Ian Collis is a well known rugby league historian, having one of the largest collections of sporting memorabilia in Australia.

His passion for rugby league comes from his father Joseph, who was a pioneer of the North Ryde Junior Rugby League Club in the Balmain Junior League and a former Club president before playing a role in the formation of the Ryde United JRL Club.

Ian is currently the Head of Fox Sports Statistics.

'Mad Dogs and Englishman go out in the midday sun'...so sang Noel Coward about the great game of cricket, which has been played on various pitches around the world since the 1880s. The amazing collection of rare photos shows the games in all its glory and in many different eras.

Filled with quirky and unusual images of everything cricket related, from scoreboards to spectators and special moments, each image is accompanied by pitchy captions and essential trivia, making this as the ideal gift book for the cricket fan, or those who love nostalgia.

The book says WG Grace pioneered the combination of forward and back play, cleverly using his feet. He had debuted as a 16-year-old in a first-class match 150 years ago and played for the next 40 years as his reputation grew to extraordinary heights.

Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, a member of Andrew Stoddart's 1897 England team, was an Indian prince, according to Ian Collis. He was not only a fine batsman, but also brought new strokes to the game. He introduced the late cut and leg glance, as well as the technique of back-foot defence.

Clive Lloyd, according to Ian Collis, transformed the West Indies from a talented group of cricket individuals into a powerful team that dominated world cricket for two decades. His captaincy included a period of 26 Tests without defeat and eleven successive wins.

The author believed that Australia's Jeff Thomson's unusual bowling action and his blistering pace made him a terrifying opponent for all batsmen. At the height of his career, and with fellow fast-bowler Dennis Lillee at the other end, they formed one of the most lethal attacks in cricket's history.

This excellent book has excellent binding, jacket and lay-out, which all enhance the fascinating material. The photographs are marvellous. Action shots, close-ups and intimate impressions of situations which turn up in this publication are all of an exceptionally high standard.