The No1 Ethical retailer for Books, CD’s, DVD’s & Games
30 Day Refund Guarantee

Shaun Udal - My Turn to Spin: The Incredible Story of a Cult Cricketer

Shaun Udal - My Turn to Spin: The Incredible Story of a Cult Cricketer

by ShaunUdal (Author)

  • Used

    Hardcover 2007

    $4.35
Synopsis

After becoming the fourth oldest Test debutant when he was selected for England's tour of Pakistan of 2005 at the age of 36, in his autobiography Hampshire and England , cricketer Shaun 'Shaggy' Udal lifts the lid on a career which has seen him win domestic trophies, play for his country and achieve cult hero status at the Rose Bowl for his passionate displays as county captain, while also finding himself being banned for playing cricket and football in the minor leagues when his legendary temper has got the better of him. Renowned for his sense of humour, Shaun tells bundles of stories from the Hampshire and England dressing rooms, including how he 'minded Phil Tufnell on the 1994/5 Ashes tour, bum-squeezing tales of food on the sub-continent, Steve Harmison's Lovejoy DVD collection and how to get out of various scrapes while on a night out in Basingstoke! Udal relives the high and low moments of one of the most exciting eras of Hampshire cricket and tells an intriguing tale of the great Malcolm Marshall and a round of golf. He will also reveal the true source of his nickname, which allegedly emanates from his resemblance to the Scooby Doo character of that name! Udal also tells how big-hearted England captain 'Freddie' Flintoff saw off his daughter's school playground bullies with a few timely words. There are fascinating insights also on 'insecure' Hampshire and England teammate Kevin Pietersen, on Shane Warne's strange eating habits and how he was the first to encounter Marcus Trescothick's brush with mental illness. The life of a sports star is full of highs and lows, never better exemplified when Shaun returns home from the England tour of India in the winter of 2006 having bowled his country to victory in the final Test to discover that his wife has been keeping their son's diagnosis of Autism from him to allow him to remain on tour. This revelation, how he manages, or otherwise, to cope with the news and how the family pull together to try to overcome this adversity forms the cornerstone of the book. Shaun also reveals his bitter, long-running feud with England captain Nasser Hussain and his close relationship with cricketing legend Shane Warne, who provides the foreword for this gripping and fascinating anatomy of a cricket cult hero. It includes a foreward by Shane Warne.

$4.35

Save:$18.25 (81%)

Quantity

1 in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 238
 Edition: First Edition
 Publisher: Know the Score Books
Published: 31 May 2007
ISBN 10: 1905449429
ISBN 13: 9781905449422

Media Reviews
Shaun Udal does not so much wear his heart on his sleeve as stake it to his forearm. He admits in this excellent helping of humble pie that he is an emotional person. It comes across as simple and sincere, the spareness of style due in part to the excellent choice of ghostwriter. The vastly experienced Pat Symes knows just how far (not very) something needs to be taken in order to make an impact. Rather like Udal's career, in a way. He has made an impact - perhaps not as much as he would have liked - on the international front, but this book sums him up perfectly. Rather than being remembered for the club ban when playing for Camberley, he should be remembered for a selfless career - and ultimately, for this book, an exemplar to every aspiring sportswoman or man who might feel the urge to commit their life story to print - David Llewellyn, The Independent. In this age of celebrity obsession, books by lesser known cricketers are becoming rare. So it was to some delight that such a tome dropped on the doormat recently by Hampshire and England spinner Shaun Udal. Udal's book is much as you would expect from a current player unable to ruffle too many feathers; a cheery tale, well ghosted by the experienced Pat Symes. It does have its moments, however, beginning rather unexpectedly with a pop at Bob Willis for some vitriolic comments and also contending that Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting should never have been made England selectors after taking the rebel rand - Steve James, Sunday Telegraph. As well as providing an insight into life in county cricket over the past two decades, the book also recounts Shaun's experiences playing for England for whom he had a late call-up at the age of 36. The popular spinner reveals something of what it's like to play with and against some of the world's greatest cricketers - the likes of Warne, Marshall, Flintoff and Tendulkar - Roger Johnson, BBC Radio Solent. It is a must read for every Hampshire fan - Simon Walter, The Daily Echo. There is a striking section when he talks of Malcolm Marshall's ambition for Hampshire when the West Indian said that representing the county at a Lord's final was 'as important as anything I ever did with the West Indies - Jeremy Wilson, The Daily Echo A GREAT READ FOR HAWKS Shaun Udal had played the majority of his career in relative obscurity for Hampshire until England came calling in 2005 for their tour to Pakistan. It is because of these England appearances, against India as well as Pakistan, that you get the feeling My Turn To Spin was written.That is a shame as the most entertaining parts of the book are those that detail Udal's long career with Hampshire and his personal life.Udal's description of his Hampshire career is honest about both himself and his team-mates and contains praise for Shane Warne, who writes the book's foreword, and the county's chairman Rod Bransgrove amongst others.The descriptions of those who have been part of Udal's Hampshire career shed new light on the county and makes this book essential reading for those who follow their fortunes.However, non-Hampshire followers who read this book, might be put off by Udal's constant criticism of the England selectors for not picking him on a more regular basis earlier in his career. When Udal isn't bemoaning the selectors, he comes across well as a family man who turned his career around, especially during Warne's spell at the Rose Bowl. His recollection of his Indian summer with England is entertaining and readable. However, it doesn't contain the same bite as his description of his earlier career which gives you a better understanding of 'Shaggy' as both a man and a cricketer.It is for this reason the is a book worth keeping faith with as the tales of disciplinary problems in football and cricket, as well as Udal's latter years in county cricket, make it a great read for all Hampshire fansNick Hext, sporting Life. A fascinating insight into the game at all levels - Middlesex Fansite Review.