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When a DJ, a businessman, a farmer, a photographer and a shoestring traveller decide to go on the ultimate Kiwi blokes’ weekend, they don’t just head off to Wairakei to play golf or Tutukaka to fish, No, they decide to go to India, to take on Indians at the thing they do best: thrash weaker nations at cricket! The cricket is a bit different, of course, to one-day internationals. These guys, who call themselves the Black Craps, are playing street cricket — against kids mostly, but in the most incredible settings. In the shadow of the Taj Mahal, up in the hills at Darjeeling, and beside the Ganges…. Who wouldn’t want to pick up a bat for that? Bowling Through India is a perfect read for blokes, and women who wonder what it is that guys do when they are away together. Don’t worry if you’re not a cricket fan — this journey is really about the wonders of India and how five idiot blokes handle her. From Kolkota to Darjeeling, Varanasi to Delhi, Agra to Jaipur, and finally to Mumbai, they play cricket wherever they can strike up a match, in a cemetery in Varanasi, on the side of a river in front of the Taj Mahal, on steps lining the banks of the Ganges and in front of a Mosque in Dehli.
Justin Brown, the author, is a chronic sleepwalker and retired opening batsman for the Horowhenua Third XI. John Bougen, businessman, high country farmer an inveterate traveller, has a great line in expletives and rued the day non-smoking legislation came to India. Stew Gunn is a hard-working South island farmer who made an out form out of freeloading. Brendon O’Hagan, the photographer, had Delhi belly even before reaching Singapore and was never to recover. Reece Irving, aka ‘Blanket Boy’, is a chronic snorer and former tour guide for the Trans-Siberian Railway. A story of mateship, generosity and the wonderful game that binds so many nations together, Bowling Through India is illustrated with wonderful photographs by Brendon O’Hagan, a finalist for the best sports portfolio in the 2009 Qantas media awards with images from the trip. He went on to win best feature picture. So it’s the perfect book. And good for Christmas too; tell your aunt this is what you want soon before she goes out and buys some socks or the Michael Jackson DVD. But wait, there’s more. In conjunction with Random House we are giving away 2 free copies of the book. To enter, simply tell us about your favourite sports / travel story . Cricket in India, rugby on the beach in Fiji, darts in a Yorkshire pub, drag-racing in Hamilton, teaching the locals how to dribble on Copacabana Beach; take your pick. Entries close on Guy Fawkes day.
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