Frith on Cricket

By David Frith

Includes FREE bookplate signed by David Frith, dedicated to the name of your choice. (What is this?)

Frith on Cricket is a broad collection of the best of David Frith’s writings on the game’s history, personalities and controversies. It draws from almost 40 years of description, investigation and comment on cricket’s great occasions, the upheavals and the colourful personalities who have made the headlines, as well as some of the lesser-knowns.

The range is wide, taking in the earliest contests right up to England’s victory over Australia in 2009; listening to a Test match through the night; tracking down legends such as Wilfred Rhodes and the long-lost Aboriginal fast bowler Eddie Gilbert; arguing with Don Bradman; visiting Madame Tussauds waxworks; training with the county champions; insights into the radio and television commentators; journeying to all the Test-playing countries and World Cups; firing off editorials condemning brutality and maladministration; watching women play at Lord’s for the first time; cricket memorabilia and auctions; on autograph-hunting; searching for cricket on film; investigating cricketers’ suicides; book reviews; the South Africa issue; some major obituaries; fun cricket; and even a little verse.

"...an essential purchase for anyone interested in cricket, literature and cricket literature."
The Cricket Society Newsletter Autumn 2010

"David Frith's latest book, Frith On Cricket, published by Great Northern, contains more gems than can be captured in a couple of paragraphs here but it's uncanny to note his take on video technology – way back in 1983 in an article in the old Wisden Cricket Monthly. A good decade before the concept began to take hold in international cricket, Frith was decrying the romantics, scoffing at the charm invested in 'human fallibility', and warning of the supposed pitfalls which critics of technology repeatedly invoke. 'Umpires' pride will initially be dented,' wrote Frith 27 years ago. 'That is inevitable.' Trenchant stuff – and still relevant today."
Lawrence Booth, Daily Mail, 26th July 2010.

"It must be doubtful whether any other living person can match his depth of knowledge of the game. His numerous previous books have made a significant contribution to the game's literature....This welcome anthology takes in extracts from most of his books as well as numerous magazine articles he's contributed over the years."
Cricket Web review, August 2010. To read the full review click here

"The scope is broad and the collection is comprehensive, and there is much for Yorkshire cricket lovers to enjoy... Touchingly, Frith declares that 'to visit cricket's senior citizens is to feel as John Mitford must have felt, in 1833 when he went to Tilford to seek out Silver Billy Beldham'. And that, in a nutshell, is the great joy of this anthology - beautifully produced. For Frith, at heart is a romantic, a man who conveys his love of times past in a way that cannot help but captivate the reader."
Yorkshire Post, 2nd August 2010

"A 352-page opus from one of the most respected writers in the game, this book collects an array of the author's best articles and provides a poignant snapshot of the personalities and events he has encountered throughout his career."
All Out Cricket, September 2010

"David Frith is a phenomenon... At heart he is a generous, sometimes sentimental, critic and an engaging opinionated conversationalist; though woe betide any loose expression of liberal tendencies."
Wisden Cricketer, September 2010