Batting from memory

by Jack Fingleton

266 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 1981

Reviews

[Peter Langston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really outstanding read. Its only in the closing chapters where the 40 years since publishing dates the content. Written with his usual wit and keen observation, his fascinating career as a cricketer, journalist and speech writer for PM and others is even more entertaining in his own words. Unlike the average modern day cricketer, Fingleton had a a gift with writing. No ghost writers required.

[Sphinx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plus ca change…..

Jack Fingleton writing on cricket in 1981:

‘Two days ago Jim White came with news that floored me: some 46,000 spectators watched the one-day game in Sydney between India and Australia. I must now grudgingly accept the inevitable and dip my flag. This indeed must be what the masses want, a constant clamour, bash, beer and fights on the Hill. Cricket like England has gone forever for me but nobody can take my memories…
I still think sport generally wants to take a good long look at where money and television - often inseparable - are leading it. They put boxing on at midnight and 2am at Wembley now to aid a trans- Atlantic hook-up, and tennis thanks again to money has been taken from Wimbledon to the desert at Dubai where the lure is $680,000 provided by the petrocratic government of sheikhs.’ (p.238-9)

I wonder if the PGA golf boffins up against LIV are currently trying to avoid something similar happening to their own game - or is it already too late?

This book was a fascinating memoir from someone who arguably lived through cricket’s best times, who as a professional journalist and commentator is able to write well and also shows a wide experience of life lived beyond sport (his father was a Labor MP and Fingleton’s observations on politics are still astute). I found his reminiscences of his country youth especially enjoyable - how he sneaked out at night to experience the power of the Melbourne express train whizzing past and how this put him in good stead for the ferocious 1930s Bodyline series with Larwood and Voce’s balls rocketing around his head!

[Barry Lacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this as it was my first book by Jack Fingleton. I must say I was a bit disappointed. It didn’t happen to have that much content on his own cricket career. The chapters on Bradman were interesting and not as critical as I thought they would be. Some of the chapters on his reporting career were interesting, there was a lot on his childhood which I thought went on a bit too long. The style of the book is interesting as lots of random short stories which don’t connect that well in a-lot of the chapters but they didn’t reveal too much of what he thought of his own experiences especially on the cricket field. I will still read other books by this author that I have on my bookshelf as he is very highly rated but disappointed with this one.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fingleton was a fine batsman and a writer. He left school, in Sydney, aged 12, eventually worked in a newspaper office and then became a journalist. At the same time he was scoring heavily for Waverley. He joined the NSW team to bat alongside Bradman and by 1932 was in the Test side. After his playing career ended, he became the political correspondent for Radio Australia. His books include a number of classics. This memoir was written at the end of his life and published in the week after his death in 1981. I recommend it. There are illuminating chapters on Bradman, Cardus and Australian politicians; and some excellent stories.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most interesting & much more than a cricket book. Jack covers growing up in the depression, "bohemian" Sydney, and much more.