Born in South Africa in 1980 to an Afrikaner father and English mother, he made his first-class cricket debut at the age of 17. In 1999, while playing with KwaZula Natal, he impressed former England captain Nasser Hussain and the following year signed for Nottinghamshire where he had a stunning debut season. He moved to Shane Warne's Hampshire in 2004 and went onto make his international debut the same year, soon becoming a cornerstone of the England side, and playing a key role in the thrilling victory in the 2005 Ashes. His England career looked in jeopardy however after his short, and extremely controversial, stint as England captain in 2008 ended in his sacking. But Pietersen, never one to be kept down for long, cemented his comeback with a series of wonderful performances that led to being named the Player of the Tournament in England's 2010 World Twenty20 win. Having left Hampshire for Surrey, Pietersen's career had another strange twist in the summer of 2012 when, amid a dismal home series against South Africa, he first retired from one-day internationals and was then dropped from the side for allegedly texting the opposition derogatory comments about his own team-mates. Kevin Pietersen is a renowned cricketing renegade and one of the greatest, and most controversial, cricketers of his generation. Finally back in the England fold, and fresh off a match-winning 186 in India, Pietersen looks in control once gain. But, with him, controversy is never more than a switch-hit away.

KP: The Biography of a Rebel

Stead, Marcus

Biographies & Memoirs

John Blake

Legend - The Biography of Brian O'Driscoll

Sports & Outdoors

Individual Sports

John Blake Publishing Ltd

The definitive portrait of an internationally admired rugby player and an Irish hero, fully updated to include Ireland's 2011 6 Nations Dublin boy Brian O'Driscoll is Educated at Blackrock College, the alma mater of many Irish greats, his ambition was always to represent his country. After helping his country win the IRB under-19 World Championship and progressing through the under-21 ranks, O'Driscoll finally realized his dream of representing his beloved Ireland at the senior level. Making his debut against Australia at the tender age of 20—before he'd even made his senior club debut for Leinster—O'Driscoll went on to establish himself as one of the top outside centers in the game. Made captain of his country in 2003, O'Driscoll's phenomenal record includes consecutive triple crowns in 2006 and 2007 and the RBS Six Nations player of the tournament for 2006 and 2007. His exemplary leadership skills and bravery saw him achieve the ultimate accolade for a home nations' player: captaining the Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. But his tour was to be cut short in a storm in acrimony and agony when his shoulder dislocated after a dangerous tackle. Nicknamed BOD by the Croke Park faithful—and in BOD they certainly do trust—Brian O'Driscoll is a true colossus of the game.

Brian O'Driscoll: The Biography: The Story of Ireland's Greatest Rugby Hero

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In Bod We Trust: Brian O'Driscoll: The Biography of Ireland's Greatest Rugby Hero

Dublin boy Brian O'Driscoll is an internationally admired rugby player and an Irish hero. Educated at Blackrock College, the alma mater of many Irish greats, his ambition was always to represent his country. Capped three times for Ireland Schools in 1996, O'Driscoll was on his way, and had soon represented Ireland at under-19 level—where he helped his country win the IRB under-19 World Championship—before progressing through the under-21 ranks and finally realizing his dream, representing his beloved Ireland at senior level. Making his debut against Australia at the tender age of 20—before he'd even made his senior club debut for Leinster—O'Driscoll went on to establish himself as one of the top outside centers in the game. Made captain of his country in 2003, O'Driscoll's phenomenal record includes consecutive triple crowns in 2006 and 2007—as well as one in his first year as skipper—and the RBS Six Nations player of the tournament for 2006 and 2007. Honored with a call-up to the British and Irish Lions 2001 tour of Australia, he played in all three tests, before his exemplary leadership skills and bravery saw him achieve the ultimate accolade for a home nations' player. It was a role that would be cut all too short for O'Driscoll as his tour lasted barely a minute in a storm of acrimony and agony, his shoulder dislocated after a dangerous tackle. Nicknamed BOD by the Croke Park faithful— and in BOD they certainly do trust—Brian O'Driscoll is a true colossus of the game. This is the definitive portrait of the Irish legend.

In BOD We Trust: Brian O'Driscoll: The Biography of Ireland's Greatest Rugby Hero

Dublin boy Brian O’Driscoll is an internationally admired rugby player and an Irish hero. Educated at Blackrock College, the alma mater of many Irish greats, his ambition was always to represent his country. After helping his country win the IRB under-19 World Championship and progressing through the under-21 ranks, O’Driscoll finally realised his dream of representing his beloved Ireland at the senior level. Making his debut against Australia at the tender age of 20—before he’d even made his senior club debut for Leinster—O’Driscoll went on to establish himself as one of the top outside centers in the game. Made captain of his country in 2003, O’Driscoll’s phenomenal record includes consecutive triple crowns in 2006 and 2007 and the RBS Six Nations player of the tournament for 2006 and 2007. His exemplary leadership skills and bravery saw him achieve the ultimate accolade for a home nations’ player: captaining the Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. But his tour was to be cut short in a storm in acrimony and agony when his shoulder dislocated after a dangerous tackle. Nicknamed BOD by the Croke Park faithful—and in BOD they certainly do trust—Brian O’Driscoll is a true colossus of the game. This is the definitive portrait of the Irish legend.

Born in South Africa in 1980 to an Afrikaner father and English mother, he made his first-class debut at the age of 17. In 1999, while playing with KwaZula Natal, he impressed former England captain Nasser Hussain and the following year signed for Nottinghamshire. He had a stunning debut season. "If he can mainatin his first season's form, the name of Pietersen should be pencilled in for future Test squads," was the glowing report in the Wisden Crickets' Almanack. He moved to Shane Warne's Hampshire in 2004 and went on to make his international debut in the controversial tour of Zimbabwe the same year. He soon became a cornerstone of the England side and played a key role in the thrilling victory in the 2005 Ashes, where he finished the series as the highest scoring player. In August 2008, he was appointed captain and led his adopted country to a victory in the Test against South Africa, and four wins in one day internationals. But his captaincy lasted only five short months and, after continual run-ins with the team's coach Peter Moores, he quit in early January 2009. Cocky, outspoken, and undoubtedly talented, Kevin Pietersen looks sure to be a giant of the sport for many years to come.

Kevin Pietersen: Portrait of a Rebel

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