Books on 1972 Ashes?

[TheGreatest]

Has anyone has read Ian Chappells's book on the 1972 Ashes tour? Is it worth?
Actually, I'm looking for indepth, on and off the field coverage of this 1972 tour. Any books or mags on it will be highly appreciated.

 

[wpdavid]

This is probably very good.

The Ashes, 1972: Amazon.co.uk: Arlott, John.: 9780720706628: Books

Buy The Ashes, 1972 First Edition by Arlott, John. (ISBN: 9780720706628) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[TheGreatest]

This is probably very good.

The Ashes, 1972: Amazon.co.uk: Arlott, John.: 9780720706628: Books

Buy The Ashes, 1972 First Edition by Arlott, John. (ISBN: 9780720706628) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Thanks!
By John Arlott...then it should be worth!
Btw, is it only extensive match reports or something more?

 

[wpdavid]

Thanks!
By John Arlott...then it should be worth!
Btw, is it only extensive match reports or something more?

No idea, sorry.

 

[AndrewB]

I remember reading a book on the 1972 Ashes - probably the one by Arlott (it certainly wasn't by Ian Chappell).

My vague recollection is that it was a perfectly decent book but nothing spectacular, and I think it was just the standard day-by-day extensive match reports, typical of the era. But I might be underselling it - it was a very long time ago that I read it (probably late 80s or so).

 

[TheGreatest]

I remember reading a book on the 1972 Ashes - probably the one by Arlott (it certainly wasn't by Ian Chappell).

My vague recollection is that it was a perfectly decent book but nothing spectacular, and I think it was just the standard day-by-day extensive match reports, typical of the era. But I might be underselling it - it was a very long time ago that I read it (probably late 80s or so).

Hmm....not really looking into day by day match reports. Looks like there isn't much material available on this series.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I've ordered the Arlott book and will report back. I was going to revisit this series for the 50th anniversary as it was my first time watching an Ashes series. The passing of Rod Marsh is a really awful, he and Greig were two of my first cricket "heroes" on the back of this series.

 

[tony p]

The Arlott & Chappell books are the only two published of the series. (Have the Arlott book, haven't read it for ages, don't have the Chappell one)

Tour books went out of vogue in the mid 60s, there were 4 on the 1964 Tour, but back in the 50s was the hey day, there were at least 9 actual books for 1953, and 10 in 1956, bit of an overkill, and that doesn't include brochures, ABC cricket books etc. (and most of them were just basic , quite dull books, and I have a bookshelf full of them) LOL

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I now have the Arlott book and can confirm it's just a brief description of each day's play with scorecards. There's a bit of a preamble to the series and short epilogue. Anyone who followed English cricket in the 70's might be amused by the young players Arlott put forward for the tour of India: Dudley Owen-Thomas, Frank Hayes, David Turner, John Steele and Derek Randall. Hayes and Randall, okay, but the other three never threatened to be Test cricketers in a million years.
A couple of other mildly interesting bits by Arlott. He describes it as a great series compared to many in the past that were "monotonous, defensive and ultimately pointless". Anyone who disagrees with that must be "partisan, thick-witted or blinkered".
When talking about the ODI series he says "A dozen or so years ago such an idea would have horrified the elders." He continues "It always seemed to me something of a mercy that Sir Pelham Warner died in 1963 before the first Gillette Cup Final was played at his spiritual home and even longer before cricket was played at Lords on a Sunday under the aegis of a tobacco firm."

 

[wpdavid]

I had to look up Dudley Owen-Thomas, as I had never heard of him. Turns out he played for Surrey and 1972 was his one decent summer; hence Arlott's misguided recommendation. Thereafter his career tailed off rapidly and he probably went on to be something in The City. Arlott's prediction of Randall wasn't a bad effort, as he was only 21 in 1972 and it took another four years for him to play any sort of international cricket.

His evaluation of the series is interesting. I loved it because it was my first Ashes series, so I was pretty much hooked. I suppose older followers of the game enjoyed the fact that four matches out of five had results, which was unheard of during the 1960s. And the Australian team was a pretty positive outfit. England rather less so, unless Greig was batting.

 

[AndrewB]

Owen-Thomas was the Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year in 1972 - not one of their more far-sighted choices, but not too surprising that Arlott tipped him. According to Wikipedia he became a solicitor but was struck off in 2008.

 

[TheGreatest]

I now have the Arlott book and can confirm it's just a brief description of each day's play with scorecards. There's a bit of a preamble to the series and short epilogue. Anyone who followed English cricket in the 70's might be amused by the young players Arlott put forward for the tour of India: Dudley Owen-Thomas, Frank Hayes, David Turner, John Steele and Derek Randall. Hayes and Randall, okay, but the other three never threatened to be Test cricketers in a million years.
A couple of other mildly interesting bits by Arlott. He describes it as a great series compared to many in the past that were "monotonous, defensive and ultimately pointless". Anyone who disagrees with that must be "partisan, thick-witted or blinkered".
When talking about the ODI series he says "A dozen or so years ago such an idea would have horrified the elders." He continues "It always seemed to me something of a mercy that Sir Pelham Warner died in 1963 before the first Gillette Cup Final was played at his spiritual home and even longer before cricket was played at Lords on a Sunday under the aegis of a tobacco firm."

Thanks for the info!
Just day by day match reports...then I'll give it a pass.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

50 years ago today was the last day of the First Test. I remember watching it live with my late mother also watching. I can't remember why I was off school. I might have to try hypnosis.