John Arlott's Book of Cricketers - John Arlott

 John Arlott, a highly respected BBC commentator and a producer at BBC, was a man of many talents. He was a detective sargeant in the police, an instructor at the BBC Staff training School, wrote poetry, on wine and cheese and of course on cricket. They were poets in how they wrote about the game and master technicians in their understanding of technique and human psyche. Vinod picked it up at Abids and I saw that it once belonged to Sri Ramakrishna Library - God knows where it was but I sent a silent prayer to the people who ran it. The book was first published in 1979.

Being a Hampshire man, Arlott was partial to those who played for Hampshire. But more than his choice of people I was keen to see how he would describe these personalities. Writers like Arlott could make even the ordinary look extra ordinary with their fine analysis and keen observation.

So when he describes Sir Jack Hobbs he says 'he rocks on his right foot and can play a pace bowler who can swing the ball with fast, casual adjustments'...'had profound technical understanding and tactical sense'...and believed that most errors of batsmen stem from playing back when they should have played front and vice versa..'. 

He describes Maurice Tate as someone who 'lived cricket'...and when he describes the medium pacer in action says ' nine yards...before the final leap, limbs gathered together in one unity, left arm pointing upward, right had at opposite pole, body edgewise to the batsman, weight back on the right foot, back curved so the batsman can see the head jutting out behind arm, right arm comes over, body turned, full flick of the wrist, plunged through, body bending in that earth tearing final stride, pulling away to the off...'. You cannot have a better description of the perfect out swing bowler. I also liked that Tate said that his best spell was when he got no wickets for 45 runs in 19 overs - my best spell was one such too when i had no wickets for 28 runs in 22 overs!

Of Philip Mead he said he was so talented that he would not practice for long stretches and at times would not be happy even after he got a hundred. George Burns was 'best when the battle was hottest' and 'cricket to him was a personal matter'. Lord Constantine, the son of a plantation foreman from Trinidad was a much decorated man and a great cricketer. A Rowan 'had guts and was a scholar of off spin". Leo Harrison, a wicket keeper of 'high technical ability to leave his movement until the ball has 'done' everything and still get it without hurry'...'his handling is clean'...'his driving is a triumph of timing and fluency, the speed of the stuck ball much greater than the swing of the stroke would promise'...'a perfectionist who cannot forgive any cricket played with  less than full effort'.

When writing about Ray Lindwall, the Aussie fast bowler, he says 'all wicket keepers and fast bowlers are mad'...and says Ray was a rare exception of a highly intelligent fast bowler. He would adjust to different conditions and pitches fast, kept himself injury free by doing some stretching exercises, was a model in preparation, ...  'relaxed between deliveries, to the extent of scuffling his feet'...'used his bumper for psychological effect'. Keith Miller another great Aussie was an 'uncomplicated Aussie all rounder'...'who was never interested in cheap runs and cheap wickets'.

Of Derek Shackleton, a fast bowler, he writes ...'high kneed run, arm almost brushes his ear'...perfect. Jim Laker was arguably the finest off spinner who 'could alter the width of spin from ball to ball, varied pace by changing his grip which was based on the tip of index finger placed across and not beside the seam'. How many coaches would know such detail? And ..'like all master of flight, he could impart a considerable amount of over spin and get a steep dip as a produce the illusion of a half volley to a good length ball'..and as a person...'took a wicket and turned away'.    

Of Roy Marshall the Barbadian he writes ''''could drive superbly, moving down the pitch, flowing through with the stroke, hands leading to a complete follow through.' Of Gary Sobers he wrote 'one of the most thrilling batsman to watch.' And that he loved gambling. Fred Trueman, known as the young bull, ...'gradually accelerated, swung around so completely that the batsman saw his left shoulder blade, coked trigger, left arm pointed high, head steady, eyes at batsman, the arm slashed down as the ball fired down the pitch, so near the stumps that he sometimes brushed the umpire.' There is Merwyn Burden who was an unlucky cricketer but with great humour.

Ray Illingworth was a thinking cricketer whose 'reading of a match and general tactical acumen was above ordinary'...'picked the best men for the job, not necessarily in terms of technical ability but also temperament and application'...'deployed the team in such fine balance that it achieved maximum efficiency'...'gained respect, loyalty and effort through the trust he placed in his players and his own professionalism and lifted their game'...'never prejudging the problem but working them out deeply and clearly'. Classic understanding of leadership. There's Peter Sainsbury known for his enthusiasm, David White, Basil D'Oliveria who was the first black South African to play for England and broke the bonds of apartheid.

Barry Richards he said 'would play himself with cold determinism'...'and strolls when others hustle'. Then there's Tony Lewis. Of Boycott he says 'single minded cricketer'..'dedication such that he was first in the dressing room with his kit all laid out and ready'..'plays himself in without anxiety'. Then there's Mike Brearley who is a scholar and writer and psychologist.

Of Andy Roberts he says 'trains hard, does not smoke or drink'...'observes batsman with the care of a slow bowler'...'employs varied methods'...'studied the mechanics of cricket'...'rare combination of fire, settled physique and mature mind'. Of Viv Richards he writes 'batting is a matter of strokes, more strokes and even more strokes'.      

Fabulous writing and superb understanding of technique and skill. In one part poetry, one part coaching manual and in one part understanding of the psyche of each player..fabulous. Where have all such men gone? Thanks Vinod bhai for yet another gem!