I'm a cricket tragic and this one is right up my cricket pitch.
It brings back fond memories of sitting in the front row at the SCG with dad - another cricket tragic - chanting "Lillee, Lillee" or "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Lillee doesn't, Thommo must".
And within minutes, some of the world's greatest batsmen were hanging their heads on the walk of shame back to the dressing room.
We hungered for the action and thirsted for the inevitable blood that would spill at the hands of the rock stars of international cricket.
The Quicks by Robert Drane (Gelding Street Press, $34.99, October 5) has been released to coincide with the 2022/23 summer of cricket and is a great stocking filler for Christmas. And, no, I'm not parting with my copy which is now in the bar room with my Dennis Lillee autograph.
Intimidation. Cunning. Contempt. The greatest pace bowlers have a vast arsenal at their disposal and our Aussies have always been the best. Oh, I can hear the arguments from my English, Indian and Sri Lankan pals now.
Australian quicks long ago perfected the art of re-arranging batsmens ribcages and life-priorities. Death stares (Dennis Lillee again) and old-fashion lip are used in combination with explosive pace, tactical guile and the ability to make a cricket ball do unprecedentedly vicious things.
The Quicks profiles the most successful, frighteningly-fast and charismatic Australian bowlers to ever terrorise the Poms... and every other cricketing nation.
Drane tells the stories of the men who have captivated the Australian sporting public, from Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, to Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson and the modern menace of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
The Quicks is brilliantly produced and full of impressive statistics and photos of the best Aussie fast bowlers, and is a must-read for sports fans.
Drane is a multi-award-winning Australian writer, editor and consultant. He is a lifelong student of the game of cricket and appreciator of its finer points and many characters.
He spent four years as editor of Inside Cricket magazine and contributed countless articles to Inside Sport over nearly three decades. He has created other cricket publications including 100 Great Ashes Moments, Cricket Australia programs and was a major contributor to Australia's Sporting Heroes.
His previous books include Fighters by Trade and Fighting the Demons: the Lester Ellis story.
Drane grew up in Sydney but has long been Melbourne-based.
Therese Murray
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
