{"product_id":"9781471154850-england-the-biography","title":"England: The Biography","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Story of English Cricket\u003cbr\u003eThe most comprehensive and revealing account of the story of England cricket and cricketers yet published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An astonishing work of research, detail and revelation. Bulging with information, packed with nuggets.' John Etheridge, \u003ci\u003eSun\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Superbly researched. His eye for detail never wavers. It’s \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003ea pleasure to read.' Vic Marks, \u003ci\u003eObserver\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The Cricket Book of the Year: Dauntingly comprehensive and surprisingly light-footed.' Simon Briggs, \u003ci\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEngland: The Biography\u003c\/i\u003e is the most comprehensive account of the England cricket team that has ever been published, taking the reader into the heart of the action and the team dynamics that have helped shape their success, or otherwise. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It is now \u003cb\u003e140 years\u003c\/b\u003e since England first played Test match cricket and, for much of that time, it has struggled to perform to the best of its capabilities. In the early years, amateurs would pick and choose which matches and tours they would play; subsequently, the demands of the county game - and the petty jealousies that created - would prevent many from achieving their best. It was only in the 1990s that central contracts were brought in, and Team England began to receive the best possible support from an ever-increasing backroom team. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But cricket isn't just about structures, it depends like no other sport on questions of how successful the captain is in motivating and leading his team, and how well different personalities and egos are integrated and managed in the changing room. From \u003cb\u003eJoe Root\u003c\/b\u003e and\u003cb\u003e Alastair Cook\u003c\/b\u003e back to \u003cb\u003eMike Atherton\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eMike Brearley\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eRay Illingworth\u003c\/b\u003e, England captains have had a heavy influence on proceedings. Recent debates over \u003cb\u003eKevin Pietersen \u003c\/b\u003ewere nothing new, as contemporaries of \u003cb\u003eW.G.Grace \u003c\/b\u003ewould doubtless recognise. As England play their \u003cb\u003e1000th Test\u003c\/b\u003e, this is \u003cb\u003ea brilliant and unmissable insight\u003c\/b\u003e into the ups and downs of that story.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40943833251937,"sku":"9781471154850","price":11.08,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_31790719.jpg?v=1734678960","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781471154850-england-the-biography","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}