As a batsman, he never reached double figures, as a bowler he never bagged a wicket and as a wicketkeeper he once caught a ball on his nose. This is why he is now a competent writer. His name is Iain Macintosh, the UK correspondent for The New Paper (Singapore). He is also the author of Football Fables (2008).

Iain Macintosh, in his superb publication, has explained how cricket works and why it is so popular, and reveals the history of the game. He guides the novice through the basic rules of the sport in a bouncy and easy style. It is more like personal tuition from someone who won't point and laugh at you when you ask 'If this is the Test match, when does the real one start?'

According to Iain Macintosh, "cricket is a game of such beautiful simplicity and yet it is blessed with layers so complex that it can be anything to anyone, Twenty20 offers the spectator an adrenaline-fuelled, hi-octane explosion of big hits, while the more cerebral Test match is like watching two generals carefully trying to outwit one another; their hopes dependent on the courage and concentration of their men, on the wear and tear of one strip of grass and, of course, on the weather. And yet whatever form of the game, you watch, it all comes down to one thing: the ability of a man to hit a ball with a bit of wood."

The book will teach you everything you need to know to enjoy the game of cricket. Cricket enthusiasts will pick up tips on how to watch a live game and you'll even be given the answer to that most timeless of questions: who are Duckworth and Lewis and what is their method?

Macintosh believes "picking the greatest team of all time is fraught with danger. How can you judge a player of today's generation against one of, say, the 1930s? The simple answer is that you can't, but that won't stop people trying. Anyway, at the risk of offending and confusing, here is a team of cricketers that I think could take anyone at Test level - Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting, Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Ian Botham, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Malcolm Marshall, Dennis Lillee and Muttiah Muralitharan."

Sledging isn't a very nice, according to Macintosh. He has mentioned some of the best sledging exchanges. Australian Rod Marsh thought that it would be a good idea to goad Ian Botham as he made his way to the crease. 'How's your wife and my kids?" he shouted to England's best batsman. 'The wife's fine', replied Botham calmly "The kids are retarded'.

In a match against Pakistan, Merv Hughes was a little out of shape. Well, ok, he was a lot out of shape. Javed Miandad went so far as to tell him so, informing the big Australian that he looked like 'a bus conductor'. Bad move. The very next ball blew his stumps to smithereens and Hughes charged past the dismissed batsman shouting. 'Tickets please! Tickets please!: at the top of his voice.

Very thoroughly researched and immensely readable. The book is recommended to cricket enthusiasts without the slightest hesitation.