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A Beautiful Game: My love affair with cricket Hardcover – Import, 6 Oct. 2016
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WINNER OF THE CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE CROSS BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2017
WINNER OF THE MCC/CRICKET SOCIETY'S BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2017
Mark Nicholas, the face of Channel 5's Cricket on Five and anchor for Channel 9's Test commentary team in Australia, has a unique knowledge and perspective on the world of cricket.
As both a former player and now a professional observer and commentator on the game, he knows all the key figures of the sport and has witnessed first-hand some of cricket's greatest moments. His book is a personal account of the game as he's seen and experienced it across the globe.
From epic test matches and titans of the game like Lara, Warne and Tendulkar, to his own childhood love for the sport, Mark gives us his informed, personal and fascinating views on cricket - the world's other beautiful game.
- Print length432 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherAllen & Unwin
- Publication date6 Oct. 2016
- Dimensions15.3 x 3.2 x 23.4 cm
- ISBN-101760291986
- ISBN-13978-1760291983
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Review
[H]ugely enjoyable... Nicholas has done a huge service to a game already in his debt. He helped to lift English cricket out of the sporting gloom of the late 1990s; and now he has chronicled his era as if he were one of us. For that, every cricket nut, English or otherwise, should be immensely grateful. ― Independent
Mark Nicholas has written a fascinating and engaging account of his life in cricket, firstly as a player and latterly as a commentator. This is an immensely readable but far from lightweight book, packed with anecdote, opinion and - a valuable gift - empathy... he is an elegant, enthusiastic observer of the game and this book, and indeed his life in cricket, deserves plaudits. ― ESPN Cricinfo
A typically entertaining collection of thoughts, opinions and memories from inside the soul of the game we love. -- Sir Ian Botham
Every chapter is interesting in its own way. I didn't always agree with him but that's not the point. The point is that I wanted to read on. -- Geoffrey Boycott
Mark Nicholas has been at the centre of the game as a player, writer, commentator and analyst for years. Very few have ever equalled his passion, perception, knowledge of the game and matchless ability to communicate it with wit, charm and flawless fluency. All these qualities and more have flowered in A Beautiful Game. -- Stephen Fry
A brilliant broadcaster with a wonderful knowledge of the game and, above all, an infectious passion for cricket. -- Shane Warne
The thing about Mark is his uniquely positive take on cricket. He conveys the message that the game may not be easy but it's sure worthwhile. His book is the same, a celebration. -- Alastair Cook
Mark Nicholas is a master with words, both written and spoken. His positivity is what separates him from others and it's what shines through in this book. -- Sunil Gavaskar
Vision, knowledge, enthusiasm: three of the attributes that give Mark authority and respect. This book reflects his passion for the game and his ability to tell the stories that make it so special. A great read. -- Michael Vaughan
Top class from first to last. -- Sir Michael Parkinson
Quite possibly the best cricket book you will ever read - a masterpiece. -- Mike Procter
Whether writing or commentating, Mark has always been able to take us inside the game. If I was buying one cricket book this year, it would A Beautiful Game -- Wasim Akram
this is indeed a beautiful book. It is the memoir of a complex and fascinating man much more interesting and nuanced than the sporting celebrity with whom most of us are familiar... a gifted writer who possesses not only an uncanny eye for the game but for humanity in general. ― The Australian
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Product details
- Publisher : Allen & Unwin; Main edition (6 Oct. 2016)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 432 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1760291986
- ISBN-13 : 978-1760291983
- Dimensions : 15.3 x 3.2 x 23.4 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 608,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 1,109 in Cricket (Books)
- 18,155 in General Sports, Hobbies & Games
- Customer reviews:
About the author
![Mark Nicholas](http://web.archive.org./web/20240831024114im_/https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/01Kv-W2ysOL._SY600_.png)
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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the writing style beautiful, heartfelt, and honest. They also describe the content as fascinating, detailed, and insightful. Readers also appreciate the warmth, humor, and love of the game.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the writing style beautiful, with scintillating tales. They also say the book is honest in its presentation of his own experiences. Readers also mention that the book has great empathy, honesty, passion, and warmth.
"Brilliant. A wonderful balance between describing his own experiences and comparing them with those of other famous people Mark encountered...." Read more
"...Nicholas writes well, is honest about all, especially himself, and this book is the ideal way for a cricket fan to get through at least some of the..." Read more
"...which takes you into the world of country cricket and is honest in its presentation of his own experiences in the game and also of his job as a..." Read more
"...He begins with a few chapters of good (and straight) autobiography. Then he seems to want to write a coaching manual...." Read more
Customers find the book fascinating, detailed, and scintillating. They say the author is honest about all, and presents with conviction. Readers also describe the book as funny, heartfelt, involved, and self-deprecating.
"...And is modest in explaining them.A quite remarkable story of what is, indeed, A Beautiful Game; and of a life in a sport he clearly loves..." Read more
"...Nicholas writes well, is honest about all, especially himself, and this book is the ideal way for a cricket fan to get through at least some of the..." Read more
"...about cricket as he commentates and presents, with eloquence, with conviction, with passion...." Read more
"...a knowledgeable, charismatic presenter with a relaxed style and supreme confidence...." Read more
Customers find the book to be a fun read, with warmth and humor.
"...It’s a funny book that never quite seems to know what it’s doing...." Read more
"...enthusiasm for the game and has a lightness of touch and sense of humour that shine through...." Read more
"...Funny, heartfelt, involved, self deprecating, honest and insightful...." Read more
"...Told with warmth, humour and an obvious love of the game - thoroughly recommended." Read more
Customers find the stories in the book brilliant, emotional, and beautifully written. They also say Mark has a gift for story telling.
"...A wonderful story. Also, some really heartfelt and sad moments are well told. About Malcolm Marshall for example...." Read more
"Great insight, brilliant stories and emotional re Robin Smith." Read more
"Beautifully written book. Mark has a gift for story telling." Read more
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A quite remarkable story of what is, indeed, A Beautiful Game; and of a life in a sport he clearly loves. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it - whether you are a cricket fan or not.
I am an avid cricket fan, from Bournemouth (which used to be in Hampshire) so might be a tad biased towards Mark. But I follow all forms of cricket and I strongly recommend this book. Especially for the insights about how hard it is at that level; and the descriptions of the 2005 Ashes series - which remains one of my favourite You Tube cricket watches, complete with Mr. Nicholas presenting…!
Read this book!!
Peter
There's a little too much sea, sun and shiraz in the second half, but the story of Kerry Packer's involvement is also well told.
Nicholas writes well, is honest about all, especially himself, and this book is the ideal way for a cricket fan to get through at least some of the winter blues. Especially if the Ashes series goes as badly as last time.
It’s a funny book that never quite seems to know what it’s doing. In the middle of a chapter on fast bowling we’re (again) discussing batting; a eulogy on spin bowling segues into one on wicket keeping. There’s method in both digressions, of course. But Nicholas seems to set out to do one thing before getting bored with it and starting something else. He begins with a few chapters of good (and straight) autobiography. Then he seems to want to write a coaching manual. Then It becomes a book about the greats he’s known, in each of the games divisions.
Having said that, it’s never not entertaining and manages to somehow hold the disparate threads together rather in the manner of one of Mark’s pieces to camera during a TV broadcast. And, as with his telly persona, what comes over consistently is his enthusiasm for a game he clearly loves. And that’s good enough in all parts.
I did find myself disagreeing with him about the direction cricket has taken - in my view Central Contracts for international players and the sheer preponderance of international games, many of which are as pointless as the dead rubbers he criticises in the old county game, have largely ruined the county game in England and are quietly killing the sport. The problem is that so much international cricket has meant that most top players barely play for their counties anymore, so whereas I saw pretty much all of the top players of the 70's and 80's playing county matches in Hampshire's small but perfectly formed ground at Dean Park in Bournemouth, now a Hampshire supporter has to make the tortuous journey to the Rose Bowl to watch two teams of average players that are performing so far in the distance that everyone spends their time watching the big screen. I'm glad the players are paid more, but I agree with Nicholas that by selling the game to pay per view broadcasters the administrators have reduced the audience for the game to the committed fans only.
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For those of us who, as youngsters, dreamt of playing cricket for a living but we're halted by life's realities or lack of talent, Mark Nicholas satisfies a yearning no matter how old you are.
His writing is as enjoyable and on point as his commentary.
A great book on cricket and life.
Graham Canning
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And each and every page of this book proves that.
I especially enjoyed the chapter on fast bowling, not to say that the rest chapters weren’t amazing.
I felt as if I was there on the ground and living through every moment of it.
Its great to know more about Richie Benaud, Martin Crowe, Malcolm Marshall, Kerry Packer and many more legends.
Mark Nicholas is a great man and has a heart of Gold of which he has kept majority for Cricket.
This book is a must read for every Cricket lover.
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Most importantly you get the deeper and novel insights into the great game of cricket. That's the biggest takeaway from the book.
Very entertaining read.