Absolutely Foxed

Description

With riotous stories of life on England tours, partying with Ian Botham and Elton John, combined with a moving account of his battle with mental-health issues, Graeme Fowler's Absolutely Foxed is a cricket memoir unlike any other. Seen by many as a maverick, happy-go-lucky figure, Fowler became a hugely influential coach, and is one of the most original thinkers about the game. He's battled and won against the best spinners in India, and the fastest bowlers from the West Indies - he's even found himself at the centre of a tabloid storm. In this book, he looks back over his 40 years in the professional game, spending 16 years on the county circuit with Lancashire and Durham, and three years as an England international - a period that was cut short by a life-threatening injury. He followed that with a spell working on Test Match Special, before running the Durham Centre of Excellence for 18 years. Alastair Campbell provides an Afterword in which he commends Fowler's support for others suffering from mental-health problems; Fowler's own experiences should provide help and inspiration for those dealing with similar problems. In his Foreword, lifelong friend Sir Ian Botham describes Fowler as 'one of the gutsiest I ever encountered', but also points out how he 'made a dressing room tick'. Those elements of courage, knowledge and humour are all present in Absolutely Foxed - a truly unmissable read.

Graeme Fowler was born in Lancashire in 1957 and went on to play for his home county and for Durham until 1994. Between 1982 and 1985, he played in 21 Tests for England. After retiring from the game, in 1996 he set up the Durham Cricket School of Excellence and was head coach of the Durham MCCU side until 2015. He has also worked as a TMS commentator.

'This is no normal sporting autobiography... Frenetic, challenging and wonderfully entertaining' -- Michael Simkins * Mail on Sunday * 'An excellent read but more importantly a profoundly important thought-provoking one that deserves to be read beyond the cricket world' -- Mike Selvey * Guardian * 'Absolutely Foxed tackles the subject of Fowler's depression unflinchingly... Trenchant and poignant, Fowler's memoir is also very funny' -- Alan Gardner * Cricinfo * 'Fowler's uproarious new book Absolutely Foxed tells the eventful and colourful tale of one of the most singular, funny and fascinating men in English cricket' -- Paul Newman * Daily Mail * 'Inspirational read, some great thoughts on the game and an insight into a top, top man' -- Matt Maynard 'This will be the cricket book of the year. A book that takes you to the boundaries of emotions at times, it is brilliantly written and totally engages the reader... This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry' -- Dan Whiting * The Middle Stump * 'A very honest, thought-provoking autobiography. It's a must-read' David Lloyd, Daily Mail -- David Lloyd * Daily Mail * 'Brilliant on cricket...excellent on the clinical depression' * Mail on Sunday * 'A moving, candid account. Fowler...has always been an independent, lateral thinker about the game. He still is.' -- Vic Marks * Observer * 'Graeme Fowler writes with an engaging honesty about his battle with depression' -- Suresh Menon * The Hindu *