Jamess belief, that this quaint game reveals profound truths of those who play and love it, is alive and well. Most of these information i knew through ramachandra guhas a corner of a foreign field. James astill explains how indias economic surge and cricketing obsession made it the dominant. Historically though, it was one of many rivalries contested on. However, as cricket is played in broad daylight on any towns market corner or village harvested field, corruptive actions take place in the dim lit and. Cricket, corruption and the turbulent rise of modern india, in which he likens himself to john howard about whom the phrase cricket tragic was coined and describes, with a clarity that binds.
James astill touches only on the finest overlap of cricket and corruption that modern india had to offer him its black sox moment when, in 2000, a former captain and several players were. The great tamasha a third of the way into this uneven, discursive book, james astill interviews sharad pawar, whom he calls the ruler of world cricket. Cricket, corruption and the turbulent rise of modern india. Bloomsbury publishing india, vishrut building, dda complex, building no. Marlborough at lords school cricket at lords these days is best known for the eton v. The great tamasha by james astill overdrive rakuten. He tells how cricket has become the central focus of the worlds secondbiggest nation. When lalit modian indian businessman with a criminal record, a history of failed business ventures, and a reputation for audacious deal makingcreated a twenty20 cricket league in india in 2008, the odds were stacked against him. The great tamasha is the perfect example of a book which can intrigue and delight as much as the latest thriller. From a quintessentially victorian gentlemans game, cricket was first adopted by the brahmin class of zoroastrians from gujarat, and prosperous merchants, who started the. The chapters on indian cricket history, the excellent reference section and the sublime encounters in this book make it a good read. The telegraph sports book awards previously national sporting club book awards is a british literary award for sports writing. To understand modern india, one must look at the business of cricket within the country.
The great tamasha cricket, corruption, and the turbulent rise of modern india by james astill. Tom fort is impressed by a study of the wealth and corruption of indian cricket. Tamasha is an indian word used to describe a show, performance or some other form of entertainment. But can the old game survive in a new economic era. The great tamasha examines how a game and a country, both regarded as synonymous with infinite patience, managed to produce such an event. Cricket, corruption, and the turbulent rise of modern india astill, james on. Having previously been the washington correspondent, he has covered us politics since 2015. But it is a book that is about much more than sport. July, 20 james astill, political editor of the economist, has written a new book about a sport not often discussed in america. International cricket was still controlled from london, where they played. For indians, bollywood films are tamasha and so is cricket. He was formerly the newspapers south asia bureau chief, stationed in new delhi 20072010. A remarkable, eyewitness history of the cricket world cup from an indian perspective the book details the littleknown story of indias turning point in oneday cricket in. James astill, author of the great tamasha, talks about his book on india and cricket, why the sport is so popular, and his favorite cricket memories, including a lunch with kapil dev and his.
The great tamashacricket, corruption and the turbulent rise of modern india. It was first awarded in 2003 as part of the national sporting club. The great tamasha james astill the author documents the growth of india with development of cricket. Cricket, corruptionand the turbuoent rise of modern india, james astill. A third of the way into this uneven, discursive book, james astill interviews sharad pawar, whom he calls the ruler of world cricket. James astill was the correspondent for the economist in india from 200710. That is palpable from reading the first few pages of his latest book, the great tamasha. The great tamasha, by james astill the independent. The great tamasha, by james astill the new york times. Our sports bookseller, matt gardiner, selects his favourite cricket books of all time. The great tamasha is the story of how cricket became indianised. A concise history of the conquest of india by cricket. However, for the best part of three decades he was a vital member of a generally struggling.
Learn from cricket experts like vijay lokapally and doug werner. James astill, author of the great tamasha, talks about his book on india and cricket, why the sport is so popular here, and his favorite cricket memories, including a lunch with kapil dev. Astill has written a fascinating book about cricket, which sent me scurrying to wisden to check tiger pataudis test batting average. James astill is the political editor of the economist. The great tamasha hardcover cricket, corruption, and the turbulent rise of modern india. As with peter obornes a history of cricket in pakistan, when reading james astills the great tamasha, not only do you learn about cricket but the country as a whole. This author gives more credit to lord harris than guha for the development of cricket.
Because of the subject matter of the great tamasha, the ipl, it is not a book i would normally purchase. He had previously filed dispatches for the newspaper from afghanistan, pakistan and many african countries, while also working for the guardian. Summer 2019 promises to be a very special one with the cricket world cup and two ashes series to thrill fans up and down the. James astill touches only on the finest overlap of cricket and corruption. The books starts with history of indian cricket and its origin. E arly in this engaging, perceptive and rigorous book, james astill, a former correspondent for the economist in delhi, describes how cricket evolved as the quintessentially english game, its. The great tamasha james astill the great tamasha is the story of modern india told through the glitzy, scandalous and mindblowingly lucrative twenty20 cricket tournament, the indian premier league. Booklist peppered with starstudded interviews and transcripts of historic matches, astills history is a boon for any fan of cricket or interested bystander. Cricket, corruption and indias unstoppable rise astill, james on. How a game and a country, both regarded as synonymous with infinite patience, managed to produce such an event.
James astill book takes cricket society award cricket. In the end, though the book is about indian cricket, astill cannot avoid sounding like the voice of the english cricket establishment, crying hoarse about indian commercial domination and the power of the indian cricket board obscene as both can be, but silent except for the sake of form, about the white, upperclass domination in how world cricket was run until quite recently. Read cricket books like driven and bowlers startup for free with a free 30day trial. The subheading, cricket, corruption and the turbulent rise of modern india gives clear guidance on what to expect from this book. William ewart astill 1 march 1888, ratby, leicestershire, england 10 february 1948, stoneygate, leicester, england was, along with george geary, the mainstay of the leicestershire team from 1922 to about 1935. As jacques barzun said about understanding america through baseball, so astills book gives an insightful take on modern india. Whether its the beauty of a perfect cover drive or the sheer pleasure of a players stumps ripped from the ground, cricket enthrals millions and the willow and the leather inspires some of the very best sports writing. He played in nine test matches but was never picked for a home test or for an ashes tour. Cricket, corruption, and the turbulent rise of modern india. James astill is the economists washington bureau chief and lexington columnist. Occasionally astill dismisses the careers of some domestic.
In this pensive workat turns historical, sociological, and journalisticthe economists south asia bureau chief, british journalist astill, examines the beloved game of cricket in india. The great tamasha is an engaging chronicle of rising india. James astill explains how indias economic surge and cricketing obsession made it the dominant power in world cricket, off the field if rarely on it. He joined the economist as international security editor in 2004. It was the first night of the indian premier league cricket, but not as we knew it. The economists south asia bureau chief finds the game of cricket a telling metaphor for what ails and heals the new india cricket has functioned as a tool to both institutionalize indias caste system and break it.
The great tamasha james astill 9781608199174 netgalley. James astill, political editor of the economist, has written a new book about a sport not often discussed in america. On a bangalore night in april 2008, cricket and india changed forever. This is a riveting read for a cricket lover, especially an india fan. The great tamasha cricket, corruption and the turbulent rise of modern india. The binding of extremes, most rotten and the most vitals of indian culture, is an interesting and accurately representing india. Cricket, corruption, and the turbulent rise of modern india james astill on. James astill, the political editor of the economist, has won the cricket society and mcc book of the year award for 2014. Cricket, corruption and the turbulent rise of modern india wisden sports writing by james astill 20704 james astill on. The english language and cricket were britains two largest colonial legacies in india, says journalist james astill, but it is the second of these bequests that is the subject of his important. James astill, the political editor of the economist and former bureau chief in new delhi, is a big cricket fan. How cricket mirrors indian society, for better and for worse. Cricket, corruption and the turbulent rise of modern india, explains why the game reflects both the wonders and the troubles of the worlds second. The chapters on indian cricket history, the excellent reference section and the sublime encounters in this book make.
1013 1319 957 1394 261 322 15 1378 664 1075 991 440 1268 803 1118 1335 100 134 866 711 987 1198 675 1133 270 413 231 1250 300 314 315 107 579 815 277 916 480 452 1469 418 714 1023