From Scroll · Kevin John Brophy, The Conversation · · 1m 50s
Eleven: We Burn Them in the Sun
Christian Ryan's cricket book weaves 11 lives of failure and triumph.
In brief
Christian Ryan's cricket book weaves 11 lives of failure and triumph. Christian Ryan's book 'Eleven: We Burn Them in the Sun' explores 11 cricketers' brief lives marked by failure and resilience. Originally reported by Scroll.
Cricket's Unconventional Spirit
Cricket offers space for life beyond sport with its slow pace and diverse participants.
Ryan's Cricket Passion
Christian Ryan writes with a gift for bringing cricket to life through his words and passion.
The Book's Scope
Eleven: We Burn Them in the Sun explores lives defined briefly by cricket.
First Story: John Watkins
John Watkins, an Australian spinner who played only one Test match in the early 1970s.
Second Story: Shervan Pragg
Shervan Pragg, a gifted Trinidadian killed in a road accident at age 20.
Groundsman John Maley
John Maley prepared Kerry Packer’s drop-in pitches for World Series Cricket matches 1977-1979.
Ray Robinson
Ray Robinson played only one Test match in 1936 under Don Bradman’s captaincy.
Padmakar Shivalkar
Padmakar Shivalkar took over 500 wickets for Mumbai between 1961 and 1988 but never played Tests.
Ken Vowles
Ken Vowles impressed in Australian youth sides in the late 1980s but never had a Test career.
Frank Parr
Frank Parr, a mid-20th century English cricketer who preferred jazz trombone life.
Wasim Raja
Wasim Raja, a Pakistani all-rounder featured in the book.
Jack Collins
Jack Collins, an Australian Test umpire whose career ended in 1975 after Clive Lloyd complained.
Jane Joseph
Jane Joseph, a Trinidadian cricketer with a powerful 1973 photo capturing her pull shot.
Donna Carmino
Donna Carmino, a Trinidadian with a 30-minute international batting career.
The takeaway
Christian Ryan's book 'Eleven: We Burn Them in the Sun' explores 11 cricketers' brief lives marked by failure and resilience.
