Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy A Journey to the Heart of Cricket Underworld (Audible Audio Edition) Ed Hawkins Ralph Lister Audible Studios for Bloomsbury Books
Download As PDF : Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy A Journey to the Heart of Cricket Underworld (Audible Audio Edition) Ed Hawkins Ralph Lister Audible Studios for Bloomsbury Books
A startling and powerful journey to the very core of India's illegal bookmaking industry that exposes the scale of corruption and the match-fixing that now runs rife throughout world cricket. For several years Ed Hawkins made friends with India's illegal bookmakers - men who boast turnover of hundreds of millions of dollars per cricket match - as well as the corruption officers of the International Cricket Council who are trying to shut them down. It's a shady world and rumours abound. But then Hawkins receives a message that changes everything and he decides it is time to expose the truth behind match-fixing. Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy is a story featuring politicians, governing bodies, illegal bookmakers, and powerless players - as well as corruption, intimidation and even suicide. It is a story that touches all cricket-playing nations around the world. It is a story that every cricket fan must read. You might never again watch a cricket match without suspicion....
Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy A Journey to the Heart of Cricket Underworld (Audible Audio Edition) Ed Hawkins Ralph Lister Audible Studios for Bloomsbury Books
On one hand, I found it useful to understand the world of cricket betting as it happens in India. At least I know now a lot more than I did before reading this book. The book reads like a series of interviews and events that the author experienced, and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions about the core issue of match fixing, even though the opinions of the various interviewees are presented without modification.On the other hand, its full of stereotypes about Indian people and Indian society which are too numerous to recount. One could come away with the impression that Indians are all corrupt with an scratch each others backs attitude which is just not true. It may be true in the world of corrupt bookmakers, but its not some kind of Indian trait, I am sure that you would find the same attitudes in the London gangs. The role of Indian women comes across as some docile squirrel type creatures scurrying about serving food and tea and the man of the house shouting orders at them, which is again such a total western stereotype. The author repeatedly veers into mildly racially stereotypical descriptions of Indian society and people which are just too numerous to be hard to ignore.
In addition, as another reviewer mentioned, the author seems to have transcribed the conversations with the bookies verbatim without any explanation in many places and that sometimes makes things really confusing. I found myself reading and re-reading paragraphs trying to make sense of the conversations with no luck.
Finally it seems to me like there is hyperbole and speculation in the match fixing related statements especially by the bookies who seem eager to show that they know something others do not. While I do not doubt that there is a lot of dodgy stuff going on in cricket and indeed in all major sports, but I did not see a lot of hard evidence presented, only somewhat speculative words about fixing, which kind of makes the book a little less impactful.
Having said all of that, I do know and suspect a lot more after having read the book than I did before reading the book. It opens up a new world and it is an important work with respect to the good of cricket.
I would have given this book three stars for the above mentioned gripes, but I love cricket, and I think that the journalist's heart is in the right place and he is doing his bit to help reform this game, something a lot of people just don't dare do, so I do recommend it to any cricket lover, with the caveat that please don't fall for the stereotypical descriptions of India and Indians.
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Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy A Journey to the Heart of Cricket Underworld (Audible Audio Edition) Ed Hawkins Ralph Lister Audible Studios for Bloomsbury Books Reviews
The only part for me that was not sufficiently covered was the justice quyyam report. That is some damning stuff.
Very well written book too. Reads like a great novel. Well-researched and unbiased. One only wishes he had mentioned names of the forty five players or at least who XXXX XXXX was.
Didn't realize it was as wide and such a massive issue. Fascinating look into another world. Makes you think twice about some of those lazy $20's that we're bet - some won some lost and the in hindsight odd results of the past
Well written, well researched book. Hawkins presents a balanced view of the different worlds he encounters. A must read for any cricket fan.
Ed has clearly lived this book - the details, the grime, the soot he collected along the way shines through like proud battle scars. Well written, a tad lengthy and dull in the middle but an important book at an important time for the game. Highly recommend it for cricket lovers.
Very well investigated by Ed Hawkins. Appreciate the great effort and risk he put in to get to the bottom a world that we cannot understand.
The view into the betting market, legal and illegal, is an eye-opener. As is the use of statistics and data to point out anomalous game trails. Also, the author's constraint in staying away from accusations of players is very responsible.
What is however not fulfilling, and leaves me unsatisfied is the lack of answers at the end of the read. How big is the problem of fixing? How rampant is it in international and domestic cricket? What of the various T20 leagues that have mushroomed across the globe?
Too many questions, too few answers. One place where I am in complete agreement with the author is that players have to take ownership if this problem of fixing is to be really eradicated.
On one hand, I found it useful to understand the world of cricket betting as it happens in India. At least I know now a lot more than I did before reading this book. The book reads like a series of interviews and events that the author experienced, and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions about the core issue of match fixing, even though the opinions of the various interviewees are presented without modification.
On the other hand, its full of stereotypes about Indian people and Indian society which are too numerous to recount. One could come away with the impression that Indians are all corrupt with an scratch each others backs attitude which is just not true. It may be true in the world of corrupt bookmakers, but its not some kind of Indian trait, I am sure that you would find the same attitudes in the London gangs. The role of Indian women comes across as some docile squirrel type creatures scurrying about serving food and tea and the man of the house shouting orders at them, which is again such a total western stereotype. The author repeatedly veers into mildly racially stereotypical descriptions of Indian society and people which are just too numerous to be hard to ignore.
In addition, as another reviewer mentioned, the author seems to have transcribed the conversations with the bookies verbatim without any explanation in many places and that sometimes makes things really confusing. I found myself reading and re-reading paragraphs trying to make sense of the conversations with no luck.
Finally it seems to me like there is hyperbole and speculation in the match fixing related statements especially by the bookies who seem eager to show that they know something others do not. While I do not doubt that there is a lot of dodgy stuff going on in cricket and indeed in all major sports, but I did not see a lot of hard evidence presented, only somewhat speculative words about fixing, which kind of makes the book a little less impactful.
Having said all of that, I do know and suspect a lot more after having read the book than I did before reading the book. It opens up a new world and it is an important work with respect to the good of cricket.
I would have given this book three stars for the above mentioned gripes, but I love cricket, and I think that the journalist's heart is in the right place and he is doing his bit to help reform this game, something a lot of people just don't dare do, so I do recommend it to any cricket lover, with the caveat that please don't fall for the stereotypical descriptions of India and Indians.
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