Hadlee working on boosting sales of his 13th book, third biography

Wellington, Aug.20 (ANI): Former New Zealand fast bowler Richard Hadlee is spending his days trying to boost sales for his 13th book.

According to the Dominion Post, Hadlee has been in hiding for a year, putting the finishing touches on "Changing Pace" his third biography, which took him eight years to complete.

He hasn't been to a cricket match over the past year apart from when he had to pick up an award.

Hadlee may be in fine form, but it his deteriorating eyesight that worries him most.

"I can be 30,000 miles up in the air and still see a car driving on the road, and can't see a golf hole," he laments.

"I need glasses. Putting, I'm missing them, I miss eight or nine like that," he says while motioning his arms outstretched.

He says that the motivation for his latest book seems to be part-cathartic, part-explanation.

There are three emotional chapters which cover off his father Walter's death, his own heart problems and his marriage breakup, which at one stage reduced him to living in a single bed at his parents' home at the age of 44.

"Writing about those emotional experiences can be a healing thing and perhaps others can take some inspiration as well," he says.

"It is more than a cricket book. It reflects the old days, the end of my playing days, the life of dad, my knighthood, health problems and life as a selector for eight years."

Hadlee's second biography Rhythm and Swing sold 44,000 copies. In a congested market this one may not reach those figures, but as with one of his bowling spells it has some real quality and contains no rubbish.

He believes it has "some controversy" but in reality it is his opportunity to explain "the other side" of what he went through as a selector during some turbulent years.

"It's come from here," Hadlee says, pointing at his heart. (ANI)