Victory in Australia
The Remarkable Story of England's Greatest Ashes Triumph 1954-55
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Victory in Australia
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Narrated by:
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Oliver Hembrough
About this listen
‘Such incredibly gripping sports writing. It was like being there. Truly. Every ball’
Giles Coren
‘Elegant and evocative … the definitive word on England’s most astonishing Ashes tour ever’
Matthew Engel
THE DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT OF AN EPIC ASHES BATTLE
The Ashes series of 1954–55 marked a watershed moment in the history of English cricket. Under the leadership of Len Hutton, the national team’s first professional captain, one of the greatest group of players ever to represent England won an Ashes series in Australia for the first time in more than 20 years. It is a feat that has been repeated only four times in more than 70 years since.
But Hutton’s men had to overcome the additional obstacle of losing heavily in the first Test – only one England team has managed to win an overseas Ashes series after such a monumental setback.
The names of the cricketers who locked horns in 1954–55 resonate down the decades – Hutton's team included Denis Compton, Frank Tyson, Brian Statham, Trevor Bailey, Godfrey Evans, Peter May and Colin Cowdrey. Among their Australian opponents were Ray Lindwall, Keith Miller, Neil Harvey and Richie Benaud. In the 1950s, these players were not just elite sportsmen, they were household names.
An Ashes series for the ages is brought thrillingly to life in this momentous slice of sporting and social history.
Critic Reviews
'I don’t know of any finer reconstructions of cricket matches than those in this book on England’s Ashes-winning series of 1954–5.' (Scyld Berry, 'Telegraph' Chief Cricket Writer)
'An outstanding addition to cricket’s literature. With both detail and description, Richard Whitehead marvellously recreates one of the great tours of the 20th century and brings both the era – and the men who shaped it – back into full, vibrant breathing life.' (Duncan Hamilton, three times winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year)
'A wonderfully full-bodied account, alert to every human and social as well as cricketing nuance, of a tour that still burns bright in English memories.' (David Kynaston, English historian and author)