Stephen Chalke
Illustrated by Ken Taylor (of Yorkshire and England)
Foreword by Tom Cartwright
(of Warwickshire, Somerset, Glamorgan and England)
For many cricket lovers, the 1950s were the last golden age of the English county game.
Stephen Chalke has tracked down and talked to some of the players of that time, players whose careers were rooted in county cricket, and his book uncovers a rich seam of oral history.
Each of the players has chosen a match that has stayed in his memory, and the books tells the stories of twelve such matches. There are thrilling finishes and dramatic collapses, outstanding personal performances and unexpected triumphs. Each chapter is accompanied by an illustration by Ken Taylor, who captures the concentration and movement of the players with the eye of an insider.
Stephen Chalke has told the tale of each game as if the reader is sitting and watching it, the old players alongside. The characters are brought alive, the changes in technique and approach are discussed, and the period is evoked. Always there is a gentle humour close to the surface.
It is an original book, comic and serious, nostalgic and critical. The games themselves are enthralling, and the players' voices combine to provide a portrait of a period of cricket that is rich in craft skills and camaraderie.
RUNS IN THE MEMORY
COUNTY CRICKET IN THE 1950s