An absolute beauty of a book: an illustrated collection of over 400 curious, eccentric and hilarious words and phrases used by international players, village and club cricketers, a perfect handbook for the cricket fan, the wordsmith and the humourist.
Beer Snake, Barnes Wallace, Bunsen and Buzzers ... Featherbed, Ferret, Flamingo and Footler ... Pickpocket, Pie Chucker, Pongo and Pudding ... Teapot, Toe-Smasher, Tonto and Twiddler ... The language of cricket is as rich as its history.
Cricket jargon has ballooned in recent years, thanks to round-the-clock global television coverage, the expansion of competitions, new technological devices and live online reporting of Tests, one-day internationals and T20s.
This charming collection brings together in one volume all the current buzzwords and time-honoured banter of the players, fans and commentators and delivers it to the cricket lover's armchair, smartphone, loo and bedside table.
From Lord's to Lahore, Delhi to Durham, Melbourne to Manchester, Cape Town to the Caribbean, cricket is a universal language. Packed with curious words and expressions, new and old, zany and downright rude, this compilation will delight cricket fans the world over.
Sample entries:
Banter - Euph. Word casting a light veil over the bitter exchange of insults taking place between the batsman and assorted fielders. See also Niggle, Exchange of Pleasantries, Verbals
Camel - Graceless and unathletic fielder, often ageing fast bowler, dispatched to a distant backwater of the outfield in which he is least likely to make a fool of himself. See also Cart Horse
Nighthawk - A Nightwatchman on crack cocaine who comes to the wicket looking to slog 30 runs from 12 balls rather than block 30 for one. Term said to be coined by England quick Stuart Broad in the Bazball era of coach Brendon McCullum.
