cause, effect and why the English are actually making quite a bit of a balls up in organising their summer game. It all becomes clear when it’s there in black and white.

Buy it

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A few more cricket books

Rain Men by Marcus Berkmann | Buy it

Bob Woolmer’s Art and Science of Cricket | Buy it

Not Dark Yet: A Very Funny Book About a Very Serious Game | Buy it

Coming Back To Me: The Autobiography of Marcus Trescothick | Buy it

Young Wisden: A New Fan’s Guide To Cricket by Tim de Lisle | Buy it

Cricket For Dummies | Buy it

Penguins Stopped Play by Harry Thompson | Buy it