In the twenty years since Allan Border retired as Australian cricket captain he's been one of the game's closest and most astute observers. His views on cricket - based on his experiences as a player, a captain, a selector and a commentator - are fascinating, forthright and informed by more than three decades of involvement at the game's highest level.In Cricket as I See It he gives us his wisdom and opinions on the game he loves - from epic Tests, the rising power of Indi...

This wonderful collection of stories showcases all the characters and events from the extraordinary life of an Aussie sporting immortal.Ian Chappell has plenty of strings to his bow - legendary captain of the Australian cricket team; incisive and forthright sports commentator; fearless negotiator with media magnate Kerry Packer; and slightly less fearless runner with the bulls in Pamplona. To name only a few.In Life and Larrikins, 'Chappelli' takes...

Time to Declare tells with unflinching candour Mark Taylor's story in a fascinating and revealing autobiography. Taking block, Taylor throws new light on the highs and lows, the controversies and the triumphs of a truly remarkable sporting career. By the end of his journey, which included 104 Tests for his country, 7525 runs, and 157 catches, he stood acclaimed as the 'second most important person in the land'. At the close of Australia's century there can be no finer story of gri...

'Great Australian Stories is true to its title as it wanders from bush track to spooky hollow, follows the path of yowies and bunyips, searches for Lasseter's Reef, meets Dad and Dave and, on a different path, Henny-Penny, and then rambles into the cities where just as many entertaining characters are ready to tell their stories.' - From the foreword by Warren FaheyAustralia has a rich tradition of storytelling that reflects our unique history and experie...

Love him or loathe him, Ricky Ponting is one of the biggest names in cricket, having been at the heart of so many memorable Ashes and Test encounters over the years. Coinciding with the end of Ponting’s spectacular career, ‘At the Close of Play’ is a must-read for all cricket fans.For so long the scourge of English cricket, Ricky Ponting – unarguably one of cricket’s all-time greats – looks back on the story of his remarkable life and career.With his customary honesty and ca...

'Don't write crap. Can't be that hard. And when you have written complete crap, then I think you should correct it.' Julia GillardWhen Julia Gillard took the reins of the Australian Labor Party on 24 June 2010 she did so with the goodwill of the majority of her party and a fawning Canberra press gallery. The man she had supplanted, Kevin Rudd, led an isolated band of angry Labor voices at this surprising turn of events. The collective political and media verdict was that his time, ...

Ray 'Rabbits' Warren is the legendary voice of Australian sports commentary. People tell him he must have drunk a bottle of scotch and smoked a packet of cigarettes every day to have the voice that he has. That's not the case – at least, not anymore . . .The son of a railway worker, Ray placed his first bet on a horse called Playboy at the age of just six, and won. A lifelong love of the track – and the punt – was born.During his remarkable broadcasting career, which has no...

From remote outback and cattle stations to coastal towns comes a collection of amazing, eccentric and funny Australian stories, yarns and furphies - most completely unknown along with some you thought you knew.'Not only are there many things we don't know, we should never be too sure about the things we are sure we do know.'From Jim Haynes, one of our most successful and prolific tellers of yarns and bush tales, comes this collection of classic Australian s...

'I broke some bones and I copped some head knocks. But if I had my time again I would not change a thing.'Three premierships, three club best-and-fairests, two All Australian selections and a Coleman Medal: Jonathan Brown knows footy, and he has stories to tell.Browny grew up around country football clubs and could swear like a trooper by the age of four. By the time he was taken by the Brisbane Lions under the father-son rule, he'd developed the ability to train (and party) ...

For 30 years, batsmen around the world have feared the slow and deliberate way Rudi Koertzen raises his left arm to give them out - so much so that it has given rise to his nickname, Slow Death. Despite the sinister sobriquet, Rudi Koertzen remains one of the most loved and respected umpires in world cricket, and certainly one of the most experienced: to date, he is the only umpire to have stood in 200 One Day Internationals, and he has 100 Test matches under his belt. Now Rudi takes the r...

Patty spent the first thirty three years of her life living with her family on remote outback station properties - Old Bando, Minetta, Old Outstation - in south west Queensland, Australia. When her brother, Kerry developed a brain tumor, they moved to live in Charleville - a small outback town. Patty has an understanding of the land, and a great love of reading. Look beyond the words to a life lived devoid of any luxuries, without ever a complaint, but full of simple joys, happiness and lo...

Tales of the iconic flag that came represent the rebellious Australian spirit, from Eureka to Ned Kelly to Gallipoli and beyondEver since it was launched in the minefields of Victoria the Southern Cross flag has been a symbol for a rebellious Australian spirit - from the battles of Eureka to those of Ned Kelly, from the birth of the Labor Party to the Anzacs at Galliopoli. the men and women involved took the flag as their symbol. But as much as it became a metaphor...