SEALED WITH A SIX THE STORY OF THE 2011 WORLD CUP

SEALED WITH A SIX THE STORY OF THE 2011 WORLD CUP
- By ESPN Cricinfo

Published by:
Hachette India
www.hachetteindia.com

Pages: 346

MRP: Rs599(in India); £18.99 (in UK)

   

Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, completed India's second World Cup victory with a six after destructive opener, Virender Sehwag, opened the World Cup against Bangladesh with a first ball four, a feat he was to achieve in the first five matches.

This book is more of a compilation of the most memorable matches played during the World Cup as seen through the eyes of ESPN Cricinfo's experienced writers. It is not written with the benefit of hindsight. Some matches include pre and post match reports as well as naturally match reports.

This book, covering perhaps two thirds of the tournament, might, I feel, have benefited from a more in depth scorecard from each match as the bare bones are given only. There are, in some cases, three or more articles pertaining to each match and personally I would have preferred a scorecard to a further article. Nonetheless, the reader is treated to the best of ESPN Cricinfo's writers.

The book relates everything from the well-received opening ceremony to the final ball of the tournament which fittingly has its own article and cover photograph with the very apt title. Many different aspects from the tournament are covered including, on the cricket field, Kevin O'Brien's memorable century for Ireland against England to, off the field, the Arctic adventurer who acted as a spur to the Indian side whilst the demands of getting into the Feroz Shah Kotla as a spectator are not missed.

Naturally, more is made of the knockout stages and, not unsurprisingly, the India and Pakistan match has more associated articles devoted to it (9) than the final itself (8).

As a memory of the 2011 World Cup, this is a useful record of the tournament and I have noticed that, for English readers, this book is quite easily available for purchase in England.