On The Shelf

The States of Indian Cricket
By Ramachandra Guha
Permanent Black
Price: Rs 395

Guha has revised and updated in one volume two previous books, Wickets in the East and Spin and Other Turns. It is a wonderful opportunity to revisit Indian cricket in its geographical and historical diversity. Most of all, do read why it was so important for Bengal that the Prince of Calcutta do a spot of fast bowling in Tests!

Indian Cricket Through the Ages
Edited by Boria Mazumdar
Oxford University Press
Price: Rs 595

Another invitation to nostalgia. Cricket over the last century is assessed through writings from its various centres, Karachi and Bombay, Rajputana and Madras.