Ellcock’s autobiography is unsparing and hard-hitting, revealing as it does a lifetime spent overcoming biases, prejudices and racism, not to mention being saved from death by receiving four life-saving brain operations in the space of eight weeks. Balls to Fly charts one man’s extraordinary story of determination, endeavour and resilience. The book is a fascinating journey through the ups and downs of Ellcock’s singular story, describing how • He used to be driven to school by the Prime Minister of Barbados • He rapidly went from bowling a cricket ball to his friends to earning a scholarship at one the UK’s most prestigious public schools at just 15 years of age • The reaction of county team-mates when he turned up to make his first-class cricket debut whilst wearing school uniform • The cruellest of luck with injury sabotaged his hopes of playing Test cricket for England • The dedication involved in retraining as an airline pilot and the pride in becoming Virgin Atlantic’s first black captain, as well as being in US airspace just before the 9/11 terrorist attacks • How he was saved from death by four brain operations within eight weeks • Biases, prejudices and racism, Ellcock is often excoriating and unflinchingly honest.