Cricket
Attempting both to explain and stimulate an interest in cricket in 48 pages is an ambitious task admirably tackled in this book. It benefits from the author's voice (very much in favour of sporting, entertainment cricket) with useful tips for the would-be player, and good action photographs. But it suffers from the quantum leap from broad introductory generalisations to a fairly detailed analysis of specific skills in but a few pages. Used alongside other books it has much useful information to offer, not least its straightforward explanation, by diagrams, of both the LBW law and the intricacies of good line and length bowling. Other strengths are a positive approach to women's cricket and its international perspective - an unfortunate exclusion is advice for the potential umpire. I am intrigued too by the description of Devon Malcolm (a noted bowler) as a 'top batsman' - is this a nice irony or a desperately inaccurate caption? Overall this is an enthusiastic and helpful book for the young enthusiast - though at £9.50 it will need to be bought on their behalf.