Part history, part data analysis, part reflection on the sport’s future, Crickonomics is exactly what the title suggests – a diagnosis of the state of professional cricket through the lens of data analysis economics. Sports coverage can be lost in the day to day events so this did fill a gap in the market, and it was never a chore.

This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. As an example, the first section deals with the influence of class in English cricket and why there tend to be more Southern, privately educated batters, but a predominance of Northern, state educated bowlers.

A contest that may last five days, including several stretches where no runs are scored and indeed nothing much happens, and still ends in a draw. I particularly enjoyed the focus on IPL team building as that seems to fit with the 'nomics' factor well. Even on the former though, it seemed obvious to link the social dynamics of batting vs bowling to the earlier chapter on private schooling in England, whereas this chapter was written as a standalone. Different questions will be of differing levels of interest to readers but the book never falls into the trap of overburdening readers with too much raw data. It's particularly good explaining the rise of cricket in Asia in the 21st century and the strategic decisions that have propelled that - compared to the moribund development in Europe, Africa and the Americas in the same period.

A lot of analysis , which at times got tedious but some very interesting chapters about league cricket vs county cricket , 1 day cricket and the change in approach to batting , why do public schools produce more batters than bowlers , the impact of IPL etc etc. and together they have turned their attention to cricket: the result is an enlightening, surprising and enjoyable read. That said, it does draw on many lessons from other sports and may well be of interest to those with a wider interest in sports development. My main takeaway from the book, much like from Soccernomics, is that inevitably everything boils down to money.Crickonomics explores all of this and much more - including how Jayasuriya and Gilchrist transformed Test batting but T20 didn't; English cricket's great missed opportunity to have a league structure like football; why batters are paid more than bowlers; how Afghanistan is transforming German cricket; what the rest of the world can learn from New Zealand and even the Barmy Army's importance to Test cricket. Crickonomics answers those questions you have about the sport, and many more that you haven't: you'll be delighted to know all the answers. Fascinating The Observer Illuminating The Times Crickonomics is packed with sufficient statistical analysis to have the most ardent cricket geek purring with pleasure Mail on Sunday An insightful, Hawk-Eye-like analysis of the numbers behind cricket Financial Times An engaging tour of the modern game from an award-winning journalist and the economist who co-authored the bestselling Soccernomics. They employ close analysis and well developed argument to explore many questions about the sport - why do more England batsman come from the south of England and a private education while most bowlers come from more humble origins in the north, to the intriguingly entitled final chapter which explores 'How Afghanistan is bringing cricket to Germany'.

Inside the T20 Revolution, which won the Wisden Book of the Year and Telegraph Cricket Book of the Year awards in 2020. A lot of it confirms stuff you will already know if you are a casual cricket fan- but always nice to see it backed up with data. An excellent book that covers many aspects of cricket - history, statistics, analysis, country stories and more.

His books include Soccernomics, Money and Football, National Pastime, Playbooks and Checkbooks and Winners and Losers. If you do nothing, you will be auto-enrolled in our premium digital monthly subscription plan and retain complete access for 65 € per month. recently shortlisted for best sports book of the 21st Century so far) which was a brilliant and comprehensive look at the global spread of T20 cricket.