Skirting The Boundary: A History of Women's Cricket First Edition, First Printing Edition
Author(s): Isabelle Duncan (Author)
Publisher: The Robson Press
Publication Date: 28 May 2013
Edition: First Edition, First Printing
Language: English
Print length: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1849545464
ISBN-13: 9781849545464
Book Description
Longlisted for The Cricket Society and M.C.C. Book Of The Year Award 2014 Not enough has been written about women’s cricket. This may have been understandable in the early and middle part of the last century, when women s cricket existed in a twilight world, regarded as a sporting occupation for ladies who could perhaps be most tactfully described as unconventional. However, now that it is one of the fastest growing sports in the world it is surely time for a critical reevaluation. Skirting the Boundary fills the yawning gap in cricket literature. The best place to begin is at the beginning, when ladies made their first mark in cricket in the late 18th century amid frantic betting and rowdy crowd scenes. Then on to the highs and lows of the 19th and 20th centuries and culminating in our 21st century heroines, who are dominating world cricket and are on the cusp of going professional. It traces the history of the ladies game, delving into a sometimes murky past and revealing the recent explosion in its popularity. Skirting the Boundary brings to light some of the more remarkable and interesting stories and women who have had some sort of love affair with this great game. These notable and sometimes controversial figures have dared to cross the boundary into this male-dominated world.
Editorial Reviews
Review
From a cricket-lover’s point of view, I gained a lot from this book… If you are already a cricket fan this book will give you a warm glow. If you are yet to be convinced, I would urge you to give it a go. It may just change your view. –Women’s Views on News
Magic is captured in the recently-published book Skirting The Boundary by Isabelle Duncan. It is unpretentious and highlights issues in the women’s game without being intrusive. It takes the reader through a fun journey from back in the 1800s when the Maidens used to play against the Marrieds to the current era where women are finally being equally recognized… It talks about the issues that faced them then, the ridicule the women had to endure and the misogynist focus on how they were dressed. Equally, it celebrates the achievements thus far, the centuries scored… It indulges in the quirky and often murky past women’s cricket has gone through… Even those who do not really have an interest in women’s cricket or even cricket for that matter will find Skirting the Boundary an endearing and informative read. With so many historical nuggets thrown in, it will leave even those most-versed in the history of the sport thinking: I didn t know that…Its unpretentiousness is what sets the book aside from most other things written about the women s game. It celebrates the sport for what it still is. –The New Statesman
[A] fascinating book. –Sport
Isabelle Duncan’s history of the women’s game is welcome in an area largely overlooked. 4/5 –The Cricketer, Jonathan Rice
About the Author
Isabelle Duncan is a leading woman cricketer and qualified coach, running her own cricket coaching organisation for boys and girls aged 4-13. She captains an all-male (apart from her) side at Albury CC in a Surrey League and has played for numerous men s and women s teams over the past twenty years. Isabelle was elected in 2013 to the main committee at Lord’s.
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