The Character of Cricket

This tribute to English cricket records conversations with the kind of people who give backbone to the game - a gateman at Leicester, a groundsman at Swansea, a programme-seller at Bristol, a spectator parson at Chelmsford. The author evokes colourful ghosts, from the ubiquitous W.G. to Prebendary Wickham of Martock, and hears some strange stories such as the Derbyshire captain who absconded with the cash, the Nottinghamshire team who fielded in lounge suits, and the match in which D.R.Jardine was reduced to tears by Gubby Allen's gamesmanship. In order to compile material for this book, Tim Heald travelled the country, visiting at least one first-class cricket ground in each county.