Rowdy is the frank and engaging autobiography of Ashley Mallett, one of Australia’s most effective and cerebral off-spin bowlers of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Published while Mallett was still an active international cricketer, the book captures him mid-career, at a point when his reputation as a match-winner—particularly in Asia—was firmly established.
 
The narrative covers:
Mallett’s rise through South Australian cricket
His Test debut and role in a changing Australian side
Touring life in England, India, Pakistan, and the West Indies
The tactical demands of off-spin bowling at Test level
Dressing-room dynamics and selection controversies
Media scrutiny and the psychological pressures of international cricket
 
The title reflects both Mallett’s on-field competitiveness and the public persona shaped by press coverage of the era.
 
Ashley Mallett remains one of Australia’s most underrated Test cricketers, finishing his career with a remarkable average for an off-spinner in the fast-bowling-dominated 1970s.
 
Lynton Publications titles were produced in modest print runs, making first editions increasingly difficult to source in complete form with dust jackets.