Description
Throughout the 1980s, England lurched between the highs of Ashes victories and the lows of on-field humiliation and a series of controversies involving tabloid scandals, South African rebel tours and Pakistani umpires. The Ashes were won dramatically in 1981, regained by David Gower's team in 1985 and retained by Mike Gatting in 1986/87. There was even a World Cup Final appearance in India. Yet twice the West Indies inflicted 5-0 series defeats. Players were fined for bad behaviour on the field, while Ian Botham was suspended for smoking marijuana. Lord's stumbled through ten changes of captaincy in the decade. In 1988, Gatting, under pressure following an umpiring row, was brought down by a barmaid, leading to the appointment of four skippers in one series. It was the most chaotic period in English cricket history. Through interviews with many of those involved, Sex & Drugs & Rebel Tours tells the story.
More Information
Reviews
"Tossell is an excellent narrator who leaves space for the reader to interpret the chaos he reports... Highly entertaining and a thorough account of the best of times and the worst of times." --All Out Cricket
"A faithful chronicle of a pivotal point in England's history, when the team made headlines both on and off the pitch... It's an ideal accompaniment to the new season, which will soon be upon us." --Book of the Week, Blackpool Gazette
"I received Sex and Drugs and Rebel Tours with keen anticipation. David Tossell previously wrote one of the best cricket histories in recent times with Grovel! (2007), the story of West Indies' triumphant 1976 tour of England. And he has now turned his attention to the era that made me and millions of others the cricket fans we are today: angrily cynical by default, greeting England's successes with suspicion and humiliations with easy familiarity... David Tossell establishes superbly not only the laughable inadequacy of the TCCB, but also the serious consequences for players. Overall, then, this is an entertaining and detailed confirmation that, yes, it really was as chaotic, frustrating and inept as we all remember." --Cricket365.co.uk
"Not only highly illuminating but written in his usual refreshing style on the highs and lows of England's international cricket... It may not look an altogether successful decade but this book is terrific for a reminder of the not-so-distant past and David Tossell is to be congratulated on another excellent book." --Andrew Roberts Cricket Statistics.com
"Rarely does a year pass without the name of David Tossell appearing on the shortlist for one of sport's literary prizes. The 53-year-old author and journalist has been nominated five times at the British Sports Book Awards for books on cricket, football and rugby, as well as being on the shortlist twice for the MCC/Cricket Society Book of the Year. This year he returns to cricket with Sex & Drugs & Rebel Tours: The England Cricket Team in the 1980s. Experienced journalist Tossell, at one time executive sports editor of the Today newspaper, has interviewed many of the principal characters and Sex & Drugs & Rebel Tours tells the story." --The Sports Bookshelf.com
Author Biography
David Tossell is the author of twelve previous books, five of which have been short-listed in the British Sports Book Awards, and he has twice been short-listed for the MCC Cricket Society Book of the Year. A sports journalist for more than three decades, David is head of European public affairs for the NFL.
Bibliographic Information
- Publisher Pitch Publishing
- Publication Date March 2015
- Orginal LanguageEnglish
- ISBN/Identifier 9781785310119
- Publication Country or regionUnited Kingdom
- FormatHardback
- Primary Price 18.99 GBP
- Pages256
- ReadershipGeneral
- Publish StatusPublished
- Dimensions240x160 mm
Pitch Publishing Ltd has chosen to review this offer before it proceeds.
You will receive an email update that will bring you back to complete the process.
You can also check the status in the My Offers area
Please wait while the payment is being prepared.
Do not close this window.