The Worst of Cricket: Malice and Misfortune in the World's Cruellest Game (Worst of Sport) - Hardcover

Nigel Henderson's book concerns the explosion of interest in cricket following the 2005 Ashes series. After the number of texts written on the back of that fabulous summer, Henderson found himself as one of a clutch of writers endeavouring to 'be there' in 2006/7 for the rematch. So what does this author 'bring to the party', as Duncan Fletcher often asked? For one, this is a well-written and thorough account of that tour, and pacy enough to carry you through 50 pages in a blink; Nigel and his erstwhile companion Sue's travails are described in self-deprecating detail. Their dynamic is enjoyable throughout, Sue's reaction to Nigel's altercation with Aussie supporters in Perth particularly entertaining. In itself, to have seen the whole tour is an incredible effort. A three-week jaunt to Australia made a mess of my health, so I wasn't surprised to hear that Nigel spent a good while with pneumonia on his return. It was highly possible that this book could have become a turgid account of a terrible losing series. However, the author avoids this by doing a good impression of Bill Bryson. Bryson is a masterful and vivid storyteller who mixes travel with fantastic historical interludes, and Henderson borrows this nicely by mixing his journey with the cricket. It works and makes this a damn good read, reminding us all that there is more to Australia than the MCG,VB, prawns, barbies and the WACA --All Out Cricket Magazine

Good lines...present the author as a likeable companion and convey the tone and fun of a special adventure with its attendant humour. --Wisden Cricketer Magazine

Wonderful, entertaining book that will keep you amused from cover to cover. The humour is subtle throughout, not so in-your-face that you're sick of it by the time you get to Adelaide. Written in a flowing style, the book is incredibly easy to read and navigate. --Ashes Website 334notout.com

We've been swallowing the myth for years; that cricket is a gentlemanly pursuit, where bad luck is something to be borne stoically, and bad behaviour is poor form that will get you drummed out of the club. This is plainly nonsense. The Worst of Cricket is a warts-and-all celebration of the truth that malice and misfortune play a crucial role in the world's cruellest game. So pad up and take your guard against the very worst elements of cricket, from the worst imaginable gamesmanship to the worst thrashings and injuries; from the worst umpiring decisions, confrontations and missed catches to the worst instances of cheating and brawling. Here are fielders impaled on pavilion gates, groundsmen sparking riots by rolling the pitch, sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll-style dressing-room trashings - all in a book that will simultaneously delight and appal any supporter or aficionado of the first-class game.