Bowling Through India received runner-up prize for the Whitcoulls Travel Book of the Year in April 2010. Huge congrats to the winner Jane Carswell, who penned 'Under the Huang Jiao Tree - Two Journeys in China.' Carswell (a grandmother from Christchurch) was so shocked with her win she was still shaking when we left. Her book looks great.

Chief Judge Owen Scott: 'Once again the books and stories were compelling and original in their different ways - often surprisingly so. The range of entries was incredibly varied. They could not have been more different from each other. One has you reaching for tissues, the other for smelling salts and Imodium!'

The honours, though, went to two books with that little something extra, elevating them beyond mere storytelling and beyond their competitors. In the end we agreed on ‘Bowling Through India’ by Justin Brown. It may not be to everyone’s taste. The language is modern, expletive-filled and irreverent. If you can get past that, you will be rewarded with a fresh, humorous and, at times, very touching book. The judges – especially Karen who hates cricket – were surprised at how they were won over, in spite of the sometimes graphic language and imagery.

But really the book has little to do with cricket. It’s a much more subtle and moving account of a country and its people than the voice would at first suggest. I think that’s because there’s a healthy layer of self-mockery in the blokey outer layer. It’s clever and original and very, very evocative. It made each of the judges want to visit the places being written about and that’s important. Four of this years’ nine books represented ‘travel-writing’ at its most traditional. ‘Bowling Through India’ was the best of that group. What defined it was its originality, the quality of the writing and the depth of imagery, backed up by some brilliant photography. And the quality of the publishing was excellent.