Another Bloody Sunday in Paradise, by Frank Keating (Andre Deutsch. £6.951.
THOSE OF us unable to migrate to warmer climes this winter must feel a twinge of envy of our noble cricketers, • presently basking under a foreign sun.
But the popular conception of cricket tours as merely glorified, expenses paid holidays for our cricket stars is exposed as an extravagant myth in this rip roaring account of the 1980 West Indies tour by Guardian sportswriter, Frank Keating.
But what this book does — incidently — reveal is that cricket tours are glorified, expenses-paid holidays for cricket correspondents. Frank Keating reporting from the trenches as our boys go over the top, into the line of fire.
England went out to the West Indies to face what was. arguably. the strongest team ever fielded in the, history of the game. They neveratodd a chance.
The tour was also tragically marked by the death of Ken Barrington. A passage from the book exemplifies his gritty humour: Barrington: "Where were you at school then?"
Keating: "Douai. in Berkshire."
"What, that monks' place, up above Aldermaston?"
"The very same."
"Frankie, I didn't know you was a toff!"
This hook is pure enterainment. Read it over Christmas to take you mind off the weather.
Jonathan Petre