On Warne

Shane Warne and Gideon Haigh are an explosive combination!

Excellent writing style makes for a captivating narrative of one of cricket's genuine historic characters. Cricket lovers everywhere will find this a very arresting read. Caps off to Gideon Haigh.

Both writer and subject seem to have unimpeachable reputations in their fields - no-one claims Haigh isn't a great writer, and there seems to be a consensus that Warne is one of the greatest bowlers of all time, if not THE greatest. This is the nearest we are going to get to a Cardus essay on SF Barnes. As such, this is compulsory reading for a cricket fan.Haigh is as sesquipedalian as ever - an early "infelicitous juxtaposition" lets you know exactly where you are - and also very good at skewering his subject with a deft phrase. The description of Warne's journalistic style as "Twitter-inflected patois" is funny, neat, unexpected and apt - perfect writing. Haigh's observation with regard to egotistical umpires ("there is a temptation to join the pageant") is also very likeable.This book is revealing, to a degree, although it reads rather as an outsider's view of the subject (the chapters on McGrath and Waugh in particular lack a first-hand feel). It is, though, perceptive and paints a recognisable, three-dimensional picture of Warne. He seems from this book to be a strange mixture of cunning and street-smarts on one hand (his bowling, as Haigh describes, was a huge exercise in deceiving marks who expected a con-trick), and childlike naivity on the other. The famous scandals regarding conversations with bookmakers, diet pills and text messages all suggest an impulsive man who doesn't understand consequences.The book is excellent on Warne's personality, for instance the sledging and the psychological pressure he built in a batsman's mind, and on the technical differences injuries and experience wrought in Warne's bowling over the years. He's also good at conveying Warne's sheer relish for life and its pleasures.It's a short book, but vivid, informative, and very entertaining. I'd love to know what the cricket world would make of this in 100 years time ("Shane Who?"), but is any modern cricket book will last, it'll be this one.

A brilliant book, neither a biography nor a memoir but a tribute to the greatest Australian of these times, one who can be compared to the Don. Haigh has penned his thoughts with precision and emotion. An absolutely absorbing book on Warne.

A fairly frank and blunt assessment, albeit a little one-eyed in its hero-worship of the man (on the field). I was left a little surprised by the disparaging take on Gilchrist and Waugh, although I bow to Haigh's knowledge on the matter. The whole matter of Warne's failures in India was a little glossed over, and I'd have liked to have read more on Warne's battles with the greatest opposition batsmen of his era - Lara, Tendulkar, Kallis, Dravid and the like. An easy read, and a punchy book