On the Attack

Matthew Maynard marked his first-class debut for Glamorgan by hitting three successive sixes to reach his maiden century. He was capped by England at the age of 22, but his international career stalled when he went on the rebel tour to South Africa in 1989. He played three tests in 1993-94, but has largely been in the international wilderness ever since - despite being recently touted by leading media commentators as a potential captain of his country, and still widely regarded as one of the most gifted batsmen of his generation, a player of uninhibited attacking instinct. Maynard, one of "Wisden's" five cricketers of the year in 1998, is no less forthright off the field. He talks candidly about his experiences with England and the failings of the management and players which by 1999 had seen them plummet to the bottom of the world rankings. He has forged a close relationship with Duncan Fletcher, who is now the England coach, but has had various run-ins with the national committee and argues that the days of amateurs helping run the professional game should end.
Born in Oldham and brought up in North Wales, Maynard spent three years with Kent before joining Glamorgan County Cricket Club. He has shrewdly led Glamorgan since 1996 and is the most successful captain in the club's history. In this book he exposes the rifts in the England set-up which have contributed to so many demoralizing defeats, and chronicles Glamorgan's slow and sometimes painful rise from laughing stock to champions.