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Of Fathers, Sons and Timeless Tests: Wicket Tales from Kingsmead by Ashwin Desai

Of Fathers, Sons and Timeless Tests: Wicket Tales from Kingsmead by Ashwin Desai

Date: 2024-04-05

    The book, "Of Fathers, Sons and Timeless Tests: Wicket Tales from Kingsmead", by Ashwin Desai, was recently launched at Exclusive books in the Pavillion. Groupies, diehard cricket enthusiasts and book lovers alike, gathered to listen to Prof Desai unpack the story behind his latest literary genius. 

    "Kingsmead is like a grandfather sitting on Durban's stoep, clipping his toenails and refusing to hand over the inheritance his progeny is so desperate to spend. When the tide comes in in the late afternoon, as the legend goes, so the water table rises. Kingsmead, like the spectators at Castle Corner, begins to float and seam bowlers get to swing." By Ashwin Desai

    Like One Hundred Years of Solitude, a journey through the history of Kingsmead is a journey through the passions and quirks of the characters who came before us. It is virtually certain that someone, a century from now, will also shake their heads at our blind spots and pretensions. There are doubtless things we don't see in our society that sully the game.

    A century must pass before our own illusions and delusions can be untangled.

    Combining literature, history and memoir, this book is a celebration of a hundred years of cricket at the iconic Kingsmead cricket stadium in Durban. Prof Desai's book covers the Timeless Test and includes amazing stories of the history of Black cricket during the years of apartheid and colonialism.