The Summer Game: Australian Test Cricket 1949-71

The Summer Game examines Australian Test cricket during a pivotal period from 1949 to 1971. The book chronicles the matches, players, and cultural shifts that defined cricket in Australia during these decades. Author Gideon Haigh draws from archives, interviews, and historical records to reconstruct the era's key moments and personalities. His analysis covers major developments in technique, strategy, and the sport's administration during this transformative time. The narrative follows the Australian cricket team's evolving fortunes through post-war reconstruction, the 1956 tour of England, the 1960-61 West Indies series, and beyond. Particular attention is paid to figures like Don Bradman, Richie Benaud, and Neil Harvey. This book reveals cricket's role in shaping Australian national identity and captures a time when the sport helped define the country's relationship with its past and future. The account balances sporting analysis with broader cultural observations about a changing nation.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Gideon Haigh's overall work: Readers praise Haigh's research depth and storytelling abilities across both cricket and business topics. His cricket biographies receive particular attention for uncovering new details about well-known figures. What readers liked: - Thorough historical research and documentation - Clear writing style that makes complex topics accessible - Ability to place cricket stories in broader social context - Balanced perspective on controversial subjects What readers disliked: - Some find his detailed statistical analysis overwhelming - Business histories can be dry for general readers - Cricket books assume significant knowledge of the sport - Occasional tendency toward excessive detail Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - "Mystery Spinner" - 4.2/5 (200+ ratings) - "On Warne" - 4.0/5 (150+ ratings) - "The Office" - 3.8/5 (100+ ratings) Amazon: - Cricket titles average 4.3/5 - Business books average 3.9/5 Reader quote: "Haigh has a rare gift for making institutional history read like a detective story" - Amazon review of "Asbestos House"

Bradman: The Summer of 1930 by Ronald Perry Chronicles Don Bradman's record-breaking tour of England through match reports, personal accounts, and historical documents.

Golden Boy: Kim Hughes and the Bad Old Days of Australian Cricket by Christian Ryan Documents the turbulent period of Australian cricket in the 1980s through the lens of captain Kim Hughes's career and downfall.

The Art of Cricket by Sir Donald Bradman Details the technical aspects and evolution of cricket technique through the perspective of Australia's greatest batsman.

Cricket Crisis by Jack Fingleton Provides a first-hand account of the 1932-33 Bodyline series between Australia and England from a player who faced the controversial tactics.

The Cricket War by Gideon Haigh Examines the World Series Cricket revolution of 1977-79 through behind-the-scenes accounts and primary sources.

🏏 Author Gideon Haigh has written over 40 books, with cricket being his primary subject, despite never playing the sport at a high level. 🏏 The period covered (1949-71) is often considered Australian cricket's "golden age," featuring legends like Sir Donald Bradman, Richie Benaud, and Neil Harvey. 🏏 During this era, Australia participated in what became known as "The Tied Test" against West Indies in 1960 - only the first tied match in Test cricket history after 84 years of international competition. 🏏 This book explores how television transformed cricket coverage during this period, with the first Australian cricket broadcast occurring in 1956. 🏏 The Summer Game was released in 1997 and received the Jack Pollard Trophy for best Australian cricket book of that year.