Brick by Brick – The Australian Cricketers in England, 1964
£16.00
By Max Bonnell
The Australian team that flew into London in April 1964 was derided as the weakest ever to visit England, yet five months later it returned home with the Ashes, having won a damp and occasionally controversial series.
Drawing on the recollections of those who played, Brick by Brick explores a fascinating, pivotal year, both for the game and for Britain generally.
In 1964, thirteen years of Conservative government ended, after an election that was presented as a choice between a revitalised country and the class-ridden shackles of the past. Cricket, it seemed, stood at a similar crossroads, having abolished the distinction between amateurs and professionals, and introduced one-day professional cricket.
It was a year in which both life in Britain, and cricket, tried to advance towards a glittering future, while holding fast to ancient traditions. If you were to select a moment which captured the excitement and confusion that this approach created, then 1964 is an excellent place to start.
