First published in 1986 and now available as an ebook.

 Batsman of international renown, Captain of England, David Gower scaled heights other cricketers must envy. He successfully led one of the best balanced of recent English sides in a victorious tour of India in the winter of 1984/5 and returned home to win decisively the series against Australia in 1985 and regain the Ashes. There followed the more daunting task of taking on the mighty West Indies early in 1986.

 A Right Ambition is an honest, forthright, fascinating self-examination by a man at the height of his sporting and intellectual powers. He discusses the art of batting, comparing his techniques with that of masters like Bradman and Boycott, and provides a basic guide to every stroke in the repertoire for a cricketer anxious to improve his game. He writes with an insider's knowledge about some of the best bowlers in the world, such as Marshall Hadler, Abdul Qadir and Edmonds.

 There are fascinating insights into the ups and downs of captaining an international team: the exciting but often fraught tour of India 1984/5, defeat in the one-day matches in Australia and then victory against Australia in 1985. The book is marked for its understanding and respect of fellow sportsmen and for this great cricketer's deep love of the game itself.

A Right Ambition (Text Only)

David Gower was the most brilliant and gifted of English Test batsmen in recent times. Yet, despite his unimpeachable Test record, his career was not without controversy.

 In his frank and outspoken autobiography, Gower responds forthrightly to those critics who questioned his 'laid back' approach, and makes some incisive comments about the management of the England side. He recounts the triumphs and reverses of his captaincy of England and of Leicestershire, and compares his man-management with that of Illingworth, Brearley, Willis, Gatting and Gooch.

 On a lighter note, Gower writes about his nights on the tiles with Botham and Lamb, his Cresta Run, and his 'fly over' during a state game in Australia.

David Gower (Text Only)

First published in 1983, Heroes and Contemporaries reveals a new aspect of David Gower's personality - that of an astute and intelligent observer of the game and of his fellow players.

 In this book he has chosen a collection of the people in cricket he most admires and has written about them in conversational style, with immediacy and critical appreciation.

 Gower's encounters with these people behind the scenes - some of the most important players of our time - give us insight into their characters, their strengths and weaknesses, an insight which we would not normally have just by observing them on the field or by reading newspaper reports. His views on the captaincies of Bob Willis, Mike Brearley and Ian Botham are especially revealing. There is also displayed in this book considerable understanding of the psychology of such contemporaries as Ian Botham and Geoff Boycott, and an important chapter is included on Ray Illingworth, Gower's staunchest champion and sternest critic.

 Although Heroes and Contemporaries is basically about other people, it also tells us a great deal about David Gower himself.

Heroes and Contemporaries (Text Only)

Nasser Hussain est brillant. Je suis très impressionné par lui. Sans manque de respect aux joueurs actuels, il a dû travailler avec du matériel qui n'est pas de la plus haute qualité.

La façon dont la tournée s'est développée a été un exemple aussi bon que vous aimeriez le voir.

C'est un capitaine très positif; Il est proactif et réactif. Il tient à lire le jeu, à y entrer, et il n'arrête jamais de penser au jeu, à la situation et à essayer de le tourner à son avantage. Il a été très bon pour le jeu.

L'équipe s'est très bien rassemblée, tout ce que nous avons essayé a fonctionné.

Cela dépend tellement de la performance, et ici vous êtes également lié dans l'émotion que le jeu évoque.

Vous pouvez faire des plans, mais si l'opposition joue bien, alors tous vos plans deviennent sans valeur.

Il s'agissait d'aider un homme à se préparer de la manière qui lui convient le mieux. La théorie est que si vous donnez à un homme la responsabilité de ses propres actions, alors c'est à lui d'accepter cette responsabilité.

Les gens parlent de sa sensibilité à la remontée de la livraison, mais permettez-moi de vous dire que lorsque vous êtes hors de forme, chaque balle ressemble à une grenade à main.

La seule déception majeure que j'ai, c'est que je n'ai pas obtenu une centaine contre l'Inde en Inde. J'ai eu beaucoup de courses contre l'Inde en Angleterre, y compris une double centaine dont je suis très fier.

En tant que joueur, vous vous sentez toujours le bienvenu, mais en même temps, il y a trop de pression.

Ils ont un régime de compréhension; Ils travaillent dur et obtiennent des résultats, ils sont une équipe heureuse.

Ses oeuvres

Ses derniers livres