Village Idiots?

Book excerpt: Village Idiots? is a series of essays on cricket generally (and English village cricket and customs in particular) by an Australian who has played the game for over 30 years in Melbourne, Singapore and London. The vehicle for these observations is the author's adopted English Village cricket team in Henley-on-Thames, with whom he has played for three years and scaled the giddy heights of Vice Captaincy. It contains reflections on staples like Afternoon Tea, English Weather, English Pubs and Touring. It also explores more 'contentious' subjects like Declaration Cricket, Women Supporters, the LBW Law and Captaincy - all in a light hearted way. This book should appeal to lovers of English quaintness and quirkiness in general, and cricket in particular. It is a gentle mocking from one of the 'Old Enemy', who has penetrated (and become besotted with) middle England, and English village cricket, and bravely attempts an 'outside, in' look at modern England through the prism of one of its oldest traditions. 'I enjoyed the spirit hugely...It is quite charming' Jeremy Paxman 'A cracking read' Henley Standard 'A joy and a delight' Sir Roger Carrick (former British High Commissioner to Australia)