First Tests: Great Australian Cricketers and the Backyards That Made Them

by Steve Cannane

First Tests: Australia's Cricket Greats And The Backyards That Made Them

Australia has dominated test cricket over the last 130 years. But it's not the formal cricket academies or high-end sports coaching that are responsible for the Australian cricket team's winning ways. The backyard has been the real academy of Australian cricket. Don Bradman's unique grip, stance and backlift all evolved in response to the pace at which the golf ball rebounded off the tank stand in his backyard games. Greg Chappell's unique flick off the hip shot came about because the leg side of his backyard wicket offered the best scoring opportunities. Alan Davidson bowled accurately because he had to: if he missed the stumps on his home-made pitch, he had to chase the ball down the hill into the scrub. Doug Walters played spin with ease because his ant-bed backyard pitch spun like a top. Neil Harvey's immaculate footwork came from playing balls darting off cobblestones in his back lane. This collection of cricketers and the stories of the backyards that made them gets to the heart and soul of their game. Facing up to hostile brothers on dodgy pitches created a love of competition and developed a skill set that allowed them to take on the world in their chosen sport.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, History

240 pages

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Steve Cannane is the Europe correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Previously he was a senior reporter and occasional presenter for Lateline, and co-host of The Drum. In 2006 he won a Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing. Steve's first book, FIRST TESTS was published in 2009. You can follow him on Twitter at @SteveCannane

Reviews

[Michael Brasier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just ok and one really for the fans only..there was a sameness to all the chapters and the occassional pearl but whilst a lover clearly of cricket that does not make him a good writer about it

[SWC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives snippets of the backgrounds of 27 Australian cricketers. Of special interest to me was the fact that there were actually two women cricketers included. A brief description is given of the playing fields or backyards on which these cricketers honed their skills. The limitations of their backyards allowed them to perfect habits which brought them both strengths and weaknesses on an actual cricket pitch.

[Will Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't that great, it's just about very popular cricketers who tell us the story of what rules and how they played backyard cricket when they were young. Some of those blokes include Ian/Greg Chappell, Dennis Lille and many more. Overall the book was quiet boring. I give it a 2/5

[Grant Shade · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stories were too similar and there were too many of them, but one or two were able to reveal some insight. In a nutshell - backyards good, structured training not so good, violent brothers good, progress not so good. Of course, there is some truth in this but the point was rather laboured.

[Rohan Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good idea for a book and some truly interesting facts and stories.....but....it's for nostalgic cricket fans only.

[Paddy May · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an entertaining book however at times became repetitive much like the cricketers training routines described in the book.