The Commonwealth of Cricket


Name : The Commonwealth of Cricket
Author : Ramachandra Guha
Year of Publication : 2020
Genre : Non-fiction, Cricket
Rating : **** (4 half stars out of 5) 

After wrestling with Gandhi for so many years, the historian is back to his permanent refuge of joy : Cricket.  The book is a throwback to days when Ranji trophy matches were played in jam packed stadia. Contrast this with 2020 when many state associations prefer white ball cricket in the Ranji tournament. While "A corner of a foreign field" is India's history via cricket, this nostalgic volume is Guha's own life story via cricket. His love for cricket comes through in the first chapters and his integrity shines in the retelling of his tenure as an administrator. Even as the historian turns up at enough points in the book, this ultimately remains a fanboy's love letter who reads CLR James when his wife delivers a baby and dreams about Warne's leg-breaks for inspiration.

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