Cart
Free Shipping in Australia
Proud to be B-Corp

Lost in the Long Grass John Barclay

Lost in the Long Grass By John Barclay

Lost in the Long Grass by John Barclay


$18.99
Condition - Very Good
Only 4 left

Summary

The former Sussex captain John Barclay writes about people he has known during his life in cricket - including Mike Atherton, Ray Illingworth, Tony Greig, Ian Botham, Colin Cowdrey, Mike Brearley, Peter Roebuck, David Lloyd and Imran Khan.

Lost in the Long Grass Summary

Lost in the Long Grass by John Barclay

The former Sussex cricket captain John Barclay offers 24 written sketches on characters he has known in the world of cricket. With his customary charm and self-deprecating humour he reflects on a range of subjects: Colin Cowdrey, Mike Atherton, Ray Illingworth, Tony Greig, Mike Brearley, Imran Khan, Derek Underwood, Jack Russell, Peter Roebuck, David Lloyd and many more, including a groundsman, a quartet of cricket writers, an umpire and finally his dog Robert. In his foreword John Woodcock writes: "These are not cricket prints of the kind which the great RC Robertson-Glasgow ('Crusoe') did so brilliantly. They are longer and less flamboyant than that; but they come from the same spring, refreshed by a love of the game and a wish to see the best in those who play it. His author's eye for human nature, informed by his cricket experience and access to privilege, probably misses a good deal less than his subjects might have suspected."

Lost in the Long Grass Reviews

"In this charming and idiosyncratic book, John Barclay brings an old-world gentleness and human sympathy to his sketches. He is modest about his literary skill but in places he writes memorably. The grand Jim Swanton would have made a good president of MCC or perhaps even Archbishop of Canterbury - 'conceivably both'. Ian Gould belonged in an era 'when a cup of tea, a cheese roll and a cigarette constituted a warm-up'. Javed Miandad's genius was 'baroque ... as opposed to Viv Richards' Wagnerian thunder.' A keen fly-fisherman, Barclay brings the atrributes of the best anglers to his writing - patience, lack of ostentation, wry humour and understated skill. He avoids taking the blunderbuss to anything which moves, and that is most refreshing." - Paul Coupar, The Cricketer. "What a glorious picture he paints in each portrait. I almost came round to liking Tony Greig! He has a gentle way of deprecating his own abilities and talking up everybody else, but of course he was better than that." - A reader in Berkshire. "Barclay's genial, anecdotal book of friendship, of character sketches written with respect and knowledge, will charm lovers of the game and stir memories: classics such as Colin Cowdrey and Basil D'Oliveira match willow with moderns like Mike Atherton and Ian Botham. In the long grass there is time to lose oneself in fond remembrance." - Iain Finlayson, The Times

About John Barclay

John Barclay was born in 1954 in Bonn, West Germany, the son of a diplomat. A highly successful schoolboy cricketer at Eton, he first played for Sussex at the age of 16. Two years later he joined the Sussex staff as a promising all-rounder, going on to captain the county from 1981 to 1986 when he retired. Since then, he has remained in the game as Director of Cricket and Coaching for the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation, encouraging young people from less advantaged backgrounds to play and enjoy the game. To date, more than 200,000 youngsters have benefited from the scheme. He has written three books: `The Appeal of the Championship', Life Beyond The Airing Cupboard' and `Lost in the Long Grass'. `Life Beyond the Airing Cupboard' won the MCC and Cricket Society Book of the Year award. In 2009/10 he served as President of MCC.

Additional information

GOR005126067
9780956851130
0956851134
Lost in the Long Grass by John Barclay
Used - Very Good
Hardback
Fairfield Books
2013-06-17
240
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Lost in the Long Grass