The Strange Death of English Leg Spin: How Cricket's Finest Art Was Given Away

Shane Warne has shown the world how to bowl leg spin. But how many people know that English cricketers pioneered the art? Leg breaks, googlies, flippers—all were invented here. So how did we come to give it all away? Reach the point where home crowds would boo an English leggie's efforts, yet then pay gracious tribute to the Australian master of the most beautiful form of bowling known to man. The Strange Death of English Leg Spin shows how a century of neglect effectively killed any chance of England producing its own Warne. Petty rivalries, mistrust, ridiculous rule changes, jealousies, ineptitude, and neglect combined to ensure that Ian Salisbury, Tich Freeman, Chris Schofield, and others never had a chance to become world-beaters. Featuring interviews with key players, psychologists, and coaches and in-depth historical research, the book suggests how England can once again become the global center of leg spin.