Of all the iconic cultural milestones of the early 1960s - the advent of the Beatles to concert halls, James Bond to cinemas, Doctor Who to television, and (according to Philip Larkin) sexual intercourse to bedrooms - one particular Ashes Test at Lord's in July 1961 might seem to come fairly low down the list. But this thrilling day-by-day account of the match by two acclaimed historians uses it as a lens to explore the clash of two very different cricketing cultures, placing it in the context of the time and looking ahead to see what the next sixty years would have in store for the two nations' teams. Undoubtedly the cricket book of the year.

As soon as I saw this book was out in the shops I had to buy it. I love cricket, I love Richie Benaud and I love a trip down memory lane, brilliantly researched, the authors expertly transport you to the summer of 1961 and build the main characters as they go. An absolute must for any cricket fan of a certain age who longs for the good old days.