A fascinating biography of an australian cricketer it is described as a moving biography, a fascinating book about sport, about australia and about the extraordinary that lurks within the ordinary. Another century, another list the intelligent fans. The life and death of an extraordinary cricketer by haigh, gideon isbn. Read mystery spinner the life and death of an extraordinary cricketer by gideon haigh available from rakuten kobo. He covered the 2005 ashes series for the guardian newspaper in the uk. His biographies are the big ship of warwick armstrong and mystery spinner of jack iverson, the latter was the cricket societys book of the year, shortlisted for the william hill sports book of the year and dubbed a classic by the sunday times. This is the story of jack iverson, the mystery spinner of the title, whose test career consisted of five matches played against freddie browns england side in 195051, a series that australia won 41. Text classics gideon haigh, professor russell jackson in 1950, aged in his midthirties, tall, shy, shambling jack iverson burst forth from obscurity in suburban melbourne, bowled like no man before and became a national sensation, then faded from view almost as swiftly. You probably wont have heard of jack iverson unless youre over 60. Mystery spinner, text classics by gideon haigh 9781925603217. The story of jack iverson, and the border years, and has edited wisdens cricketers almanack australia.
Warwick armstrong and the making of modern cricket, mystery spinner. The story of jack iverson with russell jackson 1999 wisden cricketers almanack australia 19992000. Mystery spinner ebook by gideon haigh rakuten kobo. Then, in his moment of triumph, he retired from international cricket, and was never the same bowler again. An estate agents son, jack iverson went to boarding school, became a jackaroo, fought in world war ii. The indian history of a british sport by ramachandra guha. Gideon haigh is an englishborn australia n journalist, who writes about sport especially cricket and business. Warwick armstrong and the making of modern cricket gideon haigh the border years gideon haigh mystery spinner.
Jan 15, 2020 mystery spinner is the story of jack iverson while silent revolutions is a delightful collection of haighs journalism. Who dares wins hosts incredible true story ollie ollerton. Buy mystery spinner the story of jack iverson, oxfam, haigh, gideon, 1854107143, 9781854107145 cookies on oxfam we use cookies to ensure that you have the best experience on our website. Their first guest is journalist and author gideon haigh, who has written books including mystery spinner.
The life and memories of geoffrey howard by stephen chalke. Haigh previously won the award in 2000 for mystery spinner. Gideon clifford jeffrey davidson haigh born 29 december 1965 is an englishborn australian. It is also the utterly compelling story of gideon haigh s quest to solve the enduring riddle of jack iverson s life. The cricket war, gideon haigh shop online for books in. Sports classics, life and death of an extraordinary cricketer by gideon haigh. Congratulations gideon haigh the international cricket. It is no mystery that today jack iverson is virtually unknown.
Mystery spinner the story of jack iverson oxfam gb. The inside story of kerry packers world series cricket. But noone ever seems to have been too fussed by jacks idiosyncrasies, and noone told a story against jack more often than jack himself. Sports classics online from australias leading online bookstore. Buy a discounted paperback of mystery spinner online from australias leading online bookstore. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read mystery spinner. The story of jack iverson, which was first published in australia by text in 1999. Gideon haigh project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The biography of one of the most original and elusive characters in australian sporting history, by renowned cricket writer gideon haigh. The story of australias cricket captains 1997 the summer game. Gideon haigh has covered all recent ashes series in both australia and. Australian cricket in the 1950s and 1960s posted on july 11 2012 by admin a history of australian cricket in the generation before i was born, postbradman, prechappell. He was born in london, was raised in geelong, and lives in melbourne.
Another century, another list the intelligent fans guide. Mystery spinner is the story of jack iverson while silent revolutions is a delightful collection of haighs journalism. The inside story of kerry packers world series, and mystery spinner. The life and death of an extraordinary cricketer gideon haigh aurum. Dec 12, 2017 their first guest is journalist and author gideon haigh, who has written books including mystery spinner. The story of jack iverson first edition by gideon haigh isbn. It is no mystery that today the name of jack iverson is virtually unknown. Of those on a cricketing theme, his historical works includes the cricket war and summer game, his biographies the big ship of warwick armstrong and mystery spinner of jack iverson, the latter pronounced the cricket societys book of the year, shortlisted for the william hill sports book of the year and dubbed a classic by the sunday. Jun 05, 2014 gideon haigh s quest for the truth about this enigmatic, elusive man, with the strangest grip any spinner had ever used, is not just a story of a forgotten hero, but an attempt to solve the enduring riddle of iverson s life. An unexceptional estate agent who died in obscurity, by his own hand, he was a. Nicholas lezard is bowled over by gideon haighs mystery spinner. Others have already settled on the designation mystery spinner, the epithet conferred almost 60 years ago on the australian jack iverson. Then, in 1946 when he was thirtyone, he took up cricket. The spin the top cricketing reads for a long and yawning.
The story of jack iverson recently republished as a. When he started writing about jack iverson, gideon haigh knew it would a. Courier mail so you want to know something about this funny old b. Australian test cricket 194971 1997 australian cricket anecdotes ed. This is an extremely wellwritten book, which will be of interest not only to cricket fans, but also to all those interested in human life. Shortlisted for the william hill sports book of the year, and voted cricket book of the year, with the judges commending a stunning and most moving book,mystery spinner is a truly compelling study of how, at the highest level of sport, skill is only half the battle. I first found out about jack iverson in bradmans book the art of cricket, leading me to play around with the grip for a bit. Mystery spinner is more than the beautifully written life of an elusive and forgotten hero who, after his brief burst of celebrity, has left strangely little trace in posterity. Gideon haigh has been a journalist for three decades, writing mainly. In 1950, aged in his midthirties, tall, shy, shambling jack iverson burst forth from obscurity. But theres so much more to jack iverson than just the grip, and haigh manages to take us on a tour of his life that encompasses so much more than just the usual cricketing biography. Mystery spinner the story of jack iverson by gideon haigh.
The story of jack iverson, by gideon haigh aurum press. Mystery spinner is more than that beautifully written life of an elusive and forgotten hero who, after his brief burst of celebrity, has left strangely little trace in posterity. This is a tragic human story, centred around the astonishing rise to sporting fame of jack iverson when in his 30s. Gideon clifford jeffrey davidson haigh born 29 december 1965 is an englishborn australian journalist who writes about sport especially cricket and business. Mystery spinner by gideon haigh books the guardian.
Oct 18, 2008 but noone ever seems to have been too fussed by jack s idiosyncrasies, and noone told a story against jack more often than jack himself. In the enthralling mystery spinner, first published in 1999, one of the worlds best cricket writers goes in search of an enigma. Gideon clifford jeffrey davidson haigh is an englishborn australian journalist who writes about sport and business. Let us salute the start of the cricket season by celebrating this most unusual story. The life and death of an extraordinary cricketer sports classics gideon haigh. Gideon clifford jeffrey davidson haigh born 29 december 1965 is an english born australian. The story of jack iverson recently republished as a text classic, the big ship. The story of jack iverson with russell jackson 1999 wisden cricketers almanack australia 19992000 2000 wisden cricketers almanack australia. The cricket society mcc book of the year the cricket. It is also the utterly compelling story of gideon haigh s quest to solve the enduring riddle of jack iverson s life a quest which led him across australia. In 1950, aged in his midthirties, tall, shy, shambling jack iverson burst forth from obscurity in suburban melbourne, bowled like no man before and became a national sensation, then faded from view almost as swiftly. About the author gideon haigh has been a journalist for three decades, writing mainly about sport and business. Gideon haigh s quest for the truth about this enigmatic, elusive man, with the strangest grip any spinner had ever used, is not just a story of a forgotten hero, but an attempt to solve the enduring riddle of iverson s life.
The story of jack iverson is one of the most remarkable in the history of cricket. The king of research picks a relatively obscure yet intriguing subject in jack iverson and traces his journey to. He was born in london of a yorkshire father but raised in geelong, australia by a tasmania. Gideon haighs quest for the truth about this enigmatic, elusive man, with the strangest grip any spinner had ever used, is not just a story of a forgotten hero, but an attempt to solve the enduring riddle of iversons life. The life and death of an extraordinary cricketer sports classics book online at best prices in india on. The life and death of an extraordinary cricketer ebook written by gideon haigh. Booktopia mystery spinner, text classics by gideon haigh. Iverson played a big part in australia continuing their postwar dominance of the ashes. He has also edited many books, including the australian wisden almanack and endless summer.