The Big Hitters is a visually driven celebration of cricket’s most powerful and influential batsmen, tracing the evolution of attacking strokeplay from the early twentieth century through to the modern era. Written by Brian Bearshaw and published in 1986, the book explores how strength, timing, innovation, and temperament combined to redefine batting across generations.
 
Drawing on an extensive archive of photographs—including material from the BBC Hulton Picture Library and leading cricket photographers such as Patrick Eagar—Bearshaw profiles legendary run-makers and crowd-drawing hitters, examining how changes in equipment, pitches, tactics, and formats shaped aggressive batting styles. The contrast between classical technique and raw power is a recurring theme, making the book both an historical study and a visual showcase.
 
Lavishly illustrated and accessible, The Big Hitters sits comfortably alongside classic cricket photography books of the 1980s, appealing to collectors, historians, and readers interested in the spectacle of batting dominance.