The Autobiography

Bracingly honest about the brutal nature of professional cricket * The Times *He is England’s greatest ever batsman…but behind that choirboy exterior, Cook is as tough as tugboats, a man who has spent his life doing one of the hardest, scariest jobs in sports - opening the batting in Test cricket. This hugely enjoyable book gives you an idea of quite how challenging it is, and makes you see that finding a replacement for “The Chef” at the top of England’s batting order won’t be any picnic * Sports Books of the Year Daily Mail *Hugely enjoyable * Sport Books of the Year, Daily Mail *A fascinating and layered book which delves into the psychological challenges of the game … a timely read at the end of an exhilarating yet flawed summer for English cricket * Guardian *The best books to buy sports fans this Christmas * Daily Telegraph *It makes for fascinating reading, as the former England captain recounts what it took to succeed at the top of his game - and reveals what made him decide to hang up his whites at the relatively early age of 33 * Radio Times *Reveals Cook as a teak-tough, mentally powerful competitor … Brutally honest insight into professional sport at the highest level * Press Association *Cricket legend Alastair Cook’s remarkably candid autobiography reveals the pressures of playing the sport at the highest level for more than a decade * Choice *He details the complexity of the process, from technique to mental agonies, to draining team politics … there are also lots of endearing behind-the-scenes details * Strong Words *Sir Alastair reveals his more ruthless and passionate sides in a book more probing than most sport biogs * Daily Mirror *

Alastair Nathan Cook was born in Gloucester, December 1984. He is an English cricketer, playing for Essex County Cricket Club and previously for England. Cook is the fifth highest Test scorer of all time and is regarded as England’s most successful batsman ever, now an icon and role model in sport. Outside of cricket, Alastair has written columns in the Telegraph and Metro, he is a talented saxophone player, and donates his time to raising money for cancer charities and the David Randall Foundation. He is now married with three children.