Customer Reviews

Bob Woolmer's Art and Science of Cricket

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The most important book about cricket in 25 years": can it really be this good?
Yes, yes, yes.
What Woolmer has done is to take cricket and completely rethink it, using all sorts of fields: psychology (visualising techniques), physics (reverse swing), historical analysis (comparing Ian Botham's tips on batting in 1980 with the Reverend James Pycroft's in 1851), statistics (there's no advantage in winning the toss in a one day match!) and fusing them altogether with experience of being at the top of international sport.
He's got view on everything, from which ball of an over one should play a premeditated shot in a ODI (the 1st or the 6th), which guard you should take (leg stump ahead of middle or middle and leg), to how to bowl an over in a 'set' so as to trap the batsman at the end.
I would say every ten pages, he comes up with something utterly new and original, on all sorts of fields: from why Bradman averaged 40 runs more than anyone else, to why McGrath had Atherton's number, to how you should bowl at someone when they are completely set and don't look like getting out.
He's continually illuminating, continually original, and frequently goes against the grain of 'orthodox' cricket coaching (e.g. you shouldn't worry about taking the bat directly back in the backlift: top players tend to take it back towards 2nd slip...the bottom hand is more significant than the top hand in batting... don't put your foot to the pitch of the ball...)
Clearly, this is most a book for people who are seriously interested in cricket, but it's just a brilliant example of someone taking a subject and completely rethinking it. Almost every facet of the game is something he's considered, practised and now written up for everyone to read (presumably dictating to the authors).
It's an absolute classic, ideal for dipping into, as it's written in small chunks.
A perfect gift for a cricket lover, or a real treat if you actually play.
It may look imposing at 700 pages, but it's simply brilliant.

I would recommend this book to anyone that is thinking about playing cricket, plays cricket or coaches cricket. It is an absolute marvel. It contains everything from mental strength for playing the game and covers all techniques for batsmen, bowlers and fielders. Excellently layed out and explained, Bob Woolmer's cricketing mind is illustrated for all to see and benefit from. If you are a cricket nut this is the book for you.

There is so much wisdom in every page. I only wish I'd had a copy twenty-five years ago before my knees went and I could still see the ball. If you play cricket get this book now!

This book is as close to a cricket coaching bible as you likely to get. Every coach, young and old, should have this on their shelf as it's the most comprehensive coaching book available.

This book deals with aspects of the game not dealt with elsewhere -
This is a must-have book for any keen cricketer
Difficult techniques are very well explained with very good diagrams
No coach should be without it.

It doesn't matter how knowledgable or qualified you are as a coach - if you haven't read this you have something to learn from it.

On my blog a wrote a short review of this fantastic book! It's a great book for developing cricketers teaching them the art and skill of cricket.

[...]

This is a cricket enthusiasts dream of a book. We bought it for our 15 year old son for xmas. He loved it.

This was bought as a present and the recipient was delighted. An excellent read for those involved or interested. Perfect gift.

This is a very good book for starters and experienced players. I recommend that all cricketers need to have this book.