The Art of Batting: The Craft of Cricket's Greatest Run Scorers (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781399416542)

'Kimber is a 22nd-century cricket writer' - TheGuardian

Colourful cricket history meets expert analysis in this richly researched exploration of the art of batting.

Most batters are trying to do their best, yet the top players are creating art. It is physically impossible to face an 80mph delivery and track it with your eyes, yet the greatest batters do more than just watch the ball, they predict where it will go. They can see into the future.

This book is about the batters who see what mortals don't. Javed Miandad purposefully made errors to manipulate the field, Sachin Tendulkar dug up a pitch to take on Warne, Shivnarine Chanderpaul was peppered by tennis balls on the beach until he created his bastardised technique and Joe Root's great play against spin is a confluence of three random events. Others, such as Smith, Pietersen and Richards, carried on the work of a man 100 years before their time, and Ranji changed cricket with a bucket.

Their methods and stories are different, but their currency is the same: runs. Through interviews with cricketing greats such as David 'Bumble' Lloyd, Graeme Swann and Rob Key, this book shows you the science, skill and culture that made the 50 greatest batters of all time, and, ultimately, how these players conquered leather with willow.

Author: Jarrod Kimber
ISBN-10: 1399416545
ISBN-13: 9781399416542
Publisher: Bloomsbury Sport
Language: English
Published: 07/08/2025
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.02w x 1.00d