Charles Wood, before turning to writing, was a self-taught documentary filmmaker, and also worked as a cameraman for BBC and ITV news. The author has unearthed a worldwide passion for Gloucestershire cricket that's alive and well, and full to the brim with eccentricity and odd statistics.

But although he touches on the prime Gloucstershire years of the 'artful old toad' W.G., Wally Hammond, and R.C.'Jack' Russell MBE, while skipping over a fair share of tears and doldrums - be warned this book is not a club history.

Drawn from interviews and conversations with a wide range of former players both professional and amateur, club officials, broadcast commentators, die-hard spectators and competitive tea ladies, the content herein sholdn't be taken too sheriously because, simply, it is often completely hilarious.

The most interesting chapter in the book is A Bit of Head Scratching - the first question being - Name the Gloucestershire player who remains the only player ever to hit a ball from the Adelaide Oval into the Torrens River. Another interesting question being Name the Gloucestershire batsman who scored a century before lunch against both Glamorgan and Somerset in 1934 and was in the 1938 England side along with Wally Hammond and Tom Goddard in the infamous Third Test at Old Trafford against Australia in which, to the delight of the cartoonists of the day, not a ball was bowled in the five days.

Bats, Pads & Gladiators has been painstakingly researched and lovingly compiled.