My Back Pages Publishing

mike@mybackpages.co.uk

For over 30 years the Mike Harfield XI has withstood atrocious umpiring, dreadful hangovers, bad haircuts and a woeful lack of talent, only to encounter an even greater adversity - middle age.

What is it that makes men defy their doctors' orders and carry on playing cricket? If it is OK for Botham and Gower to swap the rigours of the cricket field for the comfort of the studio and the golf course, why do some cricketers feel the need to carry on raging against the dying of the light?

Spiced with humour, the tales of epic annual encounters at Clifton Hampden are told alongside more modest affairs at Lords, Headingley and Old Trafford.

If you love cricket, or have even a mild affection for it, you will love this book.

Includes a Foreword by David Lloyd...

"Commentary boxes are great places to leave cricket books lying around. I took NOT DARK YET to Sri Lanka with me and did just that.

ISBN 978-0-9554217-1-6

I also ‘loaned’ it to the great C.M.J. of T.M.S. He offered that it was ‘very entertaining and enjoyable’. That, of course, is C.M.J. speak. I nearly wet myself......which is my speak. In fact I laughed so much I nearly passed my fags round! Sorry, in these days of political correctness I should add a rider here that SMOKING KILLS AND MAKES YOU WHEEZE A LOT.

Lots of my mates get a mention in the book and Robert George Dylan Willis will be immensely proud of the chapter titles. Big Bad Bob, ‘Towser’ Andy Lloyd, myself and a few of our non-cricket mates would be perfect for this fixture........not for the cricket aspect, you understand. No, we get very enthusiastic after stumps!

I even read passages of NOT DARK YET to a colleague of mine in the commentary box who features from time to time in the book. As he has recently been made a Knight of the realm, he denies all knowledge of any reference to him in ANY book......but I can reveal he did have a chuckle about the time............read on!"

David Lloyd
Lancashire, England & Sky commentator