In the months leading up to him choking on his on vomit and dying in a Caribbean hotel room, Bob Woolmer was immersed in compiling all his cricketing skills knowledge and artistry into a book too weighty for all but the most sturdy of coffee tables. Having consulted a 10 page pamphlet of his in the week before my massive knock in a last wicket stand of 42 at Enfield and producing a rare display of consistent bowling, I can vouch that this chap knew his cricketing onions.
Now his knowledge can be bought in a beautiful bumper cricketing compendium for the recommended retail price of £30. Or if you can use a computer, Amazon stocks it for £18. Or, if you have book tokens after Christmas or wanting to tip off a random relative rarely seen of a suitable present for yourself, this is the recommended item.
Another cricketing book to tempt you this year should be The Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket 2009. A small lightweight paperback, it’s full of info to inform and keep you in bar room banters over the next Ashes series. Perfect for that bathroom read when hiding from the misses because she wants some help with the Christmas dinner cooking. At £8.99, its great value, even for the hilarious mug shot of Andre Nel lost in Gunther mode.
Finally, if you can’t be bothered to read, why not relive that great 2005 Ashes series on DVD. You forget how good it was. The first day at Lords saw 20 wickets. Edgbaston saw victory claimed on the penultimate ball. Old Trafford saw Ponting lose it after being caught by a sub. And the Oval saw punters dancing for rain on the last 2 days as England hung on to claim a famous test victory. You’ll also notice me in a crowd close up giving a boozy 4 sign with my little bro and Grant Mitchell.
Also, it’s time for the Procurement officers xmas giveaway. I have a signed copy of The Fast Bowlers Bible by Ian Pont to dish out. Its second hand and signed by Carons Nan – “Happy Xmas 2007 John, Love Dot”.
To win, simply log onto the forum and send me the details of 12th man Robsie Tona’s Swiss bank account. Best original entry will win the bible. Good luck and Merry Xmas.