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The Grade Cricketer
Welcome to the world of The Grade Cricketer. Described as the most original voice in cricket, The Grade Cricketer represents the fading hopes and dreams of every ageing amateur sportsman.
In this tell-all 'autobiography', The Grade Cricketer describes his cricketing career with unflinching honesty and plenty of humour, in turn providing insights into the hyper-masculine cricket 'dressing room'.
This one-time junior prodigy is now experiencing the lean, increasingly existential years of adult cricket. Here, he learns quickly that one will need more than just runs and wickets to make it in the alpha-dominated grade cricket jungle, where blokes like Nuggsy, Bruiser, Deeks and Robbo reign supreme.
Through it all, The Grade Cricketer lays bare his deepest insecurities - his relationship with Dad, his fleeting romances outside the cricket club - and, in turn, we witness a gentle maturation; a slow realisation that perhaps, just maybe, there is more to life than hitting 50 not out in third grade and enjoying a few celebratory beers afterwards.
Or is there?
* * *
The Grade Cricketer book is based upon the popular Twitter account, @gradecricketer, which has received critical acclaim for its frighteningly honest portrayal of amateur cricket.
Now, the time has finally come for this middling amateur sportsman to tell his story in full.
'The Grade Cricketer is the finest tribute to a sport since Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch, and the best cricket book in yonks.
It's belly-laughing funny but it's also a hymn to the grand and complex game delivered with a narrative pace and ability I'm afraid most Test players don't have.
For anyone who ever dreamed of excelling at a sport but never quite made it but still gave it your life, this is the story. A great read!'
- Tom Keneally AO.
In this tell-all 'autobiography', The Grade Cricketer describes his cricketing career with unflinching honesty and plenty of humour, in turn providing insights into the hyper-masculine cricket 'dressing room'.
This one-time junior prodigy is now experiencing the lean, increasingly existential years of adult cricket. Here, he learns quickly that one will need more than just runs and wickets to make it in the alpha-dominated grade cricket jungle, where blokes like Nuggsy, Bruiser, Deeks and Robbo reign supreme.
Through it all, The Grade Cricketer lays bare his deepest insecurities - his relationship with Dad, his fleeting romances outside the cricket club - and, in turn, we witness a gentle maturation; a slow realisation that perhaps, just maybe, there is more to life than hitting 50 not out in third grade and enjoying a few celebratory beers afterwards.
Or is there?
* * *
The Grade Cricketer book is based upon the popular Twitter account, @gradecricketer, which has received critical acclaim for its frighteningly honest portrayal of amateur cricket.
Now, the time has finally come for this middling amateur sportsman to tell his story in full.
'The Grade Cricketer is the finest tribute to a sport since Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch, and the best cricket book in yonks.
It's belly-laughing funny but it's also a hymn to the grand and complex game delivered with a narrative pace and ability I'm afraid most Test players don't have.
For anyone who ever dreamed of excelling at a sport but never quite made it but still gave it your life, this is the story. A great read!'
- Tom Keneally AO.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2015
46 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 8, 2017
As somebody whose cricket career finished after one season when an arsonist burned down the clubhouse, I could definitely empathise with the tales told by The Grade Cricketer.
This book perfectly captures the contradictions inherent in the game of club cricket: a team sport where success is a sequence of individual battles, team-mates competing against one another for advancement and so not being too worried by others' failure, the politics and social hierarchies that infest sporting clubs.
There is a fair bit of exaggeration one suspects, but the book feels as if it captures the truth lying behind that existential question - what am I doing here? - and the gnawing inability to accept that one's career has peaked.
This book is soaked in blokey testosterone and machismo. That's an accurate reflection of the milieu it is written about, but I would not be surprised if some people got turned off by it. I think this one is for blokes who have been there and done that.
This book perfectly captures the contradictions inherent in the game of club cricket: a team sport where success is a sequence of individual battles, team-mates competing against one another for advancement and so not being too worried by others' failure, the politics and social hierarchies that infest sporting clubs.
There is a fair bit of exaggeration one suspects, but the book feels as if it captures the truth lying behind that existential question - what am I doing here? - and the gnawing inability to accept that one's career has peaked.
This book is soaked in blokey testosterone and machismo. That's an accurate reflection of the milieu it is written about, but I would not be surprised if some people got turned off by it. I think this one is for blokes who have been there and done that.
February 7, 2023
At 3 quarters of the way through this book goes from being incredibly funny to just plain sad. I hope it picks up towards the end of play.
June 12, 2021
Wow! I absolutely hated as well as loved it equally. I will come to that later.
This book has been recommended to me by my brother because he loves their podcast. Moreover, their twitter handle comes up with hilarious memes like this -
The narrator of this book is a shitty fellow. He is everything which I despise now in a human being, lacking understanding of basic fundamentals of life and always seeking validation from others. His priorities are fucked up. He is obsessed with his "rig" whereas he should have focussed more on scoring runs. He is completely surrounded by blokes who consistently demonstrate the toxic muscularity, unnecessary alpha-ism and typical locker room behaviour. However, he can't do anything about it and but he tries to seek validation from those blokes.
On the other hand, I could relate with his struggles and his lost battles. Additionally, I have seen many friends who stopped enjoying cricket and chased after getting selected for a higher level (instead of Grade;) in process making their and their family's life miserable.
Yes, the narrator fucks up everything. Then the fate tells him -
Well, he gets his shot at redemption and the book ends beautifully. The writing is witty. The anecdotes are borderline crass but hilarious. Hats off! It seems like a difficult task on exposing the realities in grade cricket in Australia or say any part of the world and expressing them in a comical way which literally made me LOL. I will start listening to their podcast now.
This book has been recommended to me by my brother because he loves their podcast. Moreover, their twitter handle comes up with hilarious memes like this -
Me helping the umpires take the bails off for tea pic.twitter.com/aa9AeuHhY4
— The Grade Cricketer (@gradecricketer) June 12, 2021
The narrator of this book is a shitty fellow. He is everything which I despise now in a human being, lacking understanding of basic fundamentals of life and always seeking validation from others. His priorities are fucked up. He is obsessed with his "rig" whereas he should have focussed more on scoring runs. He is completely surrounded by blokes who consistently demonstrate the toxic muscularity, unnecessary alpha-ism and typical locker room behaviour. However, he can't do anything about it and but he tries to seek validation from those blokes.
"You can take the boy out of grade cricket, but you can’t take grade cricket out of the boy. Having spent years surrounded by utter fuckwits, I, too, had become a fuckwit. I was a product of my environment."
On the other hand, I could relate with his struggles and his lost battles. Additionally, I have seen many friends who stopped enjoying cricket and chased after getting selected for a higher level (instead of Grade;) in process making their and their family's life miserable.
Yes, the narrator fucks up everything. Then the fate tells him -
Well, he gets his shot at redemption and the book ends beautifully. The writing is witty. The anecdotes are borderline crass but hilarious. Hats off! It seems like a difficult task on exposing the realities in grade cricket in Australia or say any part of the world and expressing them in a comical way which literally made me LOL. I will start listening to their podcast now.
November 24, 2021
As somebody who has spent nearly three decades of summers chasing those elusive 30-odds in red ink, this book perfectly captures the fabric of grade/club cricket.
A number of very amusing anecdotes and observations, which cut to the bone in some instances.
Highly recommended for those with a love of the game which isn't often reciprocated.
A number of very amusing anecdotes and observations, which cut to the bone in some instances.
Highly recommended for those with a love of the game which isn't often reciprocated.
April 25, 2020
really insightful into the world of grade cricket.
Read
January 3, 2021Funny book, highly relatable for those who played cricket in their childhood and were told they had 'promise' ;)
October 26, 2018
3.5 Stars
The Grade Cricketer gives insight into just how Australian Cricket might have come to be the way it is, shining a piercing light into the dark corners of the psyche of the amateur sportsman. Because Grade Cricket is, just as the author contends, only 4 teams below that apotheosis of the dreams of all cricketers said to have 'promise', that of the National Team. And if the juvenility, misogyny, bullying and downright unpleasantness described in this possibly fictional account is even half right, then the path to Sandpapergate is all too believable.
Inside every cricketer it seems is a desperately insecure human being, afraid that one day he will be found out to be the fraud that he fears himself to be. And that fear causes him to lose all enjoyment and love of the game. Which of course, leads him to lose any trace of the elusive 'promise'. Can there be redemption for Aussie Cricket them? Read and discover.
The Grade Cricketer gives insight into just how Australian Cricket might have come to be the way it is, shining a piercing light into the dark corners of the psyche of the amateur sportsman. Because Grade Cricket is, just as the author contends, only 4 teams below that apotheosis of the dreams of all cricketers said to have 'promise', that of the National Team. And if the juvenility, misogyny, bullying and downright unpleasantness described in this possibly fictional account is even half right, then the path to Sandpapergate is all too believable.
Inside every cricketer it seems is a desperately insecure human being, afraid that one day he will be found out to be the fraud that he fears himself to be. And that fear causes him to lose all enjoyment and love of the game. Which of course, leads him to lose any trace of the elusive 'promise'. Can there be redemption for Aussie Cricket them? Read and discover.
November 22, 2017
A great read, as it says, for anyone who's ever played senior cricket, and was a promising junior player who peaked around the age of 15. Unfortunately that was me and there's some stark truths in this book.
I almost laughed out loud on the train several times reading this book. The observations are uncomfortably close to the bone. There's something unique here, I'm not sure what it is though. It's actually a bit uncomfortable reading about the attitudes and expectations of groups of men during summer.
The characters represent every possible cricketer, park, club or grade. There most definitely is a certain eccentricity involved in tolerating a day in the field when it's over 30 degrees. Among many other things that make up a commitment to the glorious game.
I hear there's another book. I'll add it now.
I almost laughed out loud on the train several times reading this book. The observations are uncomfortably close to the bone. There's something unique here, I'm not sure what it is though. It's actually a bit uncomfortable reading about the attitudes and expectations of groups of men during summer.
The characters represent every possible cricketer, park, club or grade. There most definitely is a certain eccentricity involved in tolerating a day in the field when it's over 30 degrees. Among many other things that make up a commitment to the glorious game.
I hear there's another book. I'll add it now.
January 9, 2018
The author seemed to want to make the readers like myself feel good about our lives with stories about trying to succeed in grade cricket. trying to fit in with his club and trying to impress others, especially his father. The cricket culture being portrayed here, in which cricketers have to do or say certain things in order to both succeed and be liked, seemed to be something I would never want to be a part of even if I was an Australian cricketer. Being called the word "champ" as if it's worse than a racial or ethnic slur, or being extremely sensitive to the word "yuck" seemed like this book came from another planet! The book though is very well-written and the author is a great storyteller, and am eager to read the sequel which I bought along with this.
November 24, 2023
Reading this made me mostly feel sick! Just so much shame and sadness for the part of me that responded to this a lot and the behaviours that were mimicked in this book. So much of the unknowing of youth comes up. Even without being a Grade Cricketer, school boy 3rds and 4ths team and a bit at uni was enough of a dip into this world for my liking.
I was mildly relieved that the Grade Cricketer came to the resolution he did at the end of the book and in that way of there has to be something else out there. Lucky the people who have discovered that there is something else out there are usually more accepting than those still in that world.
I was mildly relieved that the Grade Cricketer came to the resolution he did at the end of the book and in that way of there has to be something else out there. Lucky the people who have discovered that there is something else out there are usually more accepting than those still in that world.
December 1, 2024
Very surprised that I hadn't come across this before given how much I listen to them! Anyhow...just exactly what you'd expect. Hilarious throughout and provides the exact analysis of the social dynamics of a club (grade) cricket changing room that they do so well on the pod. That they have written a book has given made me realise just how funny and clever they are.
Two particular highlights for me:
When TGC plays against his old club
The Christmas backyard game against his old man
Comedy genius
Two particular highlights for me:
When TGC plays against his old club
The Christmas backyard game against his old man
Comedy genius
April 18, 2020
Moments of hilarity, mixed with tales of really bad behaviour. The book mirrors the reality of cricket culture in Australia really well and I think that's ultimately why I can't rate it higher because it's uncomfortable reading at many points throughout the book. Unless you're a cricket player here, then it has limited value. I hope Aussie blokes who read this take away that we could be doing much better.
July 17, 2025
As someone who has played cricket for more than half my life, this was a humorous and relatable tale of someone making their way through club cricket.
Going from a player of promise to a jaded adult who resents wasting their weekends in a field, this is a bit of a comfort read for me with plenty of laughs along the way
Going from a player of promise to a jaded adult who resents wasting their weekends in a field, this is a bit of a comfort read for me with plenty of laughs along the way
February 7, 2018
An average read that had moments that were relatable and reinforced why I fell out of love with the game.
Gideon Haighs ‘The Vincibles’ is a far better read which details a year in a suburban cricket club and reinforces why I love the game.
Gideon Haighs ‘The Vincibles’ is a far better read which details a year in a suburban cricket club and reinforces why I love the game.
March 14, 2018
The Grade Cricketer reminded me of every reason I love cricket, and why I hate it so much!
I've never laughed so loud at a book, nor faced so many uncomfortable home truths!
Anybody who has played cricket best have a read. Enjoy champs.
I've never laughed so loud at a book, nor faced so many uncomfortable home truths!
Anybody who has played cricket best have a read. Enjoy champs.
August 13, 2018
For anyone who’s played club cricket, you will no doubt think of people around the club who fit the personalities. A great collection of characters infused into a story of every crickets dream but never quite made it.
May 14, 2023
I wanted to like this book, but the humour hit me wrong. Every anecdote made me sad and ashamed that people behave that way. I trudged through the book due to its reputation, but by the time I'd finished, I just felt terrible for everyone involved.
January 22, 2017
My cricket loving son thought this was a great book which is what prompted me to read it. It seemed to me a bit sad- why keep playing all those years if you were not enjoying the sport.
June 22, 2018
A bad book written by an awful man.
January 24, 2019
This is a cracking read for a good belly laugh if you're a cricket fan. More so if you've played cricket! Absolute class.
February 28, 2020
If you know anyone who plays Grade Cricket - you would love this book. Surprisingly good and hilarious!
September 16, 2022
So good! Highly recommend.
December 16, 2024
Loved it. Very relatable to anyone who has been part of any sports teams, not just cricket, or University.
Smiling constantly throughout and many full laughs too.
Smiling constantly throughout and many full laughs too.
December 23, 2024
Very relatable content for people who played a lot of cricket.
December 28, 2020
The book talks about the journey of a junior cricketer who has gone from being one of the brightest cricketers in the age group cricket to a below-average cricketer in Grade Cricket in Australia.
It’s an entertaining read and focuses on the last few years of Grade Cricket as the main character moves from first grade to fifth grade dedicating his summers to cricket while everyone else around him moves to do great (or not so great) things in life.
It is a story about fun, disappointment, family drama, and sticking to your guns no matter how things change around you.
It is worth a read.
It’s an entertaining read and focuses on the last few years of Grade Cricket as the main character moves from first grade to fifth grade dedicating his summers to cricket while everyone else around him moves to do great (or not so great) things in life.
It is a story about fun, disappointment, family drama, and sticking to your guns no matter how things change around you.
It is worth a read.
January 17, 2024
Embarking on the pages of "The Grade Cricketer" by Dave Edwards, Sam Perry, and Ian Higgins is like stepping into the hilarious, often absurd, and utterly captivating world of amateur cricket. From the very first chapter, this unconventional cricket memoir had me hooked with its irreverent humor, candid reflections, and a genuine love for the game that shines through the satire.
One of the book's standout features is its ability to dismantle the romanticized image of cricket and reveal the quirks, eccentricities, and downright absurdities that permeate the world of grade cricket. Edwards, Perry, and Higgins take us on a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of their cricketing careers, and in doing so, they create a narrative that transcends the boundaries of the sport.
The trio's writing style is a delightful blend of wit and self-deprecation. As they recount their misadventures on the pitch, their struggles with form and fitness, and the unique characters populating the cricketing landscape, it's impossible not to be drawn into their world. The humor is sharp, the banter is relentless, and the camaraderie between the authors becomes a palpable force that propels the narrative forward.
What sets "The Grade Cricketer" apart is its authenticity. The authors lay bare the insecurities, the egos, and the relentless pursuit of personal glory that defines grade cricket. Behind the laughter lies a genuine love for the game, and the book manages to strike a perfect balance between poking fun at cricket's idiosyncrasies and honoring the sport for the joy and frustration it brings.
The anecdotes are both relatable and absurd, making it a joy for cricket enthusiasts and a surprisingly accessible read for those less acquainted with the game. The authors effortlessly capture the universal themes of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and the eternal hope that next season will be the one where everything falls into place.
While the book revels in its humor, it also offers moments of reflection on the broader themes of amateur sports, dreams deferred, and the enduring passion that keeps cricketers coming back to the field season after season. The Grade Cricketer is not just a collection of amusing stories; it's a celebration of the resilience, absurdity, and unrelenting love that defines the cricketing journey.
In conclusion, "The Grade Cricketer" is a triumph in sports humor, a book that transcends its genre and becomes a celebration of the human experience within the realm of amateur cricket. Edwards, Perry, and Higgins have crafted a masterpiece that effortlessly balances laughter with genuine sentiment, making it a must-read for anyone who has ever swung a bat, bowled a ball, or simply reveled in the chaos of a cricketing field.
One of the book's standout features is its ability to dismantle the romanticized image of cricket and reveal the quirks, eccentricities, and downright absurdities that permeate the world of grade cricket. Edwards, Perry, and Higgins take us on a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of their cricketing careers, and in doing so, they create a narrative that transcends the boundaries of the sport.
The trio's writing style is a delightful blend of wit and self-deprecation. As they recount their misadventures on the pitch, their struggles with form and fitness, and the unique characters populating the cricketing landscape, it's impossible not to be drawn into their world. The humor is sharp, the banter is relentless, and the camaraderie between the authors becomes a palpable force that propels the narrative forward.
What sets "The Grade Cricketer" apart is its authenticity. The authors lay bare the insecurities, the egos, and the relentless pursuit of personal glory that defines grade cricket. Behind the laughter lies a genuine love for the game, and the book manages to strike a perfect balance between poking fun at cricket's idiosyncrasies and honoring the sport for the joy and frustration it brings.
The anecdotes are both relatable and absurd, making it a joy for cricket enthusiasts and a surprisingly accessible read for those less acquainted with the game. The authors effortlessly capture the universal themes of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and the eternal hope that next season will be the one where everything falls into place.
While the book revels in its humor, it also offers moments of reflection on the broader themes of amateur sports, dreams deferred, and the enduring passion that keeps cricketers coming back to the field season after season. The Grade Cricketer is not just a collection of amusing stories; it's a celebration of the resilience, absurdity, and unrelenting love that defines the cricketing journey.
In conclusion, "The Grade Cricketer" is a triumph in sports humor, a book that transcends its genre and becomes a celebration of the human experience within the realm of amateur cricket. Edwards, Perry, and Higgins have crafted a masterpiece that effortlessly balances laughter with genuine sentiment, making it a must-read for anyone who has ever swung a bat, bowled a ball, or simply reveled in the chaos of a cricketing field.
November 22, 2020
Must read for every recreational cricketer or cricket fan. Some of the tropes keep repeating themselves, but hilarious overall.
Good book, champ!
Good book, champ!
April 12, 2020
Quite a surprise package. A thoroughly readable book filled with characters that anyone growing up in suburban Australia would be very familiar with. I've never played cricket in my life & this book didn't make me think I'd missed much, although many characters are familiar to me from my hockey club!
February 23, 2018
I stumbled upon this book via The Grade Cricketer's Twitter account. Most of its content will be lost on anyone without a deep-seeded and totally unabashed love for the game but, for those who - like myself - do, it is highly successfuly at (1) being hilarious, and (2) cutting very close to the bone. While he will never be as good, The Grade Cricketer may just be funny enough to somewhat fill the void left after the retirement of the legendary cricket comedian, Billy Birmingham a.k.a. The 12th Man.
February 9, 2016
Very interesting and insightful look behind the scenes into the Grade Cricket competition - "the highest level of amateur cricket in the world". Unflinchingly open and honest account, following the time from junior star, entering the grade scene and then the ensuing years where the star wanes. Comedic in part, but also depressing as the realisation that the love of the game is often lost in the competitiveness for positions and the internal politics that abound.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews