The Monkton Combe Cricket Club helps epitomise the spirit of the sport in the book From The Boundary's Edge
3. The Tender BarJR MoehringerSceptre
This memoir prompted Andre Agassi to get in touch about helping to pen his autobiography. While not strictly a sporting book, it's easy to see why Agassi was convinced of Moehringer's ability. The book centres on a Cheers-style backdrop called Publicans (formerly Dickens) in Manhasset, Long Island, where a fatherless Moehringer learns most of life's lessons in the bar while dreaming of attending Yale and supporting his mother. The book focuses on experiences which mould the author into an inquisitive, observant character who eventually won a Pulitzer Prize for the Los Angeles Times. His dad, a DJ, makes sporadic appearances as 'The Voice' because Moehringer's limited memories of him are via radio. Fortunately, the sentimentality is sparse and anecdotes plentiful. - AA
4. Slipless In Settle - A Slow Turn Around Northern CricketHarry PearsonAbacus
Pearson puts his foot down the wicket early with a tale about former West Indian captain Learie Constantine and wife moving to Lancashire in 1929. An entrepreneur charged the locals a farthing to watch the first black people they'd seen go about their domestic chores through the front window. Pearson is fond of statistical minutiae but also teases out the yarns. He makes pithy observations about England, such as, "you could tell if someone came from the North or South just from his or her attitude to David Gower", and gives alternative takes on historically-airbrushed personalities such as Sir Donald Bradman and Wally Hammond. - AA
5. Harold LarwoodDuncan HamiltonQuercus
The reputation of Bodyline bowler Harold Larwood is revisited.
Such a revisionist history is welcome. Hamilton unearths the story of the working-class hero he believes was betrayed by the Marylebone Cricket Club after the 1932-33 Ashes series because he wouldn't apologise. The depth of research stands out, focusing on 'Larwood, the man' rather than 'Bodyline, the series'. Hamilton raises the pertinent question - perhaps even more valid in the wake of Sean Abbott's fatal delivery to Phil Hughes - of why Larwood was demonised for following the Leg Theory orders of captain Douglas Jardine when other aggressive fast bowlers are revered? Hamilton's at his best comparing and contrasting the lives of Bradman and Larwood during and afterwards: "For Bradman, Larwood was a dark planet that temporarily threw him out of his assured orbit." - AA
6. The Second HalfRoy Keane with Roddy DoyleOrion
The difference between rage and anger are among the subjects canvassed by Roy Keane. Photo / AP
As the title suggests, this is Keane's second crack at an autobiography, written in conjunction with the brilliant Doyle. It captures, at times exquisitely, his metamorphosis from a raging bull of a player to a manager in a constant fight against his nature (and boards, owners and players). There are moments of stunning introspection - he ponders on the difference between anger and rage, a line he has always straddled - usually presented in the form of pointed anecdote. He never put pictures of family in his office because he didn't want it to be too comfortable in case he had to clear it out quickly. He decided not to sign Robbie Savage because the Welshman had his version of the Budweiser "Whazzzzup!" as his phone message - "I thought: 'I can't be f***ing signing that'." I'm not sure that Keane emerges as any more sympathetic a character, but at least you'll now have a clearer idea as to why you don't like him. - Dylan Cleaver
7. I am Zlatan IbrahimovicZlatan Ibrahimovicas told to David LagercrantzPenguin
Having achieved such critical acclaim, I finally delved into the Swedish maestro's autobiography, only to end it having my worst prejudices of the modern footballer confirmed. The story of his childhood on a Malmo housing estate and his complex relationships with his parents is compelling, as is his haphazard rise through Swedish football ranks. Ibrahimovic is different; that is established early and often. Where Ibrahimovic and my sympathies depart is when he makes it big. After this, his constant whining about managers, clubs and how people just don't get him - as he builds a fleet of luxury cars, watches and spends all his spare time gaming - just reinforces my belief there's no human quite so obnoxious and entitled as a professional footballer. - DC
8. The Best American Sports Writing 2014Guest editor,Christopher MacDougallSeries editor, Glenn StoutMariner
An account of Aaron Hernandez's transition from NFL player to murder accused features in this year's edition of Best American Sports Writing. Photo / AP
A hardy annual, the quality of BASW can vary with the whims of the guest editor, but it never fails to deliver a number of cracking yarns you might have missed during the year. The 2014 version starts with a bang, with Paul Solotaroff and Ron Borges' profile on Aaron Hernandez, the New England Patriots tight end accused of murder. Long-form writing is preferred and there are a number of tug-at-the-heartstrings pieces - the suicides of renegade fishing guide Stealhead Joe and Nascar driver Dick Trickle are examined - leavened with a story on the evolution of the sports bra. This is, on the whole, a collection of 'heavy', thought-provoking pieces. - DC
9. Fatty Batter: How Cricket Saved My Life(And Then Ruined It)Michael SimkinsEbury
A whimsical, sometimes LOL tale that serves as an autobiography of the English actor seen through the prism of cricket's very English rituals. Fatty Batter tells the story of a fat kid who grew up in a sweet shop in Brighton who wasn't very good at anything until he discovered cricket, which he was terrible at. This is the perfect accompaniment to a picnic lunch and a sun-soaked, grass-banked day at a Plunket Shield match. - DC
10. Loose Amongst the LegendsPhil GiffordUpstart Press
Peter Fatialofa features among Phil Gifford's anecdotes. Photo / PHOTOSPORT
No conversation with Phil Gifford is ever finished unless he's mentioned an anecdote connected to his long association with journalism and especially sport. He's blessed with a remarkable memory, even on occasions such as Peter Fatialofa sorting him out with plenty of rum and coke during Samoa's wonderful foray at the 1991 World Cup. And he details run-ins with rugby hierarchy, his transition to radio life with Simon Barnett and his foray into television news-reading. This is Gifford's 25th book and in the middle section, he includes accounts from about a dozen people - from The Mad Butcher to Valerie Adams - with whom he has had a close association. His recollection about reporting on the 1981 Springbok tour contrasts with the more spirited chapters and that is the art of a strong storyteller. - Wynne Gray
