Kevin Pietersen on Cricket: The Toughest Opponents, the Greatest Battles, the Game We Love

by Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen's cricketing career has been full of drama, both on the pitch and away from it. In this, his new memoir, Kevin recalls the key battles he's faced at the crease and reflects on his most memorable innings. The book offers a unique perspective on what it feels like to be a batsman facing some of the most hostile bowling attacks in the world, and an understanding of how his cricketing brain operates. Above all, it is going to be a celebration of an extraordinary career - a must-read for all sports fans.

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2015

Reviews

[Neil Cake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. It's the first sport star book I've read where they actually talk about the psychology of being an elite sportsman - what they're thinking, how they're feeling, what they're doing and why... just really insightful.

[सौरभ | ਸੌਰਭ | Saurabh · Rating 3 out of 5]

पुस्तक की भाषा सरल-सुलभ है, मैं २-३ घंटे में सहजता से इसे पूरा पढ़ पाया।

पुस्तक के वे अंश जहाँ कैविन पीटरसन अपने बारे में नहीं वरन खेल के बारे में बात करते हैं, वे काफ़ी रोचक हैं। उनका तकनीकी आँकलन और खेल के विभिन्न पहलुओं पर विचार बहुत ज्ञानवर्धक हैं। वे फ़ॉर्म और ज़ोन में अंतर दर्शाते हैं और यह भी स्पष्ट करते हैं कि परवर्ती अधिक महत्वपूर्ण क्यों है। गेंदबाज़ों के साथ उनके संघर्ष विशेषकर मिशेल जॉनसन, शेन वार्न, मुरलीधरन, ब्रेट ली का विवरण काफी रोचक है। वे मैच के लिए कैसे तैयारी करते हैं और खेल के मानसिक पहलू के बारे में उनके विचार बहुत दिलचस्प हैं।

पुस्तक में असंख्य बार वे "मैं ऐसा हूँ, मैं वैसा हूँ, मैं दूसरों से बेहतर हूँ और क्यों हूँ" - यही सब घसीटते रहते हैं जो सच में काफी "Cringe" है। इस बात में कोई संदेह नहीं कि कैविन पीटरसन अच्छे खिलाड़ी थे पर उन्हें पढ़ कर "Second Hand Embarrassment" होता है।

पुस्तक के वे अंश पढ़ना बड़ा कठिन लगता है।

बाकी पुस्तक में ऐसा कुछ नया नहीं है - उनके खेल के बारे में विचार हम कमेंट्री में सुनते रहते हैं।

नोट - नेथन लायन के लिए वे लिखते हैं "In front of me on that day in Perth was an average off-spinner I'd already hit for six.." :-)

[Jake Kenagy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️. Finally read after years of Harry saying how good it is. Elite insight into his game and cricket at the top level. Think he used his other autobiography to get most of his grievances out but he still can’t help himself at points. Not well written but can’t complain for an athletes autobiography

[PAUL · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on the game but gets a bit grating with his papelardy at times. Didn't help that there was a couple of typos and blatant factual errors.

[Venky · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this freewheeling book, Kevin Pietersen talks about cricket in a relaxed, carefree and casual tone. In fact the matter-of-fact narrative reminds the reader of the unique KP style of cricket - audacity punctuated by arrogance mixed with art. Neither a memoir nor a collection of reminiscence, "On Cricket" is a conversational, yet insightful work on what makes one of the most memorable cricketers of our time tick. "KP" is extremely candid about the way in which he goes about mentally preparing himself for a game, how he sets himself (as well as a bowler) up when he is at the batting crease, his techniques and trigger movements and the art of coping with pressure.

Pietersen also selects his dream team in the book and the candidates making up the squad are eleven usual suspects whose identities are not at all hard to predict.

"On Cricket" - A decent showing.

[Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and good flow, very good batting advice and I enjoyed reading the 2nd book from KP. Good insight into training and this is the book that is about playing and strategy than his last book which was about bridge burning.