Testing Times

Testing Times - In pursuit of the ashes

by Andrew Strauss, ISBN:9780340840702, R135.00

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TESTING TIMES is the 2009 Ashes-winning captain's personal account of a remarkable two-year period in world cricket. When Strauss went out for his second innings in the Napier Test of March 2008, everyone thought -- including the man himself -- he was one false stroke from the end of his England career. With extracts from his diary Strauss gives a unique insight into the torment which many Test cricketers go through. Taking the reader behind the scenes, Strauss describes his momentous experiences, such as Kevin Pietersen's captaincy, the dramatic events of the Stanford Twenty20 series, the shocking terrorist attack in Mumbai, his feat of becoming the first England batsman to hit two centuries in a Test in Asia, his sudden appointment as England captain, and his team being dismissed for 51 in his first Test. Both revealing and forthright, TESTING TIMES captures all the excitement of the 2009 Ashes triumph in which his magnificent batting and calm leadership played such a role: the agonising last day at Cardiff, England's first Ashes victory at Lord's for 75 years, the horrors of Headingley, and finally the joy at the Oval of regaining the Ashes.

Boots en brannewyn - Snaakse stories uit die rugbywereld

Boots en brannewyn

deur Frik du Preez; Chris Schoeman;ISBN:9781770221338, R150.00

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Of jy nou vir Bitterfontein, die Blou Bulle of die Bokke speel, rugby bly ’n spel met baie snaakse situasies, op en van die veld. Daar’s nie nóg ’n sport waaruit sóveel stories uit die skrum van die lewe gehaak word nie. Boots en brannewyn is ’n lekker ontspanboek wat o.a. vertel van Morrie Zimerman se gatvol raak vir hoekskoppies; Ferdie Bergh se helderblou Springbok-kouse; die ref wat die Bokke teregwys dat ‘die Engelse julle darem nou lekker donner’; ’n boerbok wat ’n Villagers-man buite aksie stel; en Bob Skinstad se ‘noodgebed’ voor ’n wedstryd. Daar is ook heelwat staaltjies oor legendes soos Oom Boy Louw, Dok Craven, Oubaas Mark en Colin Meads, oor breiers en refs en die manewales van die Kiwis, Aussies en die Ses Nasies-manne. ’n Lekker-lag boek vir rugby-liefhebbers.

About the Author - Frik du Preez
Frik du Preez is ’n groot legende in die rugbywêreld en een van die min Springbokke wat al in die International Hall of Fame vereer is. Hy is ook in 2000 aangewys as Suid-Afrika se Speler van die Eeu. Met 87 wedstryde vir die Springbokke, insluitende 38 toetse, en meer as 100 wedstryde vir Noord-Transvaal, het Frik ’n ryke skatkis van snaakse rugbystaaltjies opgebou. Hy het nie net onsterflike roe ...[more about Frik du Preez]

About the Author - Chris Schoeman
Chris Schoeman was born in Somerset East and educated at the University of Port Elizabeth and Colorado State University, USA. He has worked as a historian and journalist and has authored and co-authored several books, including District Six: The Spirit of Kanala, Danie Gerber: Maestro of the Midfield and the popular Losskrums and Loopdoppe series, collections of humorous rugby stories compiled wit ...[more about Chris Schoeman]

Don't Choke - Gary Player

Don't Choke

by Gary Player, ISBN:9781770221406, R180.00

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Don’t Choke - Gary Player
Gary Player is one of golf’s great champions. By winning eighteen Major championships in a career spanning five decades, he built a reputation for being fearless on the course and steely on the greens. He succeeded by dedicating himself to thorough mental preparation and proper physical fitness. His intense approach to facing challenges has made him tremendously successful in a variety of businesses as well as on the golf course. In Don't Choke, Player explains that to win Major championships, or to be successful in any endeavour, you've got to have a genuine passion and a willingness to sacrifice. But success or failure eventually comes down to how well you handle pressure. And in dealing with pressure, Player explains, there is no greater asset on the golf course than the power of one's mind. In each chapter of Don't Choke, Player focuses on one of his 18 Major championships and recounts how he was able to withstand and overcome intense pressure to emerge victorious. These lessons apply not only to golf, but also to life and business. Don't Choke is an intimate glimpse into the mind of a champion, designed to arm readers with the tools to thrive when the pressure is on.

About the Author - Gary Player
Legendary golfer Gary Player has won the Open Championship in three different decades and is one of five men to have won all four Majors - in total he has won nine Majors. His Gary Player Design company has been responsible for innovative golf course architecture around the world. Player's co-authors on The Complete Golfer's Handbook (New Holland, 1999), Chris Whales and Duncan Cruickshank - sport ...[more about Gary Player]

Snakes in the garden of Eden

Snakes in the Garden of Eden

by Normal Canale, ISBN:9781868062935, R169.95

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See the article on TimesLive about 'Snakes in the Garden of Eden'

The Great Run

The Great Run

By Braam Malherbe, ISBN:9781920289058, R165.00, LIMITED NUMBER OF SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE

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Everyone said it couldn’t be done, even internationally renowned sports scientists such as Dr Tim Noakes. Certainly no-one had done it before, though many had tried: to run the Great Wall of China, end to end, non-stop. The journey would start in the Gobi Desert, cross the jagged Taihang Shan range, and end at the Bo Sea. It would involve bloodboiling heat and mummifying sandstorms, soul-numbing mountain nights, incidents with bandits and draconian officials, pig’s-head soup and witnessing large-scale environmental devastation.
But no-one had counted on the tenacity of South African nature-lover Braam Malherbe. In running the main intact section of the Great Wall, 4 500 kilometres end to end, Braam and his running partner David Grier set a world first. But Braam would have to call on reserves far deeper – physically and emotionally – than even he realised he had. China was never going to let him off lightly; then again, it would not leave a worthy traveller unmoved or unchanged.
What began as a running-away, from long-buried childhood trauma, family suffering and loss, as well as hurt felt for the state of the planet, would eventually become a journey towards inner peace and understanding. The book concludes with the writer running into a new vision of healing the planet, step by small step, one person at a time.

Moment of Glory

Moment of Glory - The Year Tiger lost his swing and underdogs ruled the majors

by John Feinstein, ISBN:9781847442451, R345.00

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After winning six of the twelve majors played from 2000 to 2002, Tiger Woods was struggling with his golf swing in 2003, leaving him out of the running at the US open and the PGA. As a consequence, 2003 saw four first-time major champions: Ben Curtis, Mike Weir, Jim Furyk and Shaun Micheel. After their respective upsets, the four players have had little success, however. Micheel and Curtis jumped from obscurity to stardom and subsequently overplayed all over the world. Neither has won another major, and Weir has only won one other major, in 2004. In Moment of Glory, John Feinstein returns to this unlikely year and chronicles the personal and professional struggles the four players have experienced since then. With his great affection for the underdog and extraordinary access, he gives readers an insider's look at how winning ? and losing ? major championships changes players' lives.

Soccer in Africa - A Game of Passion

Soccer In Africa - A Game of Passion

ISBN:9781770078802, R210.00

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In 2010, the eyes of the world are on South Africa as the country plays host to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Soccer in Africa – A game of passion celebrates the beautiful game and its importance for the people of Africa.

Slow Death - Memoirs of a cricket umpire

Slow Death - Memoirs of a cricket umpire
by Rudi Koertzen, ISBN:9781770220799, R200.00

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Rudi Koertzen is one of world cricket’s most experienced and respected umpires. In a career spanning 29 years, he has stood in 100 Test matches and 200 One Day Internationals. (To date, he is the only umpire to have stood in 200 ODIs.) The slow and deliberate way in which he raises his left arm to give a batsman out has given rise to his nickname, Slow Death, which gives this memoir its title. The book takes the reader back to some of the most important highlights in Test, ODI and T20 matches over the past three decades, including several World Cups and Ashes series. It also covers the controversial side of international cricket, from match fixing to terrorist attacks. And Rudi gives his views on the use of technology in cricket, looking at the pros and cons of the umpire decision review system (UDRS). Humorous, informative and nostalgic, this book is a must-read for any cricket fan and an invaluable addition to the canon of literature on cricket.

About the Author - Chris Schoeman
Chris Schoeman was born in Somerset East and educated at the University of Port Elizabeth and Colorado State University, USA. He has worked as a historian and journalist and has authored and co-authored several books, including District Six: The Spirit of Kanala, Danie Gerber: Maestro of the Midfield and the popular Losskrums and Loopdoppe series, collections of humorous rugby stories compiled wit ...[more about Chris Schoeman]

Achieving the impossible

Achieving the impossible

by Lewis Gordon Pugh, ISBN:9781868423408, R195.00

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An inspiring and thrilling memoir of adventure and achievement from an internationally recognised endurance swimmer and ambassador for environmental awareness. In July 2007, Lewis Gordon Pugh became the first person to swim at the North Pole, in temperatures that would kill a normal person, primarily to raise awareness of climate change. Nicknamed 'the human polar bear' for his ability to raise his body's core temperature at will, he has pioneered swims in the world's most hostile waters, redefining what it is possible to achieve in terms of endurance. A maritime lawyer and former member of the SAS, Lewis tells his fantastic story here for the first time. Chapters cover his childhood, growing up with his 'hero' Surgeon Rear Admiral father, his early life in South Africa, his training in the army's elite corps, his inspiration and, of course, plenty of action/adventure stories, chronicling his many nail-biting endurance swims. He also shares his secrets on how to achieve the seemingly impossible. With practical lessons taken from his own life, Lewis explains how recognising one's passions and taking calculated risks is essential for anyone looking to fulfill their goals. The book will also cover his next and most dangerous expedition yet in May 2010. His story is inspiring, entertaining and thrilling in equal measure, and its 38-year-old author is a much needed role model for our times.

Unplayable

Unplayable - An inside account of Tiger's most tumultuous season

by Robert Lusetich, ISBN:9780857200426, R195.00

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A chronicle of one of the most important years in Tiger Woods's legendary career, now recast in light of the infamous sex scandal. Since his professional debut in 1996, Tiger Woods has reigned as the world's greatest living golfer, having singlehandledly increased the popularity of the game and become one of the most recognized faces in the world. Unplayable is thedefinitive, comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at how the 2009 season unfolded for Woods, both personally and professionally. The book offers a richly compelling narrative of Tiger's victories and defeats, all while conveying the untold story of the bitter rivalries and ongoing tensions among top players, and explains how Woods managed to lead a double-life while dominating in one of the world's most competitive sports. Standing apart from all of the other reporting on the scandal to date, Unplayable gives much needed insight into how one of the world's most reclusive celebrities maintained a public persona at odds with his private life.