Column

All said and done, there are several fine authors and hundreds of wonderful books on cricket. It’s an amazing game where one can discover a new facet or nugget of information even if you read the same book again and again, so reading on cricket is actually a lifelong process.

In the Indian context, this would be a good Reading XI to start off with

1. The Art Of Cricket by Sir Donald Bradman, a comprehensive manual on how to play the game — right from choosing equipment to field setting, to captaincy.

2. The Art Of Captaincy by Mike Brearley, a superb treatise on one of the most intriguing facets of the game, and of particular relevance in these times.

3. A Cardus For All Seasons: Actually you can pick any book by Sir Neville for failproof delight, but this anthology of his writings from 1920-1969 is particularly evocative.

4. Sunny Days: A simply told, fast paced narrative of the early years in international cricket of one of India’s best-loved cricket sons, Sunil Gavaskar.

5. Tiger’s Tale: A pithy autobiography of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who lost one eye in a car accident yet played at the international level, became the youngest captain ever.

6. A History Of Indian Cricket: This tome by Mihir Bose is well-researched and well written, replete with important scorecards and stats.

7. A Corner Of A Foreign Field: Ramachandra Guha brings the full might of his academic brilliance in studying the growth of cricket in India, against the backdrop of the freedom struggle.

8. The Appeal Of Cricket: Richie Benaud’s incisive and pragmatic look at the whys and wherefores of the modern game which old-timers believe has been corrupted by commerce.

9. Pundits In Pakistan: Rahul Bhattacharya’s debut book is an enthralling account of India’s 2004 tour to Pakistan, cricket juxtaposed with rivetting experiences off the field.

10. Cricket Lovely Cricket: Hugely entertaining and informative, Lawrence Booth has an eye for the unusual, and is unafraid to knock down old wisdom and reputations.

11. It Never Rains: One of Peter Roebuck’s earliest books (1984), when he was still captain of Somerset; it is a factual and funny account of a professional county cricketer’s lot.

Finally, the ‘12th man’ in this team would be The Laws Of Cricket. For obvious reasons.

Finally, the ‘12th man’ in this team would be The Laws Of Cricket. For obvious reasons