The Ashes 2005 saw an almighty clash between age-old enemies: England versus Australia; Freddie versus Gilly; the King of Spain versus the King of Spin; worker versus conscience. For up and down the land, the nation wondered the same question - how can I follow the cricket at work without being given my marching orders quicker than Ian Bell? Help was at hand with Guardian Unlimited's brilliant over-by-over coverage: witty, incisive and occasionally informative, this was a Test Match Special for the Internet generation. Now, for the first time, this unique take on the Ashes is available in wireless book format. Relive again the highlights of England's glorious summer; Kevin Pieteresen's fielding masterclass; Ricky Ponting's paean to substitute fielders; and Channel 4 going to the races as a crucial wicket is about to fall. 'I hope you guys realise that I'm risking my very job just being here?' wails James Holbrook from impending firedom. 'New ICT policy means I can only use t'internet for 5% of my working time. Stuff the economy, I'm on here from 10.30 til I bunk off early at four.' The chance of finishing at 4 on a Friday. Bah! It's alright for some.
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"I think I was saying 3-0 or 4-0 about 12 months ago, thinking there might be a bit of rain around. But with the weather as it is at the moment, I have to say 5-0." Glenn McGrath
Book Description
An online Ashes chronicle of a nation's office-bound nervousness
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
The Guardian are getting in on the Ashes bandwagon, but in a unique and worthwhile way.
The book will be appreciated by Over-By-Over fan's. Do note though, this is a straight cut-and-paste job from the archive so there is nothing new, and the typo's remain. But its still a great laugh, and will appeal to the cult following for the Guardian's (often mimicked, rarely bettered) commentary.
If you missed the Guardian's OBO, but got hooked on the Ashes, you should also buy this book. The OBO format involves a written summary of what happened in each over (think humourous pub/armchair version of events rather than Boycott or Atherton) mixed with input from members of the public who have e-mailed the journalists with facts, questions, current worries. You can therefore relive the whole summer whilst giggling, and learn some new facts. Plus, whilst Flintoff et al are giving their accounts in various expensive books, this is a really good version of events from the fans point of view. It records office culture in the summer of 2005 and what we expect as England supporters (i.e. like Asterix, that the sky will fall on our head any second) - you'll be able to empathise with so much of it.
But, and this is the only reason I gave the book 4 stars, I think the Guardian missed a chance in not putting some pictures in to accompany key overs, key events, and key themes in the book. It's not like a newspaper doesn't have access to sports photography. Maybe the Guardian should try a Christmas release "coffee table" version with snaps?
I really recommend the book as something different amongst the plethora of Ashes publications - as such, I believe you couldn't fail if you bought it as a gift for someone you know who likes cricket. It should win the Guardian OBO commentaries new fans as well. Photo's though would have put the cherry on the cake.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
I don't know what I'd have done without Guardian Unlimited this summer. Their over by over coverage of the game pioneered a format that all the papers seem to be nicking now, but the original remains by far the best. Office workers all over the land, shackled to their desks and far from the nearest tv screen, relied on their updates to see them through the day. Some of them nearly got fired for it. And more than just bringing the wickets and the sledging as it happened, the commentary is a work of genius in itself. Other sites might have told you it was overcast but no sign of rain, but where else would you read that skies were "John Major grey and about as threatening as meeting the former PM in a dark alley?" (Sean Ingle).
Hilarious even months after the events it describes.
By John D. Muir
Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a long conversation between people who don't know each other, but share a common passion. We hear about what they're doing, family issues, hopes, fears and dreams, all set against the ongoing backdrop of a 5-match test series. It helps that the series was one of the most exciting ever played and so emotions ran high, as the title indicates.
Reading it brought back great memories of that Summer of 2005. In a way, this book is more vivid just because it isn't wonderful writing. It's ordinary people making jokes, having fun, but underneath waiting anxiously to hear the news, good or bad, about the team they support. Because of the length of a test match, this is possible only in cricket and it's one of the things that sets the sport apart.
Thanks to the Guardian for having the idea to issue this- it's not an obvious subject for a book, but one much appreciated by me and thousands of other cricket lovers.
Reading it brought back great memories of that Summer of 2005. In a way, this book is more vivid just because it isn't wonderful writing. It's ordinary people making jokes, having fun, but underneath waiting anxiously to hear the news, good or bad, about the team they support. Because of the length of a test match, this is possible only in cricket and it's one of the things that sets the sport apart.
Thanks to the Guardian for having the idea to issue this- it's not an obvious subject for a book, but one much appreciated by me and thousands of other cricket lovers.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not as Good as Being There
This is not a simple cut and paste job, some entries have been edited.
Overall, this is disappointing. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2006
5.0 out of 5 stars
Join the OBO fanbase
For those who have never experienced the joy of the Guardian OBO coverage, this is a great introduction - minus the teeth-gratingly tense atmosphere of the last Ashes series. Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2005 by R. Clifton
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