Not many careers in a single sport span more than three-score years. Unquestionably one of the most distinguished of those that did was that of E.J. Smith (known as 'Tiger' to all his friends). He started as a player for Warwickshire in 1903 and ended his career as a coach with the same club in 1968, eleven years before his death at the ripe old age of93. So much for the statistics, but these are only the boundaries of a non-stop playing career as wicket-keeper and batsman at County and Test level, as an umpire in first-class and Test cricket and finally as a senior coach.

Although published posthumously this is 'Tiger' Smith's story in his own words, recorded on tape and edited by the wellknown sports-writer, Patrick Murphy. The material for the book was completed in August 1979, just before Tiger's death. It tells a story right from the centre of the cricketing stage, covering play and players in county and Test cricket before the First '

World War, the up-hill struggle to re-organize cricket in the post-war years, and matters of umpiring until the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1946 Tiger was called upon to coach the Warwickshire county teams until his retirement. The book brings together a galaxy of legendary names - all of whom Smith knew - including Spooner, Verity, Grace, Woolley, Larwood, Hobbs, Bradman, Tate, Jardine, Hammond, Rhodes, Sutcliffe, Compton and Hutton.

Particularly interesting are his personal views on the development of the game, the one-time strict delineation between the Pros. and the Gentlemen, and cricket matters today, including the recent Packer controversy. 'Tiger', often known for his gruffness both on the field and off - he was no paper tiger - is totally fair and honest in his views. It makes for a captivating story told by one whose name will always evoke keen memories in cricketing circles and who died as a highly respected doyen ofthe game.