Based on extensive research and interviews with leading sports executives, "Pommies" is the first book to investigate the management of professional cricket in England. Three years after the great Ashes victory in 2005, the England team has reverted to type. In 2007, it lost three out of four Test series and got nowhere in the ICC World Cup and Twenty20 tournaments. Since 1987, Australia has thrashed England 34-9 in Tests and won four World Cups to England's none. Today, Australia has five cricket stadiums with more than 30,000 seats to England's none. Their team is accessible to all on Channel Nine, but England fans have to pay GBP400 a year for Sky. Using Australia as the model and inspiration, "Pommies" explains what is wrong with England cricket and presents a radical plan to improve the national team and open up the game for fans.
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Buckland makes some startling points which go a long way towards accounting for England s decline since the Ashes victory of 2005 --Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2008
Opinions on English cricket are varied and often prejudiced. This well-researched book fills an important gap. --Mike Atherton
Opinions on English cricket are varied and often prejudiced. This well-researched book fills an important gap. --Mike Atherton
About the Author
William Buckland is an investigative management consultant and writer. He spent eight years as an executive at international news agency Reuters. Since leaving in 2001 he has worked as a strategic adviser both for the UK government and in the private sector. Pommies is his second book.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A. S. Davies
Format:Hardcover
A great wake-up call for those charged with turning England into a world force in cricket again, and also for the counties who reap all the benefits when England do well but consistently stand in the way of radical improvements to the way the game is run.
Buckland has taken the time to dig properly into the finances of English cricket, and the contrast between the priorities of the Australian cricket authorities and their English counterparts is a stark one. Makes it easy to see why Aussies have performed so well since Kerry Packer shook up their game in the 70s and highlights that England's Ashes triumph in 2005 was achieved in spite of the system, not because of it.
A rational analysis of the issues rather than an uninformed rant, and very topical given the amount of money that is flowing into cricket via IPL, Allen Stanford et al
Buckland has taken the time to dig properly into the finances of English cricket, and the contrast between the priorities of the Australian cricket authorities and their English counterparts is a stark one. Makes it easy to see why Aussies have performed so well since Kerry Packer shook up their game in the 70s and highlights that England's Ashes triumph in 2005 was achieved in spite of the system, not because of it.
A rational analysis of the issues rather than an uninformed rant, and very topical given the amount of money that is flowing into cricket via IPL, Allen Stanford et al
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Mostyn Saxby
Format:Hardcover
To understand just why English cricket continues to wallow in the mire of mediocrity look no further. William Buckland's investigation using the Australian system as a benchmark is both enlightening and adroitly reasoned. The counties' self interest and the flawed business plan of the ECB is the root cause of the malaise in English Cricket.
It is no co-incidence that Australia have been the best side for the last 2 decades, that they have a streamlined domestic structure and that their national team can be followed on free to air television, i.e. the very antitheses of English cricket. 'Pommies' sets out establish the reasons why.
County cricket in its current form is a Victorian folly subsidised by the ECB using the cash raised by selling the television rights to England matches. The counties in turn use this cash to pay for 2nd rate rent a players from overseas at the expense of home grown talent.
Buckland constructs compelling arguments for radical change that cannot afford to be ignored for much longer.
Anyone who cares for the state of the game of cricket in this country should read this book and ruminate on its profound conclusions. It is to be hoped that our administrators can overcome their crippling self interest and read it too...
It is no co-incidence that Australia have been the best side for the last 2 decades, that they have a streamlined domestic structure and that their national team can be followed on free to air television, i.e. the very antitheses of English cricket. 'Pommies' sets out establish the reasons why.
County cricket in its current form is a Victorian folly subsidised by the ECB using the cash raised by selling the television rights to England matches. The counties in turn use this cash to pay for 2nd rate rent a players from overseas at the expense of home grown talent.
Buckland constructs compelling arguments for radical change that cannot afford to be ignored for much longer.
Anyone who cares for the state of the game of cricket in this country should read this book and ruminate on its profound conclusions. It is to be hoped that our administrators can overcome their crippling self interest and read it too...
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A. Massey
Format:Hardcover
Buckland's book looks directly at what's gone wrong in English cricket over the last 25 years and why Australia and the other nations have caught up and overtaken England over time.
He highlights the key failures within the English system and backs up his argument with a powerful weapon. Fact.
Why are England's bowlers always injured? Why has the wider population lost interest in cricket since the 05 Ashes? What is the point of county cricket? Why is watching cricket (on TV and live) so expensive?
These questions are all answered by the book.
Furthermore, Buckland outlines how English cricket should develop to enable it to become something that the nation can be proud of.
It can only be hoped that the powers that be accept the blatantly obvious flaws we have today and give English cricket supporter what they deserve. If they read this book, it'll be a start.
This book is for everyone wanting a change from mediocre England cricket teams.
He highlights the key failures within the English system and backs up his argument with a powerful weapon. Fact.
Why are England's bowlers always injured? Why has the wider population lost interest in cricket since the 05 Ashes? What is the point of county cricket? Why is watching cricket (on TV and live) so expensive?
These questions are all answered by the book.
Furthermore, Buckland outlines how English cricket should develop to enable it to become something that the nation can be proud of.
It can only be hoped that the powers that be accept the blatantly obvious flaws we have today and give English cricket supporter what they deserve. If they read this book, it'll be a start.
This book is for everyone wanting a change from mediocre England cricket teams.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Destroy the ECB
An excellent book detailing the problems afflicting English cricket - mainly the myopic ECB. An explanation as to why we didn't win the Ashes for 18 years and why we're unlikely to... Read more
Published on 8 May 2009 by S. Flaherty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential summer reading for all English sports fans
I'm not a particularly passionate cricket fan, but this insightful and well researched book left me with a new understanding about the game and why our national team will never... Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2008 by N. Roe
1.0 out of 5 stars
Massive disappointment
Oh dear. A book that I'm sure has a clear argument within it struggles to become aparent due to the very limited writing skills of its author. Read more
Published on 23 July 2008 by Dan Ramsay
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read
This is a fantastically well research book that shines a bright light on the structural failures of England cricket. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2008 by Y. Jackson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spot on
As a club cricketer I am often asked why our national team is so up and down; Buckland explores the reasons why professional cricket is in sad state. Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2008 by Mr. S. Ferguson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling stuff !
At last, a Pommie who truly calls it for what it is ! Let's hope the MCC ignores every word and we continue our Ashes' dominance.
Published on 3 Jun 2008 by Simon Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars
hoorah for Buckland
Perhaps we can get Will to write a similar book for Rugby and of course Football. Our National sports have been strangled by self serving officials. Well done Mr. Buckland!!
Published on 28 April 2008 by L. Cameron
5.0 out of 5 stars
about time too
Will Buckland's book exposes the true nature of the shambles that is the England Cricket business model - based as it is on the 'establishments' flagrant self interest with... Read more
Published on 28 April 2008 by Paul Ford
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