Sports are not just a game. They are a passion that runs deep within our souls. And when it comes to the magnificent game of cricket, the emotions run even higher. There is so much more to cricket than just the scores on the board or the wickets taken. It’s a journey of grit, determination, and sacrifices that the cricketers make to reach the pinnacle of success. Thanks to the brave players who have poured their hearts out in their autobiographies, we are able to catch a glimpse of their extraordinary lives. These cricket biographies are a treasure trove of fascinating facts, side-splitting anecdotes, and fresh perspectives. They uncover the mischief, the humorous tales, the rivalries – all the juicy details that keep us hooked on the game. Top 10s Only brings you the Top 10 Best English Cricket Autobiographies that can inspire millions of fans through their life stories.
List of Top 10 Best England Cricket Autobiographies
Wondering why we have chosen cricket autobiographies written by English cricketers? England is the oldest cricket-playing country in the world, and it was the first country to host a test match in 1877. That aside, England has seen a major share of trials, triumphs, and controversies. As a cricket fan, it is only natural to be curious about what has happened and how English cricketers have managed to overcome the issues and achieve success. Where else could you find a more valuable source of insight than in the Top 10 England cricket autobiographies that are worth reading this summer?
Here’s a look at the famous England cricket players’ books that make for a great read.
1. “Playing With Fire” By Nasser Hussain
Playing With Fire is one of the best-selling England cricket biographies that is written with candour, integrity, passion, and insight. The author, Nasser Hussain, is a former English cricketer with Indian roots who is widely recognised for transforming the team into a gutsy, match-winning, and steely one during his time as captain. Under his captaincy, the team that could take defeat from the jaws of victory (yes, you read it right) was transformed into a resilient and victorious one. Nasser was an unlikely captain, as there were doubts about his temperament. He was a hothead who was passionate about cricket and proved his critics wrong. His autobiography is a memoir of all this and more. It is a well-said story of the most passionate and interesting cricketer of recent times. Be sure to check out this book soon.
Publisher(s)
Michael Joseph
Year Of First Publication
August 4, 2004
Formats Available
Kindle and Hardcover
Awards
Playing With Fire fetched Nasser Hussain the Sports Books Award for Autobiography of the Year, 2022.
2. “Being Freddie: My Story So Far” By Andrew Flintoff
“Being Freddie: My Story So Far” is one of the top ten cricket autobiography books written by English cricketers, and it gives personal insights, anecdotes, opinions, and observations in his trademark no-nonsense and humorous style. Ranked among the top 10 best autobiographies in English cricket is the compelling story of Andrew Flintoff, fondly known as “Freddie” since his early school days, after the beloved character Fred Flinstone. He was one of England’s best all-rounders who could not only bowl with fierce pace but also hit sixes in equal measure. While many all-rounders are often compared to the legendary player Ian Botham, Flintoff refused to be burdened by such lofty expectations and instead went on to have a highly successful career. He finished his Test career with a resounding victory in the 2009 Ashes series. This book recounts the story of his career in his own words and reveals what it is to play for one of the most successful English cricket teams.
Publisher(s)
Hodder Paperbacks
Year Of First Publication
April 10, 2006
Formats Available
Kindle, Hardcover and Paperback
3. “The Breaks Are Off: My Autobiography” By Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann is a cricketer who experienced both the highs and lows of his career, with some successes coming easily while others were snatched away from him. He made his debut as a raw young off-spinner in an inconsequential one-day international. However, his stay in the team was only brief, and he had to wait for eight long years to get back to playing international cricket. On his return, he made an impact, never looked back again, and went on to become one of the greatest spinners for England. His autobiography, The Breaks Are Off, is an honest and amusing book where he describes himself as a proper bloke in a funny style. This book is one of the best England cricket team’s biographical accounts and is as entertaining as his bowling. It is a must-read for those who enjoy humour in their books.
Publisher(s)
Hodder Paperbacks
Year Of First Publication
July 5, 2012
Formats Available
Kindle, Hardcover and Paperback
4. Bringing Home The Ashes: Winning With England By Joe Root
Joe Root is compared to Michael Vaughan and Geoffrey Boycott, two premier batsmen from Yorkshire, very often. He is a prolific run scorer who showed his true potential in the 2015 Ashes series and has continued in the same vein even to date. But it was his century that sealed the Ashes Series for England, and he was named the ICC’s Best Batsman of the World, a feat that still garners attention. His autobiography, Bringing Home The Ashes, is one of the best cricket autobiographies by English players and is a gift to his fans, where he gives inside details of that historic Ashes tour. Apart from that, he also gives the fans an account of his steady rise to stardom, starting as a young cricketer in school to representing Yorkshire and, eventually, his country. The book ends with behind-the-scenes stories of the English team, who were at the top of their game during that period.
Publisher(s)
Hodder & Stoughton
Year Of First Publication
November 5, 2015
Formats Available
Kindle, Hardcover, and Paperback
5. “KP: The Autobiography” By Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen is one of the best and most controversial players to have played for England. He is a South African-born cricketer who moved to England with his family when he was 19 years old. This autobiography gives an insight into his personal and professional life and also speaks about his relationship with the then-coach Andy Flower. He writes about his controversies with journalists, teammates who made fun of him, how the ECB (English Cricket Board) ignored him, and more. This insightful book is one of those England cricket autobiographies that is controversial as it contains details of harmful banter, crushing schedules, betrayal by his friends, and selfish team management. It has all the details of the messy dressing room and how it influences the players. It is an eye-opener for those who think what meets the eye is the truth. If you are into cricket, this is highly recommended.
Publisher(s)
Sphere
Year Of First Publication
October 14, 2015
Formats Available
Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback
Awards
KP: The Autobiography has won the British Sports Book Awards: Sports Autobiography of the Year, 2015.
6. “Unguarded: My Autobiography” By Jonathan Trott
Jonathan Trott was one of the solid batsmen for England in their team’s most successful period after 2008. Trott is one of those who scored a century on debut in 2009 in the Ashes series and booked his spot as the most dependable batsman. He was also pivotal in the team becoming the best test team in 2011. Yet shortly after this, he left the Ashes tour abruptly after suffering from stress. His book is the story of the team that started with ambition and fell out with acrimony. It details the inside story of the English dressing room and what toll it takes to become a professional sportsman. The book is one of the best England cricket player autobiography books as it gives a fascinating account of the remarkable period as well as its reversal and is a tale of what the pressure of fans and unrealistic expectations can do to a sportsman.
Publisher(s)
Sphere
Year Of First Publication
September 29, 2016
Formats Available
Kindle, Hardcover, and Paperback
7. “A Clear Blue Sky” By Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow is England’s first-choice wicketkeeper and specialist batsman in one-day cricket. He is the son of David Bairstow, who was a wicketkeeper and batsman too. The autobiography, A Clear Blue Sky, is unlike any other book as it is not a book where you get only insights into his life. It is one of the most popular England cricket memoirs that serves as a eulogy on behalf of his mother, sister and himself to his late father. It provides a sense of closure as he comes to terms with his past and finds solace through forgiveness and love. It deals mostly with the repercussions of his father’s actions (he committed suicide) in 1998, which turned his life upside down. This is a memoir and a tribute to his father, whom he misses and gets reminded of whenever he dons the wicketkeeping gloves.
Publisher(s)
HarperCollins
Year Of First Publication
October 19, 2017
Formats Available
Kindle and Paperback
8. “Bowl. Sleep. Repeat.: Inside The World Of England’s Greatest-Ever Bowler” By Jimmy Anderson
Cricket is a batsman game, and while there are a few autobiographical books of all-rounders, there are very few on specialist bowlers, especially in recent times. So if you have read a lot of books on cricket, you should get hold of this book as it belongs to one of the best bowlers the world has seen. It is one of the must-read England cricket autobiography books, which is less of an autobiography and more of a conversation with him. If you have ever wondered what it feels like to play test cricket. What goes on tours, or the banter inside the dressing room, is all revealed in this book. It has stories of test match cricket and 20/20 anecdotes and has everything you would want answers for from a top cricketer. The big questions are answered, and so are the small ones, like the conversation in the slip cordon, what he eats, etc.
Publisher(s)
Cassell
Year Of First Publication
June 3, 2019
Formats Available
Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback
9. “On Fire: My Story Of England’s Summer To Remember” By Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is called ‘Superman’, a ‘Match Winner, and some call him the best English cricketer of all time. Why are his contemporaries talking so highly about him in a world where rivalries between teammates are high? One of the reasons for it is the Summer of 2019. Something happened that was never done before, England won the World Cup for the first time ever since its inception, and at the centre of it all was Ben Stokes. To know more about his heroics that summer, you should get hold of his autobiography “On Fire” as it is one of the top cricket autobiography books. In this book, he recounts how he achieved the impossible with his talent, discipline and nervelessness. The book also gives an insider account of the nerve-wracking Ashes Test series that they won.
Publisher(s)
Headline
Year Of First Publication
November 14, 2019
Formats Available
Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback
10. “Bob Willis: A Cricketer And A Gentleman” By Bob Willis
Bob Willis is one of the most courageous players to have played for England. He is one of those fast bowlers who never played without pain after operations early on in his career on both knees. Yet through willpower, he played and got 325 test wickets from as many as 90 test matches. He was a well-known commentator and forged a strong partnership with Ian Botham for Sky Sports. This memoir of Bob Willis came out after his death and celebrates his life. There are tributes from key people in the media and sports, with a foreword written by Ian Botham. It is an England cricket legend’s memoir written using the personal and autobiographical material by Bob Willis and accounts of opponents and teammates and is a lovely book with musings from the great man.
Publisher(s)
Hodder & Stoughton
Year Of First Publication
August 6, 2020
Formats Available
Kindle, Hardcover, and Paperback
The top-rated England cricket memoirs listed above not only offer a glimpse into the world of cricket but also provide a window into the lives of some of the greatest cricketers in England. These books allow us to experience the triumphs, struggles, and personal journeys of these players, making them an absolute must-read for any cricket fan. Each book is a testament to the resilience, dedication, and passion of the players, and we highly recommend them to anyone who wants to delve deeper into the world of cricket and understand what it takes to become a top-level player.
It’s not just English cricketers who’ve written top-notch autobiographies. Check out the Top 10 Best Indian Cricket Autobiographies article to discover the incredible stories of India’s finest cricketers.
Frequently Asked Questions About England Cricket Player Autobiographies
1. Which cricketer wrote ‘KP: The Autobiography’?
The cricketer who wrote KP: The Autobiography is English cricketer Kevin Pietersen.
2. What is Nasser Hussain’s autobiography called?
Nasser Hussain’s autobiography is called Playing With Fire.
3. Which famous English sportsperson’s autobiography is ‘A Clear Blue Sky’?
Jonny Bairstow’s autobiography is called ‘A Clear Blue Sky’. You can find more details about this awesome book in our Top 10s article on this page.
4. Is there any autobiography book about cricket written by English cricket players?
There are many autobiographies written by English Cricketers some of them are KP: The Autobiography by Kevin Petersen, Playing with Fire by Nasser Hussain, A Clear Blue Sky by Jonny Bairstow, Driving Ambition by Andrew Strauss and more.
5. Who wrote ‘Bringing Home The Ashes’?
Joe Root is the author of Bringing Home The Ashes.