Product Description

With Australia having lost their invincible aura and an improving England side having home advantage, the 2009 Ashes series was always likely to be a gripping contest. And with the hero of 2005, Andrew Flintoff, announcing this was to be his swansong, the level of interest reached fever point. Watching on throughout, with a calm, insightful eye was former England captain Mike Atherton, whose reports on the Ashes series in The Times were required reading for all fans of the sport. Having played in seven Ashes series himself, he understands precisely the unique pressures of cricket's longest and most intense international rivalry. In Atherton's Ashes, he provides his day-by-day account of how the fortunes of both sides fluctuated throughout a terrific summer of cricket. He analyses the key turning points for each team and reveals the vital technical issues that can make or break a player in such high-pressure scenarios. He explains how the decisions of the captains, Andrew Strauss and Ricky Ponting, helped shape events and brings vividly to life the best of the action. Atherton's Ashes is sure to be the definitive word on the brilliant 2009 series, where the outcome hung in the balance until the final Test.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1964 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-01
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

A brilliant analysis of the 2009 Ashes
Mike Atherton's column in The Times is the first port of call for many fans looking to read his expert analysis and insight on the series and this book is full of Atherton's wisdom and insight into the game as well as plenty of behind-the-scenes facts about the players and coaching staff. Nothing escapes Atherton's attention and it is amazing how often he predicts how the teams will perform. This book also has some great photos from the Tests. This is a fascinating diary of the victorious 2009 series from a true great.

if you read The Times you'll have read all this already
No argument, this is very well written by one of the most incisive cricket anaylysts, but the problem with this book is that it is essentially a collection of all the articles Mike Atherton wrote for the Times while the series was going on. Fair enough for those who don't read the Times but, if you do and you open this book thinking you are going to read something you haven't read before, you won't. I know we've all got to do our bit to save the planet, so full marks to all concerned for re-cycling, but I'd rather read something fresh.

Ashes
Many books have again been published after Ashes win.
Mike Athertons is for me the best.
He wrote it day by day as Ashes unfolded and it tells . Each day carried its own emotions and Mike reflects that in his writing.
Very enjoyable and factual.