Britain in 1926 was a troubled country. Revolution was in the air as the catastrophic after-effects of the First World War continued. A General Strike in May soon ended, but it left a legacy of bitterness and recrimination. Millions of workers across many industries were sacked or locked out, and coal mining came to a standstill. Poverty was widespread, but it lived alongside plenty.

Against this backdrop Australia’s cricketers arrived to defend the Ashes that they had won decisively in all three series since the war. Cricket in England, like everything else, was still recovering after the conflict. The whole population was desperate for success as interest in the matches transcended class and status. At every venue crowds queued all night to watch the Tests. They were rewarded with great individual performances from some of the greatest players of all time – and it all went down to the wire. The Ashes depended on the final Fifth Test, to be played to a finish. The country held its collective breath.

Stephen Brenkley captures the drama of the series, delves into the characters of the players and shows how in such troubled times the game of cricket briefly united the nation.