A wide-ranging yet deeply personal examination of depression in cricket by former first-class cricketer turned author Andrew Murtagh.

Cricket's Black Dog draws on exclusive interviews with well-known figures such as David Frith, Jeremy Snape, Graeme Fowler, Barry Richards, David Nash, Huw Turbervill and Ian Thomas, as well as the author’s personal experiences.

English cricketers are almost twice as likely to commit suicide as the country’s average male – to date, 151 former first-class cricketers have taken their own lives. But why?

This groundbreaking book poses many important questions, including:

• Is cricket to blame or are cricketers – by their nature introspective and self-critical people – more susceptible to depression and thoughts of suicide?
• Why should cricketers, who spend their days in healthy, outdoor pursuit, be more vulnerable than others?
• Does the game provide adequate support for sufferers or is mere lip service being paid to tackling the problem?
• What conclusions – if any – can be drawn from careful research and empirical examination?

As a former county cricketer who has battled depression for most of his life, the author is perfectly placed to explore this urgent and perplexing problem that is blighting England’s gentle summer game. Just how do we tackle this silent killer?

"An immensely readable look at a question that will, hopefully, be much more likely to be answered in the future if the discussion that Murtagh starts continues to be acknowledged, studied and worked on. For now though the best answer comes with Murtagh’s final words: Cricketers die twice. I guess it’s a case, and always has been, of how we fare in the second innings."

“This is certainly a book that is well worth reading."

"Andrew Murtagh's excellent and immensely readable book sets out to ask the question: 'Why?' He tackles the subject with a light touch that belies the seriousness of the topic, sprinkling the pages with humour and anecdotes born of thorough research and a sensitive pen."

"Readers may be assured that any book by Andrew Murtagh will purr along as befits a teacher of English... a decent book, typically Pitch in its appearance and feel."

Andrew Murtagh has written seven cricket biographies including A Remarkable Man: The Story of George Chesterton, which was short-listed for both the Cricket Society and MCC Cricket Book of the Year awards. A former professional cricketer for Hampshire, he became a teacher of English at Malvern College once his playing days ended – but only after retirement did he discover his third career as an author.