Mark Waugh: The Biography

by James Knight

Mark Edward Waugh was born in 1965 - four minutes after his brother Steve. The tendency to hang back and see how things worked obviously wasn't a one off - he waited five years to join Steve in an Australian Test team. But this was one younger brother who was never going to be content to be cast in his sibling's shadow for too long. Once he donned the Baggy Green, Mark proved he was among the world's most gifted batsmen when he became the first player to score back-to-back Test hundreds, as well as the first to hit three centuries in a World Cup tournament. Aside from his achievements on the pitch, this biography fleshes out the enigmatic picture of Mark created by the media and explores his passion for the track, as well as the sledging, betting scandals and subsequent court hearings, and how he struggled to overcome the tag of being "the forgotten Waugh". It also reveals his thoughts on being dropped from Australia's limited overs side - due to modest scoring and the selectors desire to blood new talent - and his fight to be reselected for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the bat, Mark Waugh was one of the most graceful and entertaining men to ever set foot on an international cricket field. Unfortunately, while the book is still a good read, the entertainment factor is not as high as it was on the field.

[Mark Hibberd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of bland in comparison to other cricket biographies I've read. It was interesting to read about the scandals though, it all happened when I was quite young and I didn't realise Mark Waugh had been involved in such things.

[Conor Lyons]

This Biography was very interesting especially me, because i play cricket. Reading it really made me realise what it actually takes toe come a professional cricketer. The hardships that he had to go through especially having a brother also trying to get into the team. James Knight the author really displays Marks whole life, and his developing career. He goes through Marks junior career, then being promoted to senior team playing for his state. Then his continuing attempts to try and break into the national squad. This is where you really realise how hard it is actually to make it into the national squad. And the struggles he faces when he is trying to make it in. As the book develops, when he makes it into the team he faces some hardship especially with he is personal life. Overall it is a very interesting read a would recommend it to any up coming cricketer.

[Will Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, like Ed Cowan's book, it helped me find out what it takes to be a professional cricketer. The book starts from when him and Steve were born right until he retired. He had a very tough choice when he was younger, he was extremely good at soccer, cricket and tennis. He went with cricket and says he never regrets it. Him and Steve became Australia's first set of twins to play test cricket for Australia.