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Full Circle: A History of Cricket
A bold and comprehensive global history of cricket, from its earliest origins to the present day.
Oborne and Heller trace the origins of cricket as a commercial entertainment through its evolution to a form of moral improvement and tool of empire, and argue that cricket today – dominated by the Indian Premier League's wealth and scale – has come full circle. From Australia to the Caribbean to Afghanistan, they explore the way cricket developed across the globe, examining its role in colonialism, education and politics; where it flourished and where it failed to take root.
In its earliest forms in the 18th century, cricket was a commercial entertainment, a vehicle for gambling alongside cock-fighting or wrestling. In the Victorian era, the sport was rejuvenated as a means of keeping order in England's public schools and increasingly became linked with ideas of virtue and manliness. Exported by empire loyalists abroad, cricket took root across the globe – wildly successfully in some countries, indelibly linked with racism and violence in others, and failing to thrive in certain regions. At all times, the authors argue, cricket either evolves or dies. Today, the monetisation of cricket suggests it has returned to its original purpose – less a sport or self-mythologising value system than a commercial enterprise to be ruthlessly exploited.
Oborne and Heller draw on many years of their own experience as cricketing historians, commentators, players and fans to produce this authoritative, erudite and entertaining account of cricket's evolution.
Oborne and Heller trace the origins of cricket as a commercial entertainment through its evolution to a form of moral improvement and tool of empire, and argue that cricket today – dominated by the Indian Premier League's wealth and scale – has come full circle. From Australia to the Caribbean to Afghanistan, they explore the way cricket developed across the globe, examining its role in colonialism, education and politics; where it flourished and where it failed to take root.
In its earliest forms in the 18th century, cricket was a commercial entertainment, a vehicle for gambling alongside cock-fighting or wrestling. In the Victorian era, the sport was rejuvenated as a means of keeping order in England's public schools and increasingly became linked with ideas of virtue and manliness. Exported by empire loyalists abroad, cricket took root across the globe – wildly successfully in some countries, indelibly linked with racism and violence in others, and failing to thrive in certain regions. At all times, the authors argue, cricket either evolves or dies. Today, the monetisation of cricket suggests it has returned to its original purpose – less a sport or self-mythologising value system than a commercial enterprise to be ruthlessly exploited.
Oborne and Heller draw on many years of their own experience as cricketing historians, commentators, players and fans to produce this authoritative, erudite and entertaining account of cricket's evolution.
535 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Up until three years or so ago Richard Heller and Peter Oborne hosted an intelligent and not to be missed cricket podcast and now they have turned their hands to an overarching history of the game which is long overdue after the epic EW Swanton and HA Altham's History of Cricket from many decades ago.
This is a wide ranging panoramic examination of the sport, how it developed globally and its effect on society and how society has affected it too.
Nothing escapes their scrutiny and trenchant analysis, the heroes are praised and the villains are named and shamed. Racism and match fixing are examined and excoriated and the reader will relish the depth of their research and the quality of the writing.
A shoo-in for cricket book of the year!
This is a wide ranging panoramic examination of the sport, how it developed globally and its effect on society and how society has affected it too.
Nothing escapes their scrutiny and trenchant analysis, the heroes are praised and the villains are named and shamed. Racism and match fixing are examined and excoriated and the reader will relish the depth of their research and the quality of the writing.
A shoo-in for cricket book of the year!
Displaying 1 of 1 review