Book Review: Sticky Dogs and Stardust : When the Legends Played in the Leagues by Scott Oliver

Most of us who have played cricket at a level where professionals are allowed have tales of their experiences with them. 

I played for a number of years at that level and have a few. Most notably a former county professional of modest reputation who improved my game considerably and put a lot into the club. He was then followed by an Australian of genuine talent, who scored a century pretty much every week but had no idea how he did it and couldn't show other people how to try to do so. You will appreciate which of those professionals is held in the greater esteem these days..

Scott Oliver's book is simply magnificent, gathering together tales from over the years as professionals from all over the world came to England to gain experience and hopefully help their less talented teammates win something. 

It didn't always work out like that and this book highlights that for every good professional who goes on to hit the big time, there are plenty of others who simply could not cut the mustard, for various reasons.

The thrill of facing such players is considerable and I am sure that many pints have been bought on the back of encounters with cricket legends on the pitch. There were plenty of trips to A & E too, as weekend cricketers faced the likes of Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Shane Bond  and Joel Garner. 

Scott Oliver's book is rightly Wisden's book of the year. It certainly is for me, because it highlights the aspect of cricket that all of us enjoy - encounters with our heroes. Sometimes one finds that those heroes have feet of clay, though I can say in my case that has only happened on a couple of occasions. 

What comes through from this book is that most of these professionals came with the right attitude and used their experiences to improve their game. Adam Gilchrist, Shane Bond, Imran Tahir AB de Villiers and many more come over as good blokes who pitched in, did their stuff more often than not and went home with reputations enhanced.

Then there were the others. I won't ruin the surprises by telling who didn't, because this is a book that should be on every birthday and special occasion list. 

Given the proliferation of cricket around the world today, it seems unlikely that the English leagues will ever again see the depth of talent that once shone like a beacon, the great West Indians, Australians, South Africans and more more plying their trade among part-timers of varying levels of ability. 

Reading this book, you just wish you had been there to see it. 

I could not recommend this more highly. 

Sticky Dogs and Stardust: When the Legends Played in the Leagues is written by Scott Oliver and published by Fairfield Books