Book Review: Merv Hughes' Best Sporting Insults by Merv Hughes

Merv Hughes' Best Sporting Insults by Merv Hughes

ISBN: 9781742375199

Australian Pub.: December 2010

Edition: 1

Publisher: ALLEN & UNWIN

Imprint: ALLEN & UNWIN

Subject: Humour

RRP: $17.99



A hilarious collection of killer lines from the mouths of the sporting greats of cricket, rugby, footie and even the golf course - a must have for any sports fan.

Description

Australian sportsmen are known worldwide for their hilarious and, quite frankly, inspired sledges. Over the years, there have been some classic lines uttered on a variety of sporting fields and arenas, whether it's across the cricket pitch or on the footy field.

Now, for the first time, we have the ultimate collection of sporting insults brought together by a man with a reputation for his humorous witticisms and cutting sledges: Merv Hughes.

Merv Hughes' Best Sporting Insults will amuse any sports fan for hours.

About Merv Hughes

Merv Hughes is one of the true characters of Australian sport. A big-hearted fast bowler, he was one of the greatest to have played our national game, taking 212 wickets and making 1032 runs during 53 Test matches he played for Australia. With his mischievous sense of humour, and his imposing moustache, Merv is regarded by both Australian and international media as one of sport's eminent providers of quotable quotes.



Review

This is the second sledging book that I’ve read this year, with “Why are You so Fat”, being the first only a few weeks ago. Merv is an Aussie Icon, both on and off the cricket pitch, with his over the top personality and antics. Hughes is well known for his sense of humour and quick wit, especially when it comes to knocking down rival cricketers.

There are many humourous anecdotes by the big man, that some fans will have heard before and others that are seeing the light of day for the first time in Hughes book. Unlike “Why are You so Fat”, Hughes book has Cricket sledges taking up just under half the book there is not a lot of room left for the other seven featured sports, however only the best material is featured from these sports, such as the one in the Rugby section when New Zealand missed out on making the 2007 Rugby World cup and their passionate fans were advised to hand in their belts and shoelaces.

It would have been good to see Hughes write some more firsthand tales, such as Max Walker did with his series of book in the eighties. I’m sure that they would have really added to the book and been even more interesting than just the compiled snippets that fill the pages of this book.