The Secret Cricketer: English Cricket from the Inside [9781785319860]

The Secret Cricketer first picked up a cricket bat as a toddler and became a county junior. He secured a professional contract after three years at university and has been at the coalface of the English county game ever since. This fast-paced, insider's account lifts the lid on modern cricket to reveal what life is really like for an English professional in the 21st century. How do players cope when they can't take a wicket or score a run and their livelihood is on the line? What makes a good coach and how many are there (hint - not many)? Is there still an old-school hierarchy in dressing rooms or a bullying culture? What's the secret to a winning dressing room, and what's it like to be in one when morale hits rock bottom? How much do county players earn? And what's it like to walk out at Lord's to play in a major final? With unique first-hand insight into the fast-evolving modern game, the book answers all these questions and more. It's brimming with untold stories - some that will make you laugh and others that will shock you.
AUTHOR: The Secret Cricketer became a professional through a conventional route. He started at his local club, joined a county's academy and played for his university before graduating into the county team. He has played with and against all the top players in the English game. By keeping his identity under wraps, he can tell it how it is while outlining his own ideas for how to improve the long-term health of English cricket.

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