The King of Comic Self-Deprecation, Michael Simkins, author of What’s My Motivation? turns his selfdestructive wit to cricket. Simkins tale is of a podgy boy’s dreams on the outside edge of a cricketing life, which becomes the hilarious story of his lifelong cricketing obsession. From his earliest awkward days to years running a team of dysfunctional inadequates, cricket has offered shelter from life’s irksome realities and a place to quietly dream for Simkins. From occasional wondrous beauty, to forests of comforting statistics and the life-affirming rituals of defeat, humiliation and disappointment — it’s the perfect net practice for life.
Costa Book Awards 2007 Judges' comment: "The autobiography of an author in love with cricket and sweets. The reader doesn't need knowledge of either to enjoy this enchanting gem of a book."
A fat boy with a passion for sweets and a loathing for games, the young Michael Simkins finds in cricket a sport where size doesn't necessarily matter and a full-blown obsession is born. Now in middle-age, he still harbours the somewhat deluded belief that the England middle-order might usefully benefit from his hard-earned skills. From impromptu Test series played with his dad in the family sweetshop through to his years running a team of dysfunctional inadequates, Fatty Batter is the bestselling and hilarious story of one man's life lived through cricket.
