A Clear Blue Sky by Jonny Bairstow and Duncan Hamilton.

Published by Harper Collins. £20

Anyone reading this book and not being moved must be very hard-hearted for this is a book that is written very much from the heart by Jonny Bairstow.

Part memoir, part tribute to his late father, it is an incredibly moving story of triumph over adversity and particularly the importance of family.

As a young boy of eight Jonny was dealt a very cruel blow when his father David Bairstow took his own life at the age of 46 in January, 1998.

David, or “Bluey” as he was known to his many thousands of Yorkshire fans left behind Jonny, his younger sister Rebecca, Jonny’s half-brother Andy and his wife Janet who had at the time of his death had been diagnosed with cancer.

Through his dedication to sport Jonny overcame this adversity and has gone on to become one of our most talented players in the Yorkshire and England cricket teams.

Like his Dad, Jonny is a wicketkeeper and batsman but already has exceeded his father’s achievements by having won a County Championship with Yorkshire and also having acquired two Ashes winner’s medals. He has also recently set the record for the most Test runs in a calendar year by a wicketkeeper.

I have been a cricket lover for about 60 years and having seen both Jonny and his father in action I realise that they both have similar qualities of tenacity, stubbornness and in particular true Yorkshire grit.

Even for those who are not cricket followers, this is still a superb read particularly due to the fact that it concentrates on family love and dedication.

If, however, you have a cricket fan in the family I can think of no better present to get for them this Christmas.

John Burland