if only I was this good
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Having played in a team which never reached the heights described in this book, and being the worse player in that team, I can fully relate to the bitter sweet joys of cricket. For all you pub players and the like, read it while rain stops play.
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Bowled Me Over
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Hilarious and genuinely touching. Hoorah for Simmo! I borrowed a copy from a friend and enjoyed it so much that I've now purchased a copy of my own. Not only so that I can reread it - but to make sure that the author gets his much deserved percentage and to drive sales of this fantastic book. Buy it, read it, laugh loads.
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A Straight 6!
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What a wonderful book! Anyone who enjoys cricket should buy this book. The historical references to past players are fantastic but also for those not quite so in love with the game, the references to the sweet shop will have you chuckling away. There are some genuine belly laugh moments too. I loved reading it and I challenge anyone not to enjoy it. Buy it, read it and mourn the loss of picking it up for a quick chapter when it's finished.
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A must have
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The best book I have ever read. I have never the same book twice, but I have every intention of reading this again. Just brilliant.
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Just extremely funny
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There is a general rule that I subscribe to with regard to sports books. The better the subject at their given sport the less interesting the read. There are of course exceptions that prove this theory, but gladly this book isn't one of them, due to the fact that Simkins is obviously very average at cricket. The book can broadly be broken into two sections, his time at school growing up and discovering cricket and his time as the secretary/manager of a casual sunday team. I enjoyed the first half, due mainly to brilliantly drawn observation which brought back memories of my own childhood and my own struggles in attempting to break into cricket teams filled with better looking, more talented and better equiped individuals who i both admired and hated in equal measure. The second half is just funny because sunday cricketers are just funny.
At the time i was reading this book my partner was revising for an upcoming job interview and on more than one occasion i was ejected from the room for constant giggling and occasion peels of laughter. I defy anyone with a passing interest in cricket not to laugh out loud when Simkins describes his repeated attempts to bowl at a professional at a Sussex coaching session during his youth.
If you enjoyed Marcus Berkmann's books Rain Men and Zimmer Men i would direct you to this because the tone and style is very similar and equally as enjoyable.
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