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The Cricketers of 1945: Rising from the Ashes of World War Two
The Cricketers of 1945 is the compelling, poignant, and above all human, story of the reawakening of English cricket in the immediate aftermath of the world's most destructive war.
The book brings to life the summer's Victory Tests, played on home soil between England and Australia, as well as the personal stories of the players and their families, plus those of some of the hundreds of thousands of spectators who flocked to the matches to celebrate the return of something approaching normal life after the ordeal and sacrifice of the war years.
This vivid account is illuminated by fresh archival research, encompassing the diaries and personal letters of both cricketers and cricket lovers, giving the reader a strong sense of what it was like to be alive at this unique time as much of the world awoke, or was still awakening, from the nightmare ordeal of the long years of conflict.
The book brings to life the summer's Victory Tests, played on home soil between England and Australia, as well as the personal stories of the players and their families, plus those of some of the hundreds of thousands of spectators who flocked to the matches to celebrate the return of something approaching normal life after the ordeal and sacrifice of the war years.
This vivid account is illuminated by fresh archival research, encompassing the diaries and personal letters of both cricketers and cricket lovers, giving the reader a strong sense of what it was like to be alive at this unique time as much of the world awoke, or was still awakening, from the nightmare ordeal of the long years of conflict.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2024
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About the author
Christopher Sandford
83 books28 followersChristopher Sandford has published acclaimed biographies of Kurt Cobain, Steve McQueen, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, and Roman Polanski. He has worked as a film and music writer and reviewer for over 20 years and frequently contributes to newspapers and magazines on both sides of the Atlantic. Rolling Stone has called him "the preeminent author in his field today."
His latest project, MASTERS OF MYSTERY (forthcoming November 2011, Palgrave Macmillan) explores Arthur Conan Doyle's and Harry Houdini's incredible friendship and fascination with Spiritualism.
His latest project, MASTERS OF MYSTERY (forthcoming November 2011, Palgrave Macmillan) explores Arthur Conan Doyle's and Harry Houdini's incredible friendship and fascination with Spiritualism.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 19, 2026
Terrific read
Exceptionally well written and researched description of a little known piece of post war history, with a lot of well known names and plenty of unknown ones, all servicemen/cricketers stuck in the UK in the first summer after the war trying to get things back to normal after 6 years of war.
Exceptionally well written and researched description of a little known piece of post war history, with a lot of well known names and plenty of unknown ones, all servicemen/cricketers stuck in the UK in the first summer after the war trying to get things back to normal after 6 years of war.
November 4, 2025
My Dad regaled me with tales of the great post war cricketers such as Miller,Edrich and Compton and this excellent book gave me more information on these players and many more cricketers of that generation . If you have a deep interest in Cricket and the second world war , this is a must read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews