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How Not to Be a Cricketer cover art

How Not to Be a Cricketer

By: Phil Tufnell
Narrated by: George Greenland
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Summary

Shortlisted for the Best Sports Entertainment Book of the Year

In How Not to Be a Cricketer, former England international and TV personality Phil Tufnell highlights the many potential pitfalls of a professional cricket career and provides a hilarious insight into how to avoid them and what happens when, like him, you don't. 

I was the model cricketer—if anyone wanted to know how not to be one. My career included more ups and downs than the big dipper at Margate and more bumps than the dodgems next door. And yet somehow I climbed off the ride unblemished. I survived to walk away on my own terms. For someone who never quite fitted the mould, I was actually pretty good at not being a cricketer. 

In his superb new book, Phil Tufnell looks back over his life and career to provide brilliant advice and insights, often learned the hard way, from his own experiences as a cricketer. If you want to learn how to make a good first impression, maybe don’t have your hair cut in a Mohican. And when, after a drunken night on an England Under-19 tour to Barbados, the players were told ‘You cannot be caught coming in at a ridiculous hour and still be drunk in the morning’ most took his wise words on board; Tuffers vowed not to get caught.

Packed with brilliant stories and revealing anecdotes about some of the great players of his time, such as Mike Atherton, Mike Gatting, Graham Gooch and Nasser Hussain, How Not to Be a Cricketer is the perfect listen for anyone who wants to know more about the potential pitfalls of the game and how to avoid them.

©2021 Phil Tufnell (P)2021 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"Brilliant." (Paul Newman, Daily Mail)

What listeners say about How Not to Be a Cricketer

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Not your average cricketer

If you're after a "tradtional" cricket memoir, then this is not for you.. Mr Tuffnell is better known for his off pitch antics, and escapades. But don't let that put you off. It's a good listen and made doing physio quite bearable...

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Absolutely superb

Absolutely superb well written and excellently narrated....A book I will be listening to again and again.....

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Enjoyed it but ……

Why oh why did Tuffers not narrate this himself? Some cracking stories and anecdotes which would have sounded so much better with the author chuckling away as he recalled cricketing life. George Greenland tried hard but didn’t cut it for me.
Nevertheless I stuck with it and finished it in three bursts over the Christmas weekend.
Plenty of material still in the tank for the next book Phil. The one that tells us so much more about your life in the commentary box, experiences on Question of Sport, the Tuffers and Vaughan Show and being a very likeable person and personality. Big request though-please narrate the next one yourself. Cheers Tuffers.

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Loved it.

Whenever I listen to an audiobook written by a celebrity I definitely prefer it when they read it themselves. Especially when it’s someone of Tuffers character however tbh I thought the reader did an excellent job. Didn’t take me long to forget my disappointment in it not being the main man reading himself. The only moment if I’m honest that got to me was when the story included talk about the Indian test cricketer Anil Kumble. The pronunciation was not what I expected. Sounded more like the kids tv presenter Mr Tumble! Other than that. A superb listen!

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Cricket39

Brilliant listen, very well written, insightful and very entertaining as expected! Your excellent Tuffers on TMS, you bring much needed company and laughs, thank you 😀

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An honest story

Tuffers saying as it was , totally unaware what he went through in his playing days . A real eye opener

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How to be a good laugh

Typical Tuffers a little scatterbrain but full of warmth, honesty and humour.
Very Enjoyable

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Well done Phil

You may have heard some of Phil’s quips before, but it’s good to hear them again along with new memories. It’s a nice listen if you loved cricket when you were younger (I’m 57). Remember the few good times when we won. Well done Phil.

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Tuffers at his best

Very entertaining look back at English cricket when it was in the doldrums. Must have been great to have Tuffers taking the mick when all around him were down. Good on ya mate

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Very entertaining

Full great anecdotes, but also some deeper reflections on the state and development of the game over the years. Narration was ok, but not great.

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