Hyderabadi author Ravi Kaza brings 150 years of Test cricket to the page

Hyderabadi author Ravi Kaza's book, Howzzat! 150 Glorious Years, traces Test cricket's evolution from 1876–77 to the upcoming 2027 MCG Test. Its 56 sections combine stories, statistics and 40 commissioned illustrations in a non-linear format for cricket enthusiasts

Hyderabad: For the cricket fans, ‘Howzzat! 150 Glorious Years’ authored by Hyderabadi Ravi Kaza, tracing the sport from its 1876–77 origins to its culmination in the Sesquicentennial Pink-Ball Test at the MCG in March 2027, can well be the book with a difference they should be looking for.

It is a non-linear reading book, letting the readers glance through any chapter at random and freely jump to whatever catches their interest next.

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Printed in a large 165 × 245 mm format, the book, released by Mr AK Khan, former DGP, is set in classic Garamond to enhance readability, with rich illustrations providing a thoughtful visual balance throughout; the book, limited to men’s Test and first-class cricket, has a foreword by Mr. Syed Akbaruddin,

India’s representative at the UN and former MEA spokesperson. “The front cover celebrates the 5 Wisden Almanack cricketers of the 20th century, while the back cover caricatures capture the three highest run-getters and wicket-takers in Tests from India,” Ravi Kaza said.

“Through engaging stories and statistics, it offers readers a comprehensive perspective on the evolution of Test cricket’s laws and its most defining historical moments—up to date as of September 30, 2026,” says Ravi Kaza in a chat with ‘Telangana Today’. “The trigger point was a few decades ago when one had access to the internet to revalidate/ authenticate the countless stories/myths/folklore one was exposed to.

A chance encounter with the late Martin Crowe, the stylish Kiwi batsman in 1995, convinced me that a compilation that demystifies myths and presents some backstories and anecdotes that bring out the spirit of the glorious red cherry game might present a fascinating study,” he revealed.

“I have been having the manuscript in its various avatars for more than two decades in soft form. Periodically upgrading and rewriting the content with more and more nuggets whenever one refocused on the project.

Sometime in March 2026, he decided to finally convert the cumulative efforts into a collector’s item of cricket literature,” Ravi Kaza said.

“The book is curated into 56 sections that delve upon hitherto unpresented format with 40 commissioned illustrations. It is in short paragraphs, given the current day and age deficit in attention span. It’s in a pick-up-and-read-from-anywhere-you-want format or whatever title appears to attract your curiosity,” Ravi Kaza pointed out.

Significantly, almost 95% of the nuggets presented would remain the way they are presented any time in the future, and the author has steered clear of any controversies.