Jarod Kimber's The Art of Batting is a compelling blend of descriptive storytelling, penetrating insight, and statistical precision. Original, lively, meticulously researched, and exceptionally well written, it is a book that demands careful reading and thoughtful reflection.
Kimber undertakes the complex task of analysing and contextualising batting greatness across different eras of cricket. The result is an intensive examination of fifty of the greatest run-scorers in cricket history. The book successfully combines the mathematics of performance with the artistry of strokeplay. Each chapter marries technical depth with elegant prose and vivid anecdotes, from Sachin Tendulkar's youthful habit of digging pitches to Shivnarine Chanderpaul's formative batting experiences on Caribbean beaches.
The book is divided into fifteen coherent chapters, each exploring a distinct dimension of batting. Chapter titles such as *Evolution*, *Eyes*, *Rapid*, *Testless*, and *High Front Elbow* immediately convey their themes. Kimber supplements his extensive research with contributions from great players, notably Rahul Dravid, whose observations on facing fast bowling are particularly illuminating. Statistical nuggets abound throughout the narrative, including the remarkable fact that Virat Kohli averages 63.6 outside India against bowlers operating above 87 mph.
Across these fifteen chapters, Kimber explores the challenges faced by batters at every level of the game. He examines the varying demands of pace, spin, conditions, temperament, and technique, while illustrating how great players developed methods to counter these obstacles and dominate bowlers.
The opening sections critically examine the development of batting technique across cricket history. Early pioneers such as Fuller Pilch, Alfred Mynn, and Nicholas Felix receive deserved recognition, while W.G. Grace occupies centre stage. Kimber traces the evolution of batting from Grace's innovations in footwork and shot-making to the sophisticated modern techniques employed today. He contrasts the difficult conditions of uncovered pitches and pre-war cricket with contemporary batting environments, drawing extensively on sources such as *The MCC Cricket Coaching Book* (1952).
Elsewhere, Kimber investigates the role of vision in batting success, exploring how elite batters process visual information, anticipate trajectories, and make split-second decisions that separate the finest players from the merely good. One of the strongest sections examines the challenge of pace bowling and the neurological demands of facing deliveries exceeding 80 mph. Kimber offers insightful analysis of Viv Richards, Allan Border, Virat Kohli, and Sachin Tendulkar. Particularly impressive are his discussions of Richards' domination in England, Kohli's success in Australia and South Africa, and Tendulkar's mastery against express pace bowlers such as Shoaib Akhtar.
The technical dimensions of batting also receive thorough treatment. Kimber explores why Shivnarine Chanderpaul succeeded despite a highly unconventional method while analysing how Rahul Dravid developed into one of history's most complete Test batsmen. He studies footwork against spin bowling with equal care, blending technical analysis with geometry and demonstrating how great players manipulate angles, length, and placement.
The book also addresses the difficulties encountered by players with limited red-ball experience and examines the adjustments required when moving from white-ball cricket to the longer format. Kimber explores aggressive batting through some of cricket's greatest stroke-makers, discussing Viv Richards' dominance in 1976, Victor Trumper's revolutionary strokeplay, Gordon Greenidge's magnificent 214 at Lord's in 1984, Virender Sehwag's devastating attacking approach, and Kevin Pietersen's match-winning brilliance.
Particularly engaging is Kimber's examination of players whose careers promised even greater heights or whose peak years hinted at all-time greatness. He analyses players such as Tom Graveney, Jimmy Adams, Mark Taylor, Mark Waugh, and Rahul Dravid, noting that Adams averaged 60.6 and Dravid 60.2 during their respective peak periods. Equally fascinating is his exploration of batting ingenuity, examining Martin Crowe's methods against reverse swing, Javed Miandad's psychological warfare, Tendulkar's use of footwork against spin, Victor Trumper's mastery on difficult pitches, Brian Lara's magical placement, and Sunil Gavaskar's extraordinary innings against spin on the turning Bangalore wicket in 1987.
A major attraction of the book is Kimber's ranking of the fifty greatest Test batsmen of all time. While many readers will inevitably disagree with aspects of the list, Kimber's methodology is both rigorous and transparent. His rankings combine seven normalised statistical parameters with qualitative assessment. Confidence intervals and contextual factors are incorporated to create a balanced ranking model. Kimber carefully explains why players such as Tendulkar, Gavaskar, and Viv Richards are ranked so highly, while other celebrated names such as David Gower, Graham Gooch, and Adam Gilchrist miss out.
To his credit, Kimber openly acknowledges the subjective nature of the exercise. While grounded in statistical analysis, the list remains open to debate, and omissions such as Gilchrist, whom he labels the "51st man", encourage readers to form their own conclusions. The work is enriched by insights from distinguished cricket figures including David Lloyd, Nasser Hussain, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara, Harsha Bhogle, and Mark Butcher.
I particularly applaud Kimber for recognising the greatness of Rohan Kanhai, placing Jack Hobbs and Sachin Tendulkar alongside Bradman in the highest echelon, ranking Viv Richards and Gary Sobers in the top ten, and giving due credit to Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root, Virat Kohli, Martin Crowe, and Virender Sehwag.
Despite its many strengths, the book has certain shortcomings. In my view, Kimber does not devote sufficient attention to the aesthetic dimension of batting. While statistical analysis is exhaustive, the artistry and elegance of batting receive less emphasis than they deserve. A separate discussion of batting stylists such as Zaheer Abbas, David Gower, Mark Waugh, and Mohammad Azharuddin would have enriched the book considerably.
Similarly, the discussion of batting against pace overlooks several outstanding players. Mohinder Amarnath, Majid Khan, Gundappa Viswanath, Alan Lamb, and Wasim Raja receive little or no attention despite their excellence against formidable fast bowling. There is no reference to Wasim Raja's exceptional record against the West Indies, Mohinder Amarnath's performances in the Caribbean in 1983, or Greg Chappell's achievements in World Series Cricket Supertests.
I also felt that Sunil Gavaskar's extraordinary achievements against fast bowling without a helmet deserved greater recognition. Few opening batsmen, apart from Barry Richards, have played express pace as effectively. Likewise, the omission of Hanif Mohammad from discussions of batting technique is surprising.
Regarding the top fifty rankings, I believe Denis Compton deserved inclusion. Everton Weekes, Graeme Pollock, and Victor Trumper also appear lower than their true merit warrants. Given their achievements and influence, Pollock and Trumper, in particular, have strong claims for positions within the top twenty. Brian Lara's ranking is another area where I differ from Kimber. In my opinion, Lara merits inclusion in the highest tier alongside Bradman, Hobbs, and Tendulkar. His ability to carry weak batting line-ups and single-handedly alter the outcome of matches was unparalleled among modern greats.
Similarly, I believe Gary Sobers and Viv Richards' immense match-winning impact warrants even higher recognition. Personally, I would rank Sobers seventh, Richards eighth, and Gavaskar ninth, reversing Kimber's order. I would also place Javed Miandad above Younis Khan owing to Miandad's immense influence on Pakistan cricket and his ability to thrive under pressure.
A strong case can also be made for the inclusion of Barry Richards. His extraordinary performances in first-class cricket and World Series Cricket suggest a player of undeniable greatness. Kimber's approach focuses almost exclusively on Test cricket. While defensible, I believe greater consideration should have been given to One-Day Internationals. Including ODI statistics would have provided a more comprehensive assessment of batting greatness. Likewise, the book pays insufficient attention to World Series Cricket Supertests, where players such as Viv Richards, Barry Richards, and Greg Chappell excelled against elite opposition.
I also feel that greater weight should have been assigned to first-class records when evaluating pre-war players. Kimber perhaps understates the extent to which batting conditions have improved in recent decades. Modern players benefit from flatter pitches, heavier bats, advanced protective equipment, and superior playing surfaces. Comparisons across eras should arguably place greater emphasis on these factors, as well as the quality of bowling attacks faced, pitch conditions, and each player's impact on match outcomes.
Despite disagreements regarding certain rankings and omissions, The Art of Batting is an outstanding contribution to cricket literature. Kimber succeeds in blending statistical analysis, historical research, technical understanding, and engaging storytelling into a work of considerable substance. It is an ambitious, thought-provoking, and highly original examination of batting greatness. Whether readers agree with Kimber's conclusions or not, they will undoubtedly come away with a deeper appreciation of both the art and science of batting.
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*Freelance journalist
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