David Kynaston was born in Aldershot in 1951. He has been a professional historian since 1973 and has written eighteen books, four of which are based on different aspects of cricket history including the award-winning Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket. He is currently a visiting professor at Kingston University.Harry Ricketts is a critic and poet who, in addition to biographies of Kipling and the War Poets, has written the guide How to Catch a Cricket Match.

The Old Trafford Ashes Test of 1961 has everything - except a reverse lap, an epic contest superbly retold by David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts. In their expert hands, the match also becomes a trigger for a fascinating slice of social history, epitomised by the contrasting outlooks of the two captains, Peter May and Richie Benaud in his blue suede shoes. It is a spellbinding read even though most of us know the outcome of the match and an essential text for those of us who wonder why the Aussies beat us so often

David Kynaston was born in Aldershot in 1951. He has been a professional historian since 1973 and has written eighteen books, four of which are based on different aspects of cricket history including the award-winning Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket. He is currently a visiting professor at Kingston University.Harry Ricketts is a critic and poet who, in addition to biographies of Kipling and the War Poets, has written the guide How to Catch a Cricket Match.

The Old Trafford Ashes Test of 1961 has everything - except a reverse lap, an epic contest superbly retold by David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts. In their expert hands, the match also becomes a trigger for a fascinating slice of social history, epitomised by the contrasting outlooks of the two captains, Peter May and Richie Benaud in his blue suede shoes. It is a spellbinding read even though most of us know the outcome of the match and an essential text for those of us who wonder why the Aussies beat us so often

David Kynaston was born in Aldershot in 1951. He has been a professional historian since 1973 and has written eighteen books, four of which are based on different aspects of cricket history including the award-winning Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket. He is currently a visiting professor at Kingston University.Harry Ricketts is a critic and poet who, in addition to biographies of Kipling and the War Poets, has written the guide How to Catch a Cricket Match.

The Old Trafford Ashes Test of 1961 has everything - except a reverse lap, an epic contest superbly retold by David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts. In their expert hands, the match also becomes a trigger for a fascinating slice of social history, epitomised by the contrasting outlooks of the two captains, Peter May and Richie Benaud in his blue suede shoes. It is a spellbinding read even though most of us know the outcome of the match and an essential text for those of us who wonder why the Aussies beat us so often