by Mayukh Ghosh
In the late 1960s there were not many yearly awards for the best cricket books. One of the ‘awards’ that mattered most to many was the praise by an eccentric cricket historian called Rowland Bowen. It did not happen often. He was not one to give 4-stars and 5-stars to every book that was written. So, great words from him was often valuable.
He was the man behind the highly acclaimed journal Cricket Quarterly’. The high quality of the content was produced by a group of highly qualified writers.
Bowen, as it might be clear by now, was not one for ordinary stuff.
One of the writers whose work featured on multiple occasions is David Kelly.
Kelly was born and brought up in Dorset where his father was a very good batsman in the club level. The son too followed his father’s footsteps and played the game for many decades. He finally hung up his boots three years ago, as a Kent Over 70s player.
Besides, he had always been interested in cricket history and have amassed a nice collection of books over very many years. He still writes occasionally and few of his writings can be found here: http://www.cricketweb.net/author/david/
He has his areas of interest:
“Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1966, I spent a number of years working in the eastern Caribbean and in different parts of Africa, and my particular interests are books on West Indies cricket and on the game in countries outside of the Test-playing world.”
Around twenty years ago, he began part-time book dealing (www.abebooks.co.uk/bookseller/davidkellycarvid). Those on cricket, quite naturally, becoming a speciality.
Here are David Kelly’s favourite cricket books:
Imperial Cricket, edited by P F Warner
“A very early acquisition of mine, a copy owned now for around 50 years. I dip into this from time to time to see what the cricketing world was like 100+ years ago. Beautifully produced volume. Great contributions by Ashley-Cooper among very many.”
Sixty Years of Ceylon Cricket, by S P Foenander
“I have always been interested in Ceylon both as a country and as a cricketing nation, and this marvellous book, excellently put together by the great Samuel Foenander, tells the history of its early cricket against the social background of the country. Amazing detail included, written in a timeless manner yet of a time.”
A History of Tasmanian Cricket, by Roger Page
“One of the very first cricket books I ever bought, this is a fine history and I have always considered it something of a benchmark for others in that genre. I still have that original copy of mine, as well now as a signed hardback.”
Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development throughout the World, by Rowland Bowen
“I still frequently come across things in this magnum opus of interest, though researches in the last 50 years by others have often to be taken into account. For its time, this was an excellent book and is arguably now under-appreciated. There is a fine Introduction by CLR James, too. This book remains really pertinent.”
Cricket at Hastings, The Story of a Ground, by Gerald Brodribb
“I have many of Brodribb’s books, not all of them on cricket, but this is a particular favourite as the old Central Cricket Ground location is not far from where I live – and indeed I played on the ground during its last weekend of active use prior to its sad conversion to bricks and mortar.”
The Ross Gregory Story, by David Frith
“My favourite biography, written by the inestimable Frith. Captures the essence of a fine and blossoming cricket career only to be cruelly cut short by a wartime tragedy.”
The Years of Hope – Cambridge, Colonial Administration in the South Seas and Cricket, by Philip Snow
“And my favourite autobiography, this being the first volume of Snow’s memoirs. Excellently written, with great tales of his time at university, early cricket in England, his fascinating and rewarding years in Fiji, and the colonial world as then existed. With a wonderfully evocative jacket.”
Field of Shadows, by Dan Waddell
“This “remarkable true story of the English cricket tour of Nazi Germany 1937” is a sensational read, the product of great research and presented in a wonderful manner. The European, indeed world, background to the tour makes it all the more memorable. And my copy was given to me by an old friend!”
Sir Everton Weekes: An Appreciation, by Tony Cozier
“Given my years in the Caribbean and my collection of West Indies material, there are many to choose from, but I opt for this splendid work by the greatly missed Cozier, whom I first met in St Lucia fifty years ago this year, on the enduing career and legacy of arguably the best batsman among the Three Ws.”
Jessop’s Son, The Cricketing Life of Gilbert Laird Osborne Jessop, by David Battersby
“I end with a very recent publication which has a great deal on my native Dorset, with several honourable mentions of my father who played a lot of cricket with GLO. Brilliant research led to a very readable account of the cricket-centric life, and pastoral career, of The Croucher’s son.”
This is as diverse a list of ten as possible. There is a book written before the Great War began. One on Sri Lanka and the cricket played there, written almost sixty years before they played their first Test match. And one about cricket in Tasmania, written twenty years before they played their first match in Sheffield Shield, by a 21-year old man who went on to become Australia’s leading cricket book dealer.
I do not think there are many who have read all ten. Some are hard to find too. But they are definitely good enough to be included in the wish list.