“There are a lot of good things about England, but I don’t want to tell you too many of them.”
Cricket is known as the ‘Gentleman’s Game’, and can trace its roots all the way back to the 18th century. 3.2 billion people follow the game across 120 playing nations, meaning roughly 65% of the Earth’s population has an interest in Cricket in some form or another. And the most prestigious event on the calendar is undoubtedly the Ashes.
Contested between England and Australia, the name originates from 1882 when a British newspaper satirically proclaimed the death of English Cricket and that ‘the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia’ following a shocking series loss. Still regarded as the pinnacle series in Test Cricket, check out What We Reading for the best cricket biographies to read during the Ashes!
The Battle For The Ashes – Osmond Robin
Where better to start than a book that celebrates the unique legacy of the Ashes? In The Battle for the Ashes: A Cricket Timeline History, Osmond Robin presents readers with a 16-page fold-out detailing the results of the Ashes series since 1877 with the most major personal milestones included.
Robin also includes a book section in The Battle for the Ashes which includes a guide through all the most memorable matches, individual performances, strange and obscure stories and, of course, a celebration of the most successful teams across history.
Cricket’s Greatest Rivalry – Simon Hughes
One of the most skilled and respected analysts on the game, Simon Hughes pays homage to the legacy of the rivalry between England and Australia in Cricket’s Greatest Rivalry. Masterfully bringing to life ten of the most epic matches played over the span of 135 years, Hughes balances gripping storytelling with expert insights.
Cricket’s Greatest Rivalry is the ultimate Ashes book for understanding how such an intense rivalry was founded and continues to this day, with Hughes picking out the most significant heroes, villains and controversies both on and off the pitch that have dominated the series.
Wisden On The Ashes – Steven Lynch
Wisden are the authority voice on the world of Cricket and they present one of the most complete guides on the history of the Ashes in their book, Wisden On The Ashes: The Authoritative Story Of Cricket’s Greatest Rivalry.
A painstaking deep-dive into the history of the England-Australia contest, the book comes with reports, scorecards and remarkable material from the archives that capture this rivalry that has endured for nearly 150 years.
Botham’s Book of the Ashes – Ian Botham
Is there a player more intertwined with the Ashes than Ian Botham? Known for his unbelievable exploits in 1981, the series would forever be known as ‘Botham’s Ashes’ thanks to his contributions with both bat and ball.
In Botham’s Book of the Ashes, the all-rounder and commentator take readers through his own relationship with the famous old urn both on the pitch and off it.
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Cycling To The Ashes – Oli Broom
A story with a slightly different angle, but nevertheless demonstrates the immense pull of Cricket and the Ashes as a spectacle, Cycling to the Ashes is a unique Travel memoir from public speaker and writer Oli Broom. A self-confessed Cricket lover, in 2009 Oli Broom left his job to cycle from London to the Ashes down under in Brisbane on his bike.
It was a journey that took 14 months and stretched across 23 countries and 16,000 miles. Along the way, he details his epic adventure as well as how he was able to keep Cricket fever alive by playing with everyone from the Serbian national side to desert nomads in Sudan.
The Ashes – Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann won three Ashes series whilst playing for England, but his experiences in the disastrous 2013/14 tour down under were responsible for ending his international career. One of the best off-spinners in English cricketing history, Swann has been at both ends of the emotions an Ashes series throws up. In his book, The Ashes: It’s All About the Urn, Swann details the iconic moments that captured his imagination as a fan and the dramas that have shaped the Ashes as the most significant series in Cricket.
Funny and genuine, it is the perfect guidebook for those who want to skip over the analysis, records and numbers and instead gain an insight into what the Ashes ‘feel’ like.
Ashes Victory – The England Cricket Team
The 2005 Ashes are widely regarded as the best Ashes series of all time, and one of the greatest sporting events in history. The first time England had won the Ashes since 1986, it marked Cricket’s return to public attention in the country.
Fans were treated to some of the most enthralling matches and performances from both sides, with the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen, and Michael Vaughan all forging their legendary reputations on the back of the series. In Ashes Victory, the England cricketers take readers through the 2005 series from their own eyes, illustrating how, after nearly two decades, they were able to win back Cricket’s famous urn.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
