Ten to Win . . . And the Last Man In: My Pick of Test Match Cliffhangers

by Henry Blofeld

'Is there anything in sport to compare with the sustained excitement of a cricket match, especially a Test match, in which the advantage continually fluctuates one way and then the other, and when the match enters its last few minutes, all four results are still possible?'

After entertaining countless radio listeners around the world for decades, who better to convey the breathless drama of a Test match cliffhanger than Henry Blofeld? Now, in Ten to Win . . . and the Last Man In , he has personally selected thirty matches featuring unforgettable finishes and brought them vividly to life again in his own inimitable way.

Ranging from the match-winning bowling of F.R. Spofforth against W.G. Grace's England in 1882, via the first tied Test between Benaud's Australia and Worrell's West Indies in 1960, to the never-say-die batting of Ben Stokes in 2019, he picks out the key events and performances of each memorable match and describes them as only he can.

Alongside the big-hitting heroics of Jessop in 1902 and Botham in 1981, he revisits less celebrated matches such as South Africa's hard-fought first Test win in 1906, as well as a crucial innings from Denis Compton in 1948 and a match-saving performance by a young Alan Knott in Guyana in 1968 - one of the most exciting matches he has ever witnessed first-hand.

Filled with colourful detail and informed by insight gained from a lifetime immersed in the sport he loves, Henry Blofeld's latest book will leave the reader in no doubt - as he himself puts it - about 'what an absurdly irresistible game cricket can be'.

Genres: Sports

320 pages, Hardcover

Published June 14, 2022

Reviews

[Brian Frederick Jerome Eadon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book which tells the stories of 50 cricket matches which ended in very close finishes which were exciting, amazing and dramatic. The first nine were in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, before I was alive, thereafter I knew the cricketers and indeed followed many of the matches on the radio and television when the games were on free to view terrestial TV. Part of the commentary team for many of these games was Henry Blofeld (the author) and he became part of my growing up soundtrack. When some of the games described had finished we often went out in the street and acted out the dramatic finishes in our childhood games. I couldn't put the book down. Nowadays at the age of 69 I bat number 11 for Chirk Second XI when the team is short of players. Often I'm the last man into bat with 10 to win. Sadly I've never emulated some of the last wicket partnerships which brought victory in the games described in the book, but this book was motivational for me, and I'll recall some of the last wicket stands the next time the situation arises, and use Henry Blofeld's voice in my mind to inspire me!

[James Walsh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Henry Blofeld is a legendary character, yet this blow by blow account of ‘great’ cricket matches lacks any engaging qualities. Almost built around the England World Cup win in 2019 and subsequent victory against Australia a month later and the 1981 Botham & Willis match v Australia; the rest feels like padding. There are some odd moments of interest, but overall I struggled to do any more than plod through this book.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if Blowers did his own research on this, but I assume he did. Anyway, it is a collection of mostly interesting stories about close finishes in various cricket matches down the years. The most interesting of all is about the match that led to the founding of The Ashes, with an echo of the story of that match in the recent history of The Ashes. If you want to know what I mean, you'll have to read the book. Yes, Geoff Boycott, I'm looking at you.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gentle reminder of some of the great Test (and a few other) Matches. Each chapter is short and factual with a little personal colour. There are parts where the author has less first hand experience when the facts are a little functional. But it is still a nice little taster of the wonders of some of the tensest finishes of all time. Not special in its execution but a nice idea.

[Pete Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed. The recollections & stories from games which Blowers was at are vivid & entertaining. The historical games aren't well told! Highlights inc. WC final 2017, 2019 & Headingley 2019. Avoid unless proper cricket badger

[James Fountain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely short stories of famously close-run matches - some better-known than others, told in Blower’s compelling and typically enthusiastic, boyish style.

[Shaun Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account if some interesting cricket games. May not be everyone list of games but all told with wit and interest