We’re thrilled to announce that two Pitch titles are on the final shortlist for this year’s Derek Hodgson Book award presented by the Cricket Writers Club.

Ben Bloom’s Batting for Time and Jeremy Lonsdale’s An Unusual Celebrity – The Many Cricketing Lives of Bill Bowes are on the shortlist of six titles with the winner being named on November 5 at the Cricket Writers Club’s annual lunch.

In Batting for Time Ben explores a sport in existential crisis. Lucrative global franchise leagues threaten to leave behind an English cricket structure rooted in the Victorian era. Pitting traditionalists against modernisers, and romantics against pragmatists, the need for change has sparked a host of civil wars to keep the sport alive.

Jeremy Lonsdale’s An Unusual Celebrity is the inspiring story of one of English cricket's most popular personalities. Despite not fitting the mould of the typical opening bowler, Bill Bowes was a key part of Yorkshire's dominant 1930s side. After wartime ordeals, he devoted the rest of his life to cricket as a journalist, coach and speaker. This is the first biography of Bill Bowes.

Congratulations to Ben and Jeremy and fingers crossed for November 5. The final six are:

Lawrence Booth and Nick Hoult - Bazball

Vaneisa Baksh – Son of Grace

David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts – Richie Benaud's Blue Suede Shoes

Ben Bloom – Batting for Time

Simon Lister – Worrell

Jeremy Lonsdale – An Unusual Celebrity: The Many Cricketing Lives of Bill Bowes