The Art of Batting

This is a wonderful tale of the great stories and evolution of batting, from Grace to Root. Kimber covers the history and present to celebrate batting in a cracking read. Get on the front foot and buy a copy. – David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, former Test Match Special commentatorJarrod Kimber is one of cricket’s most distinctive writers. His insight, curiosity and constant challenging of accepted cricketing wisdoms, fuelled by his passionate fascination with cricket’s past, present and future, bring fresh perspectives on the sport. – Andy Zaltzman, Test Match Special cricket statisticianI always thought Jarrod was a master of words. I loved how he navigated passages with his vocabulary. And then, I began noticing some very intelligent use of analytics. He now straddles these two worlds with the ease few possess. – Harsha Bhogle, Indian cricket commentatorIn The Art of Batting, Jarrod Kimber further cements himself as the world’s best cricket writer. He’s an astute observer of how the games we play, and how they evolve in concert or opposition with the world, reveal the true nature of a man hiding in plain sight. A raucous stadium, on Boxing Day in his native Australia, in the corner of a foreign field in India, or in the palace of Lord’s in London, is only where years and years of private work are realised. Modern sports might look like mass entertainment, but they remain a deeply personal quest to find and nurture each person’s artistic soul. That’s the world he uncovers and in the nuanced, literary (and delightfully funny) telling of this story Kimber is a man at the peak of his powers. – Wright Thompson * ESPNcricinfo *Jarrod Kimber’s writing is as irreverent as it is forensic – a highly entertaining and informative read on the elusive arts of batting and run-making. – Mark Butcher, former English Test cricketerUnless you have been living under a rock, you know by now that Jarrod Kimber is the finest contemporary young cricket writer. * Cricketcountry.com *Kimber is a 22nd-century cricket writer * The Guardian *When I first started Jarrod’s book I thought ‘oh great, another book on batting.’ Bloody batsmen, it’s all about their batting averages and batting contracts. Blah-di-bloody-blah. But the book’s insights into the science, analysis of why and how great batsmen performed in all eras of cricket was particularly enlightening. A very courageous innings to pick your best 50 Test batsmen of all time including a surprise Number 1. All very interesting and insightful. For what is in the end… another bloody book about batting! – Damien Fleming, former Australian Test bowlerA must-read for sports enthusiasts interested in the nuances of performance and excellence. – Stewart Lochrie * Loaded Magazine *There is something wonderful in its fizzing ideas, its propulsive drive, its desire to tell stories and gaze into this mystery. … Kimber has hit on the perfect blend of style and content. – Jon Hotten * Wisden Cricket Monthly *The Kama Sutra of batting. * Cricket.com *

Jarrod Kimber is a Melbournian writer, commentator and analyst based in London who has had almost every job in cricket, except for playing it. Jarrod has written for ESPNcricinfo, SPIN Magazine and has built his own media network, Good Areas. If there is a cricket match on, he is probably watching it.