The Edge

In 2012, England officially became the best cricket team in the world, after many years of underperformance. They had a great, and settled, side, but it didn't last. Several players eneded their international careers relatively early: the pressures of playing top-level sport almost certainly contributed to that. 'The Edge' interviews many of the players to chart this journey. The problem with the film is its low-brow approach, and its indifference to telling us about any of the technicalities, or detailed history, of the sport. We get some personal insights, but if you didn't know the sporting story, all you would see is a very dumbed-down version. And while psychology is undoubtedly important at the highest level of competition, the necessity of a happy coincidence of natural talent is downplayed: the documentary gives the impression that England started winning, and then stopped again, entirely due to the mindset of the players. The intriguing and complex overlap between a relatively slow-paced, almost reflective, sport, and the intensity of the international spotlight, doesn't come across. There's some interest here, but the film's lack of apparent interest in cricket itself weakens it, for cricket fans and the merely curious alike.

Personally as someone who loves cricket, obviosly I enjoyed this film. Set in a period which was very influential for English Test cricket, it was an intrsting insight in to the world of international cricket.

Cricket has probably the highest suicide rate among former players compared ro any other sport. Now I know why. This is a warts-and-all study of the rise and fall of the England cricket team from 2009-2014, but don't let that put you off as a knowledge of cricket is not more needed than a knowledge of baseball is needed for Moneyball. Excepted that Moneyball was a happy, positive film. And so is this, for the first half. Then it decends into the dark as the players start to fall apart mentally, even on camera being interviewed. Quite why this happens - well, watch the film and come to your own conclusions.

After the sacking of Kevin Pietersen as England Captain, the Test Team set the themselves a target of becoming the first Englamd side to reach to be ranked the world number 1 test side. This documentary charts that journey from a very low point to the ultimate high and then explains how it all fell apart. This is a real insight with the majority of the explanations coming from those coaches and players that were at the centre of that period of English cricket. A much watch for any cricket fan.

One of the best sports documentaries I've seen. Confession: I'm a big fan of English cricket (especially in the long, Test Match, form). Even so, this seems to be a documentary that draws in both the fan and the more casual director. Covering the period (2009-2013) when the England test team rose from a very low point to be number one in the world, then spectacularly imploded. Initially - helped by wonderful narration from Toby Jones - it brilliantly portrays the intensity, athleticism and passion of a sport that too often seems to be the slightly soft activity of the upper classes. The match sounds are amplified; there are some striking visual techniques; and some genuinely honest and funny moments from a group of men who clearly loved each other and enjoyed working together.

As an English cricket fan this is an interesting document to that time, but overall it just feels too self indulgent and over-stylised. I ended up being more interested in my dog snoring.