In March 1977, England cricket captain Tony Greig was arguably the most famous and popular sportsman in the country. Within weeks, though, his reputation was in tatters. He was branded a traitor, stripped of the England captaincy and excluded from the national side. His life story is every bit as fascinating as the controversy that engulfed him.
Debuting for South Africa in 1970, Barry Richards' run-scoring, technique and audacious, extravagant strokeplay took the breath away. A glittering international career beckoned. However, the apartheid storm burst, and Richards had played his first and last Test series. Frustration, tragedy and controversy beset the genius lost to Test cricket.
Exploring profound philosophical questions, two corporate professionals, Andrew Murtagh and Adam Lee, engage in a dialogue that crosses the boundaries of Christianity and atheism. Their discussions tackle the existence of God, the nature of reality, and moral objectivity, while also addressing societal issues like abortion and healthcare. As their worldviews clash and converge, a unique friendship develops, leading them to seek answers and challenge prevailing narratives. This treatise invites readers to consider the implications of belief and morality in shaping a just society.
After a career playing for Hampshire, cut short by injury, John Holder, an immigrant from Barbados, turned his hand to umpiring. In 27 years, he officiated in 11 Tests and 23 one-day internationals. A Test of Character throws an interesting light on the job of an international umpire, with all its pressures, controversies and prejudices.
Colin Cowdrey is remembered for the elegance of his strokeplay, but there was much more to this complex man than a classical cover drive. His successes were numerous: 114 Test matches, 22 Test hundreds, and 100 first-class centuries. There was controversy and disappointment too - and, later, a leading role in cricket administration.
By virtue of his peerless batsmanship and a career stretching from the 1940s to the 1970s, Tom Graveney is now a national treasure - the favourite cricketer of so many fellow players, enthusiasts and aficionados. The character behind the affable facade is now unlocked, revealing Graveney as a true entertainer, at the fireside as at the crease.