England's Greatest All Rounder

The genuine all-rounder can be worth twice as much as any other player on a cricket pitch.

But he also has to be twice as good as any other player if he is to match the specialist batsmen in their skills and, simultaneously, the specialist bowlers in theirs. Thus the genuine all-rounder is a rare thing indeed, deeply prized and greatly revered.

So who is England's Greatest All Rounder?

In this thought-provoking essay Roderick Easdale closely examines the careers of four legendary cricketers - Trevor Bailey, Tony Greig, Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff - to judge who was the finest.

Will it be Trevor Bailey, the odd one out of the group, a man who was more of a restrained operator than a crowd pleaser?

Or Tony Greig, arguably one of the most underrated test players of all time, and a man who still divides opinion.

What about Ian Botham, a player whose range of skill turned many matches, and most famously the 'Botham’s Ashes' of 1981?

Or even Andew Flintoff, whose contribution to the Ashes series of 2005 turned him into one of the legends of the English game?

In 'England's Greatest All Rounder', Roderick Easdale combines anecdote, analysis, narrative and the opinions of the players' team-mates and opponents to dissect the achievements and abilities of England's four best post-war all-rounders. In the process, he provides engaging portraits of a quartet of quite exceptional cricketers.

It is essential reading for any cricket fan.

Praise for Roderick Easdale:

'Roderick Easdale is a natural writer. He makes an impact where other's don't. This excellent book defies convention' (Cricket Lore)

'This book is a winner' (The Cricketer)

'Much time and research has gone into this fascinating study' (The Independent)

'An extremely interesting book and a rattling good read' (Northants Evening Telegraph)

'Preposterously entertaining' (Press Association)

Roderick Easdale is Yorkshire supporter who lives within walking distance of Lord's. An erratic and ferocious fast bowler in his youth, he decided it was time to retire from playing when his sole wicket one season was a stumping. He now plays golf instead. He is the author of several books including England's One Test Wonders, Wally Hammond: Gentleman & Player and The Don: Beyond Boundaries.

Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.