Mike Brearley Author

Mike Brearley OBE played for Middlesex County Cricket Club from 1961-1983. He first played for England in 1976 and captained the side from 1977 to 1980, winning 17 Test matches and losing only four. He was recalled to the captaincy in 1981 for the Ashes Home series, leading England to one of their most famous victories. Since retiring from cricket in 1982 he now works as a psychoanalyst, and is a lecturer on leadership and motivation, which he explores in The Art of Captaincy.

Ed Smith is a former captain of Middlesex Cricket Club, and England batsman. He now works as a commentator for the BBC on Test Match Special.

Sam Mendes is a stage and film director. He believes that Mike Brearley's book, The Art of Captaincy, had an effect on his choice of career. Mendes was an excellent cricketer, and Brearley compares captaincy to theatre direction on more than one occasion.