Cricket, at its finest, exists in that ethereal space between physics and poetry. Nowhere is this more evident than in Jarrod Kimber's masterful new work, "The Art of Batting", a book that transforms what could have been a mere technical manual into a spellbinding exploration of cricket's most enigmatic art form.
Kimber, the Melbourne-born writer who has become one of cricket's most perceptive voices, approaches his subject with the precision of a scientist and the wonder of a storyteller. Through rich interviews with legends like Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, and Nasser Hussain, he unravels the mysterious alchemy that transforms good batters into great ones.
The book's greatest strength lies in its ability to decode the seemingly impossible. How does one track an 80mph delivery with human eyes? The answer, Kimber reveals, isn't just about watching the ball—it's about seeing into the future. Through meticulously researched case studies, we learn how Javed Miandad deliberately made mistakes to manipulate fields, how Sachin Tendulkar's pitch preparation helped him counter Shane Warne, and how Shivnarine Chanderpaul's relentless beach practice sessions sculpted his distinctive technique.
What sets this book apart is Kimber's talent for weaving technical analysis with human drama. The story of Joe Root's mastery of spin bowling, attributed to three seemingly random events, reads like a cricket detective novel. The historical thread connecting modern greats like Smith, Pietersen, and Richards to their century-old predecessors offers a fascinating perspective on batting's evolution.
Kimber's writing style—irreverent yet forensic, as Mark Butcher aptly notes—keeps the pages turning. He has a gift for making complex technical concepts accessible without dumbing them down. Whether describing Ranji's revolutionary use of a bucket in training or analysing the biomechanics of a cover drive, Kimber maintains the delicate balance between expertise and entertainment.
The book's ambitious project of ranking the 50 greatest batters of all time will inevitably spark debate—that's part of its charm. But the real value lies not in the rankings themselves but in the insights Kimber provides into what makes truly great batting. It's a contemplation on excellence, the convergence of innate talent and meticulous preparation, and the delicate boundary between madness and genius that frequently characterises sporting greatness.
For cricket enthusiasts, "The Art of Batting" is essential reading, offering fresh perspectives on familiar heroes. For casual fans, it's an accessible entry point into cricket's technical depths. For those who are passionate about achieving excellence, it provides a captivating exploration of how individuals strive to exceed their perceived limits.
In an era where cricket analysis often reduces the game to data points and algorithms, Kimber reminds us that batting remains, at its heart, an art form. His book celebrates both the science that makes great batting possible and the magic that makes it beautiful.
This isn't just another book about batting—it's a love letter to cricket's most fundamental contest between bat and ball, written by a writer at the peak of his powers. Like the best batsmen it describes, Kimber's work makes the difficult look easy and turns technique into art.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 Delivered to You 2nd Week, May 2025
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Published: May 8, 2025Price: £20.00Paperback: 288 pagesISBN-10: 1399416545ISBN-13: 978-1399416542Dimensions: 152 x 233 (mm)
