Short description
Shane Warne was the most glamorous and arguably the best cricketer in the world for more than ten years. He won a generation of fans by showing the fun to be had in bamboozling opponents. Warne loved the limelight, but the limelight also burned him: scandals involving drugs, extra-marital affairs, and taking money from dodgy bookmakers have soured relations with his family and homeland. This fascinating and thorough biography draws on interviews with Warne and many of his teammates and opponents to tell the entire story of his life and career. On the heels of Warne's retirement from Test cricket with a record 706 victims to his name, this unique retrospective looks at cricket's famed enigma, showman, and genius.
Long description
Shane Warne was the most glamorous and, arguably the best cricketer in the world for over ten years. He won a generation of followers by showing the fun to be had in bamboozling opponents. From the so-called 'ball of the century' that bowled Mike Gatting in 1993, to his single-handed defiance against England in the 2005 Ashes series and his key role in the 2006/7 whitewash. He is an enigma, a showman and a genius, but he is also a very human character with human frailties. Warne loves the limelight, but the limelight has also burned him. He's been in trouble over drugs, extra-marital affairs, and taking money from dodgy bookmakers, all of which have soured relations with his family and with his homeland. Ironically he is perhaps more loved by cricket fans in England than in his native Australia. This fascinating and well-researched biography draws on interviews with Warne and many of his teammates and opponents. On the heels of Warne's retirement from Test cricket with a record 706 victims to his name, this unique retrospective tells, for the first time, the whole story behind cricket's most flawed genius. .
Review
Praise for Ranji: The Strange Genius of Ranjitsinhji , shortllisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award in 1990'Outstandingly the best new sports book I have read this year' -- Ian Wooldridge, Daily Mail 'Diligently researched, Wilde's book brings skeletons rattling out of the cupboard' -- Daily Telegraph 'Wilde's hitherto unknown revelations are astonishing ... a fascinating book' -- The Times 'Riveting stuff' -- Sunday Telegraph 'Simon Wilde has valuably unearthed no end of sly intrigues in his quest of Ranji' -- Guardian