Buzzin Cricket

No Holding Back - The Autobiography by Michael Holding

No Holding Back – The Autobiography by Michael Holding with Edward Hawkins

For much of this book I imagined that the title was no more than a little pun on this cricketing legend’s name – perhaps a nod to his fearsome bowling. Then, two-thirds of the way through, with his early life, cricketing, broadcasting and business careers, and a chapter on his love of, and involvement with, horse racing done, he remarks his run up. Takes it back to the sightscreen, plucks a new ball from the umpire’s grasp and, if you’re at the crease with a bat in your hands you’d better know how to use it.

No Holding back indeed. In the final portion of this enjoyable book, Michael Holding lets fly. Bouncer after bouncer, aimed at the heart. Chuckers, cheating umpires, players’ attitudes, preparation and practice, the Pakistan forfeited test, the Allen Stanford fiasco, the West Indies perceived inability to play swing bowling, non-walking batsmen, sledging, the West Indies Cricket Board, the ICC (of which he was once a member until he felt compelled to resign) and, the IPL, Twenty20 and the future of Test cricket. Forthright, honest and outspoken, yet much of it makes perfect sense.

Although this is nothing but a book about a truly great cricketer (my superlative, not his) and the game of cricket, there is very little in the book about cricket itself, in terms of matches played. This is not a criticism, just a different approach to the usual blow-by-blow rehash of classic performances and semi-forgotten encounters. However, a little more insight into the characters and personalities of those he played with and against would have been welcome. Clive Lloyd, Sir Viv Richards, Andy Roberts and the late Malcolm Marshall are fleshed out, but a few more observations or anecdotes would not, in this instance, have gone amiss. Lack of a career stats appendix, however, is a fault.

For someone of such strong opinions, and moreover, being unafraid to voice them, he comes across as a really nice guy. A man of great modesty and integrity, it would appear. The words steadfast, loyal, hard-working also spring to mind. Part of this perception will come from years of listening to his broadcasting with the famously soothing, Kingstonian, molten chocolate voice. A lot of credit must go to the ghost writer, Edward Hawkins, who succeeds in not only making these words tell Michael Holding’s story, but they tell it with his voice.

No Holding Back – The Autobiography by Michael Holding is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.