The Ashes: It's All About the Urn

by Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann leads us on a compelling adventure through one of world sport's most engrossing rivalries. He knows as much as anybody about the heat of England v Australia battles, having played in three series wins and also the whitewash defeat of 2013-14 when its intensity ended his international career. However, it brought out some of his best displays in Test cricket.

But he is just one of dozens of colourful characters to have added their chapters to this great tome. The mock obituary of English cricket in the Sporting Times of 1882 was the forerunner of summers and winters of heaven and hell, depending on which side of the divide you were situated. When it comes to on-field relations nothing quite compares to the over-my-dead-body feel of the Ashes.

From W.G. Grace to Sir Donald Bradman, the most graceful of them all. From the foulest play to the fairest - contrast the 1932-33 Bodyline series affair to the image of Andrew Flintoff hunched over a distraught Brett Lee in 2005. From Ray Illingworth's famous walk-off in the Seventies, when an England team-mate was assaulted by a spectator, to Steve Waugh's hugely emotional lap of honour when he retired a quarter of a century later. Swann's book will reveal the magic of a series that first gripped him in his front room in Northampton as an aspiring spin bowler in the mid-1980s.

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 2, 2017

About the author

Graeme Peter Swann is an English international cricketer. He is primarily a right-arm offspinner, but also bats right-handed. After initially playing for his home county Northamptonshire, for which he made his debut in 1997, he moved to Nottinghamshire in 2005. He often fields at slip. He attended Sponne School in Towcester, Northamptonshire.

Reviews

[Stephen Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swann writes in a chirpy and engaging style straight from the heart about the Ashes.

There were some really exciting chapters, most were really good and some didn't quite hit the mark for me, but certainly weren't bad or terrible.

One thing I noticed was at times Swann lacked introspection and seemed wedded to his viewpoint and came across as quite arrogant with it. I think he had a point on KP, but equally I don't think he painted the full picture and was coloured by his hatred of KP.

That said, what I really enjoyed about this book was the sheer infectious adoration of cricket Swann has, backed up by playing at the highest level. This gave you great insights in to the Ashes series he played in, as well as the life of a spin bowler, apart from the last series he played in.

A good book and it was fitting I read it during the 1st Ashes match of 2023. Not a great mind, so four stars seems a fair rating.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of Ashes Cricket and also explained why Graeme retired before his time. I wasn’t aware of his injury.

[Pushon Bhattacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and enthusiastic guide to the greatest rivalry in cricket. As someone who is a casual fan of the sport (and that's being generous), I gained a great deal of appreciation for the Ashes and what it means to both English and Australian fans from this book. Instead of being littered with numbers and stats, this book conveys the emotions that players and supporters go through when these two teams challenge for the urn. Having said that, I didn't understand all of the cricket terminology. Also, fuck England.