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Longlisted for The Cricket Society and M.C.C. Book Of The Year Award 2014.
Not enough has been written about women’s cricket. This may have been understandable in the early and middle part of the last century, when women’s cricket existed in a twilight world, regarded as a sporting occupation for ladies who could perhaps be most tactfully described as unconventional. My book intends to fill this yawning gap in cricket literature.
The best place to begin is at the beginning, when ladies made their first mark in cricket in the late 18th century amid frantic betting and rowdy crowd scenes. Then on to the highs and lows of the 19th and 20th centuries and culminating in our 21st century heroines who are dominating world cricket and are now fully professional.
So, part of my job will be to trace the history of the ladies’ game, delving into its sometimes murky past and revealing the recent explosion in its popularity. This book proposes to bring to light some of the more remarkable and interesting stories and individuals (females only!) who have had some sort of love affair with this great game. These notable and sometimes controversial figures have dared to cross the boundary into this male dominated world.
“Her book truly champions women in sport. As one of the only books tackling women’s cricket, Duncan aims to give women a relevant place in the history of the sport. And she manages it with gusto.”
“If you are already a cricket fan this book will give you a warm glow. If you are yet to be convinced, I would urge you to give it a go. It may just change your view.”
“...Isabelle Duncan’s history of the women’s game is welcome in an area largely overlooked.”
“...If you appreciate the delight of a game where the subtler arts thrive at the expense of balls bludgeoned into the stands, Skirting the Boundary is a must for your bookshelf ... Isabelle Duncan’s engaging style ... ensures that the book rattles along merrily.”
“Even those who do not really have an interest in women’s cricket or even cricket for that matter will find Skirting the Boundary an endearing and informative read. With so many historical nuggets thrown in, it will leave even those most-versed in the history of the sport thinking: I didn’t know that. Its unpretentiousness is what sets the book aside from most other things written about the women’s game. It celebrates the sport for what it still is.”