Pushing the Boundaries: Cricket in the Eighties
On sale
16th May 2019
Price: £14.99
Derek Pringle is finally ready to tell his story of cricket in the 80s.
First chosen by England whilst still at university in 1982, Derek featured in the national side for the next 11 years. He played 30 Tests, 44 One Day Internationals, and appeared in 2 World Cups.
Inside the dressing room, and out on the pitch, Derek witnessed at first hand an era of English cricket populated by characters such as Botham, Gooch, Lamb, and Gower. An era so far removed from today’s rather anodyne sporting environment. And it wasn’t just at international level that the sport lived life to the full. He was an integral part of Essex’s all conquering side that won the County Championship 6 times as well as numerous one day trophies.
Full of insight and experience here is the story of one of English cricket’s most tumultuous periods told by someone who was there.
First chosen by England whilst still at university in 1982, Derek featured in the national side for the next 11 years. He played 30 Tests, 44 One Day Internationals, and appeared in 2 World Cups.
Inside the dressing room, and out on the pitch, Derek witnessed at first hand an era of English cricket populated by characters such as Botham, Gooch, Lamb, and Gower. An era so far removed from today’s rather anodyne sporting environment. And it wasn’t just at international level that the sport lived life to the full. He was an integral part of Essex’s all conquering side that won the County Championship 6 times as well as numerous one day trophies.
Full of insight and experience here is the story of one of English cricket’s most tumultuous periods told by someone who was there.
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Reviews
Pringle's tale is both a love letter to the greatest player of his generation, Sir Ian Botham and an engaging romp in which cricket only plays a walk-on part. That despite the author's playing record that included 30 Tests, 44 ODIs, six County Championships with Essex and a World Cup final, a CV that most would be proud to take to the grave.
A fascinating and hilarious read. Like Chris Lewis, Andrew Flintoff, Ben Stokes and many more [Pringle] was originally hailed as the new Botham, before winding up as a very junior version. In his storytelling though, he might just have the edge on the great man.
Anecdotes are funny, original and astounding, often all three...He [Pringle] has delivered with interest on his promise to avoid a bog-standard, self-serving work; if he pushed boundaries in his career he has flattened them completely with this honest addition to cricket literature.
As Pringle spent the decade as [Ian] Botham's understudy ... it makes for a fascinating and hilarious read.
Former England Test bowler's eye-popping and hilarious account of cricket in the 80s is as doused as a sherry trifle.
A feast of anecdotes