{"product_id":"9781783969449","title":"Full Circle","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e*\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCHARTING THE RISE AND FALL OF FIRST-CLASS CRICKET: WHAT COMES NEXT?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A remarkable account of cricket's fascinating journey from its origins ... to the present day.'\u003cstrong\u003e Ehsan Mani, former President of the ICC\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn its early forms in the 18th century, cricket was a commercial entertainment, a vehicle for gambling alongside cock-fighting or wrestling. In the Victorian era, the sport was recreated as a means of keeping order in England's public schools and increasingly allied with ideas of virtue and manliness. Exported by empire loyalists, cricket took root across the globe - thriving in some countries, indelibly linked with racism and colonialism in others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Australia to the Caribbean to Afghanistan, Oborne and Heller explore cricket's expansion and its later role in decolonisation, education and politics. They argue that in recent years the game - dominated by the wealth and scale of franchise cricket - has come full circle, less a sport than a commercial enterprise once more. In consequence, they believe it is in crisis. As big money has taken over the game, is cricket losing its integrity and meaning?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive in scope and drawing on contemporary scholarship, this masterful account is an essential read for cricket fans everywhere.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eFull Circle\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e'A proper, meaty history, independent in perspective, global in its sweep and trenchant in its judgements.'\u003cstrong\u003e Gideon Haigh\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e'A truly global history of cricket, that draws on a wide range of sources and is itself elegantly written.'\u003cstrong\u003e Ramachandra Guha, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Commonwealth of Cricket\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'[An] encyclopaedic journey through the history of the game.'\u003cstrong\u003e Fazeer Mohammed, cricket commentator and journalist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Elliott \u0026#38; Thompson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57070532297077,"sku":"9781783969449","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0289\/5334\/6096\/files\/9781783969449.jpg?v=1776166734","url":"https:\/\/goldenharebooks.com\/products\/9781783969449","provider":"Golden Hare Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}