Black Swan Summer: The Improbable Story of Western Australia’s First Sheffield Shield

by Max Bonnell

Black Swan Summer tells the extraordinary story of Western Australia's first season of Sheffield Shield cricket, when an unheralded group of unknown, unfashionable and inexperienced players won Australian cricket's biggest prize at their first attempt. But it's more than just a story of an upset result in a cricket competition. It's a chronicle of the summer in which Don Bradman scored his 100th century, India toured Australia for the first time and the country plunged into political turmoil - which not everyone noticed, because they were at the cricket. The book explains the connections between men who returned from war to play cricket, the fear of communism, Mahatma Gandhi, rationing, Keith Miller, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, Ray Lindwall's back foot and a boxer called the Alabama Kid. Drawing on the personal reminiscences of the last three surviving cricketers from the 1947/48 season, it brings that hot, wet summer vividly to life.

224 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2022

Reviews

[Carolyn Bacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming glimpse of Australia post-war, as viewed from the WACA crease. But you don’t need to be a cricket tragic to enjoy the read and start cheering for the WA team. A clever premise, elegantly presented.

[Josephine Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really like cricket. I'm not even interested in cricket. But I love a good underdog story. This one is well told. The narrative is beautifully timed with titbits of history and characterisation. I found myself eager for the next instalment. A great picture of post war Australia.