Celebrates 15 of the most gripping Test matches played in the 130 years of Anglo-Australian cricket rivalry, spanning the period from the inaugural Test at Melbourne in 1877 to England's ghost-laying triumph at Lord's in 2009. This book discusses the crucial issues such as national versus regional loyalties in both countries.

The Greatest Ashes Battles celebrates 15 of the most gripping Test matches played in the 130 years of Anglo-Australian cricket rivalry, spanning the period from the inaugural Test at Melbourne in 1877 to England's ghost-laying triumph at Lord's in 2009. These great Tests have been selected to achieve a balance in period, place and outcome; all characterized by fluctuating fortunes, epic performances, close finishes and absorbing subplots on and off the field. The structure of the book is chronological, and the matches are set within the context of Anglo-Australian Test cricket history. In addition to providing incisive match reports and full match scorecards, the book discusses all the crucial issues such as national versus regional loyalties in both countries, professionalism and amateurism, player dissent, cronyism, selection and captaincy debates, uncovered pitches, slow over rates and intimidatory bowling.

• Melbourne 1877: A Combination Match * Sydney 1894: Cruel Luck! Cruel LuckA * Manchester 1902: Tragic Heroes * Adelaide 1929: The Balance of the Years * Leeds 1938: Dark Victory * Sydney 1954: The Typhoon of Change * Lord's 1961: William the Conqueror * Sydney 1971: Playing it by the Book * Melbourne 1977: Centenary Test * Leeds 1981: 500:1 to 6:4 * Nottingham 1993: An Honourable Draw * Edgbaston 2005: Living the Dream * Trent Bridge 2005: Thinking the Unthinkable * Adelaide 2006: The Curse of Negativity * Lord's 2009: 75 Bloody Years