Darren Lehmann had an outstanding first-class career, including a stint as captain of Yorkshire, registering 82 centuries while amassing 25,795 runs at an average of 57.83 in 284 matches.

He had a decent batting average of 44.95 in Tests while amassing 1798 runs in 27 Tests (42 innings), including five hundreds and ten fifties.  In ODIs, he had managed 3078 runs at an average of 38.96, including four hundreds and 17 fifties, in 117 matches.

In his foreword, Ricky Ponting remarks: "What he brings to the team is a common-sense, no-nonsense approach, coupled with a fine cricket brain and an eccentric dose of humour.  He is always there to provide me with sound advice and in team meetings he is never short of a quick one-liner to liven things up. Every team could do with Darren in its line-up."

In a chapter, namely, The Best of the Best, Lehmann says: The highest compliment you can pay Sachin is this: you have to remove him to beat India. No matter what else is happening in the game, he is the one you must dismiss to get on top of them.  He is an intimidating player whose presence at the crease totally changes the context of any game he's playing."

Lehmann has paid a rich tribute to Shane Warne: "No leggie in the game has ever come close to having Shane Warne's impact, on or off the field, and I have always thought it a privilege to play with him and the toughest test in the game is to play against him."

Being an insider's account of the best cricket side in the world, Lehmann talks about his life, friends, team-mates, enemies, incredible highs and lows, tragedies and regrets of an excellent career in cricket.

Lehman believes Pakistan's 'Rawalpindi Express', Shoaib Akhtar, gets a mention in this list (The Best of the Best) purely because it's impossible to bowl the cricket ball any faster than he does.  They say Jeff Thomson was the fastest ever.  Well, I am sorry, 'Thommo', but I just can't believe anyone has bowled faster than this bloke.  He was once clocked at 160 kmh and that's just a ridiculous pace
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The book covers the tragic passing of David Hookes - Lehmann's mentor and childhood hero. "I found him, approachable and supportive and never had any problem playing cricket with him and under his leadership.  In hindsight, I couldn't have had a better captain when I was starting off.  He taught me right from wrong on and off the field, but he never tried to curb my natural style and he never tried to change me as a player or a person."

The book is a tale of runs and run-ins, of friends and foes. It is Lehmann's story of his playing career.  Honest, poignant, funny, compelling and well-told.


We are thankful to Emma Marijewycz, Hardie Grant Books, for sending the review copy for our website.