Audiobooks by Simon Wilde

Chasing Jessop: The Mystery of England Cricket's Oldest Record

"Bloomsbury presents Chasing Jessop by Simon Wilde, read by David Thorpe 'A forensic tour de force' VIC MARCS 'Engrossing ... Illuminating detective work into the astonishing statistics of English cricket's most enduring record' ANDY ZALTZMAN 'A fascinating and definitive account of one of cricket's most fabled innings' JOHN ETHERIDGE A compelling new look at the untold story behind one of English sport's oldest records. In 1902, playing for England against Australia at The Oval, Gilbert Jessop played arguably the greatest innings in the history of cricket, turning what looked like certain defeat into what became an incredible victory, and doing so at such speed that he set a record for the fastest Test century for England that still stands more than 1,000 Test matches later. Even Ben Stokes’s team of Bazballers have been unable to put in the shade a cricketer for whom all-out attack was the only way to play long before T20 cricket was invented. But the precise circumstances of Jessop’s astonishing performance have long been shrouded in mystery. The original scorebooks are missing and the accepted truth that he took 76 balls to reach his century has rarely been scrutinised. Drawing on an array of long-forgotten contemporary sources, Simon Wilde forensically reconstructs one of England’s most famous matches in an attempt to establish what really happened. How many balls did Jessop face? Might he have actually got to his hundred even faster? Jessop’s relentless big hitting and fast scoring were revolutionary for cricket, but chimed with a speed-obsessed era which saw the start of the modern Olympics, the first mile-a-minute trains and the first 100mph cars, and the public adored him. As C.B. Fry said of him: ‘No man has ever made cricket so dramatic an entertainment.’ P 2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC C 2025 Simon Wilde"

Simon Wilde (Author), David Thorpe (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

The Tour: The Story of the England Cricket Team Overseas 1877-2022

"WINNER OF THE MCC / CRICKET SOCIETY BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD  WINNER OF THE HEARTACHES' CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK THE YEAR AWARD  An England cricket tour is a unique phenomenon, with its own pressures, challenges and remarkable highlights. It presents its participants - shorn of the usual support networks they enjoy at home - with a prolonged test of skill, physical stamina and mental resilience. Now Simon Wilde, author of the acclaimed England: The Biography, examines in The Tour the delicate chemistry that makes for a successful tour and why others disintegrate so badly.   Since the 19th century, England has been sending its cricket teams around the world to take on their rivals. Initially, these trips were undertaken by boat, meaning players could be away for many months, often in alien conditions. With air travel reducing journey time and facilities much improved, the challenges still remain: homesickness, isolation, hostile crowds - not to mention an opposition determined to win at all costs. For some, the experience can be too much, while others thrive in the heat and dust of battle. The Tour looks at all aspects of the history of England's cricketers abroad, including the burden placed on the captain, who is expected to combine on-field acumen with the deft touch of an ambassador off it. There have been diplomatic incidents aplenty, from Douglas Jardine's Bodyline tactics to Len Hutton's tour of the Caribbean, as well as the special pressures of playing in countries such as India and Pakistan during periods of unrest. Touring has never lost its romance. There have been serious scrapes, from court cases to car crashes, but also much fun, whether joining in with the Barmy Army or David Gower famously taking a Tiger Moth for a spin. Wilde explains how this seemingly anachronistic activity has been adapted from an instrument of imperial soft power to a relentless cricket circus that never ends.   Simon Wilde has once again created a masterpiece of insight, information and entertainment, an aspect of cricketing life that few will ever forget: the tour.  "

Simon Wilde (Author), Michael Fenner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free