In The Firing Line: Diary Of A Season

In The Firing Line: Diary Of A Season

Synopsis

Ed Cowan, opening left-hand batsman for Tasmania, has always been a bit of a scribbler. It started with to-do lists and notes to self, but then he started keeping a cricket diary a batting bible with thoughts on the game, other players, motivational philosophies and records of performances. The diary has become so much a part of his routine that he admits to being a little upset if he cant see...

Product details

If you enjoyed this product share it with others

Customer Reviews

• Read customer reviews on In The Firing Line: Diary Of A Season

• Cowan knows where his bread is buttered, with lively tales and realism

  Reviewed by Michael Atherton | see all reviews by Michael Atherton

  10/10/2011

  It is said that failed politicians make the best diarists. The most acute cricket diaries emerge from failure, too, or at least from those players as much acquainted with failure as success.
  
  Graeme Fowlers Fox on the Run, which charted his descent from England opener to Lancashires second XI, was an early outstanding example, followed by Simon Hughess classic journeymans tale, A Lot of Hard Yakka.
  
  The best players are usually too self-absorbed to notice what is going on around them and too self-conscious to write honestly. Like prime ministers, captains diaries have more than half an eye on their legacy to be anything other than plodding and, if still in situ, cannot be anything other than tame.
  
  A worthwhile diary needs someone good enough to be in the dressing room, but not so good that their position stifles honesty. Step forward Ed Cowan, first of New South Wales, latterly of Tasmania, who is producing a beautifully observed account of his year in domestic cricket last winter as England cut a swath through Australia.
  
  Cowan is a more than a journeyman he played for Australia A against England in Hobart but clearly no superstar, as his diary of the season, with all the angst that those of us long since retired have forgotten exists on a daily basis, reveals. Cowan touches on Australias problems in an interesting way, analysing how far the standard of domestic cricket has dropped since his debut for New South Wales and the meretricious effects of the Indian Premier League.
  
  Of the latter, he says: You can be paid a lot more for not being as good as you used to have to be. Perhaps thats more democratic, but it also seems to make efficiency sufficient when the objective should surely always be excellence.
  
  Of the former, he reckons the decision to abandon state second XIs in favour of an under-23 competition to be the worst made by Australia. The difference now is not in first-choice XIs they are still strong, he says. What is noticeable is that the quality falls away amongst replacements, in the bottom 20 per cent of Shield squads.
  
  There are some also delightful anecdotes. My favourite concerns Kevin Pietersen, who, during the Australia A match, was heard to exclaim, as he cast his gaze over the lunch buffet: What the f*** is this? Cowan told him that since he was staring at bread and butter pudding, an English dish, KP ought to recognise it. Im not f***ing English, Eddie, our hero said. I am South African; I just work here! Lovely.
  
  Into the Firing Line, by Ed Cowan, will be published by University of New South Wales Press, but will also be available in e-book form. Look out for it.
  
  
  • LikeLiked by 1 person
  • Learn More

    You can use the 'like' button to provide positive feedback on books, authors, reviews and other features on the website. 'Like' is similar to voting and will be used to present the most popular content. Once you have clicked 'like', you cannot 'unlike'. You can only 'like' something once.

  • Report abuse

see all reviews