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After KP furore, look what Swanny thinks about captain Cook!

BOOKS ABOUT CRICKET


Now he’s back on home soil again, Graeme Swann is embarking on a promotional tour for his new book, The Breaks Are Off, between November 3rd and 7th, starting in Nottingham next Thursday. 

Swann courted controversy in the book by commenting on Kevin Pietersen’s brief reign as England captain, which did not go down well with the current coach, Andy Flower.

The world’s No 3 ranked Test and one-day international bowler is just home from an ODI series in which England were woeful, losing 5-0 to India.  Their current one-day captain is Alastair Cook.

Cook gets a few mentions in The Breaks are Off , too. The opening batsman is mildly rebuked for being “the messiest colleague you could have” in the dressing room and ribbed for being “a real goody-two-shoes” after being entrusted with the critical responsibility for waking Swann up when there is a flight to catch.

Swann comments on Cook’s captaincy, too.  “He stumbles and stammers when he speaks…he’s best summed up as a bit of a rambler, so I always have to stare at the floor during his team talks in a bid not to laugh.”

But that, sadly, is as damning as the appraisal gets. In fact, Swann says that, in his first series as ODI captain, against Sri Lanka, Cook’s “leadership was outstanding in those five games” as England won 3-2.

After the latest series, and mindful of the Pietersen furore, it may not be something he is prepared to discuss right now, although anyone who has queued patiently for a signed copy of the book could always ask.

Swann will be signing The Breaks are Off at Waterstone’s Nottingham from 12.30 to 2pm on November 3rd and at their branch in Lincoln on November 4th  (12.30-2pm).

He is scheduled also to appear at Waterstone’s in Northampton, Bromley, Guildford, Bristol and London‘s Leadenhall Market.  Contact individual stores for details.

Buy The Breaks are Off direct from Amazon.

Browse more cricket books at The Sports Bookshelf Shop.

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