Bradman's Best Ashes - Roland Perry
Melbourne-based
Roland Perry, writer of Bradman's Best all time cricket
team, puts pen to paper once again with Sir Donald's
all time best ashes team in the book Bradman's Best
Ashes Team, the book is published by Transworld publications
in the UK. Perry is no stranger to cricket writing;
his books include Shane Warne's biography, three books
on Sir Donald and also a book on current Australian
captain Steve Waugh.Bradman's Best Ashes Team
The
idea for the current book came from Perry's interviews
with Bradman in Adelaide around 1995 when they sat
down for interviews over the biography.
"There
was always a trilogy in it, I felt," Perry said.
"Once I had the material I would have thought
rather than stretching it, I have an obligation as
a biographer to publish it."
 Don's
Dozen caused quite a stir when it was published last
year, mostly because it included only five specialist
batsmen with wicketkeeper Don Tallon listed at No.
6. Perry countered the criticism by claiming Don had
preferred attacking batsmen and plenty of depth in
the bowling department.
The
Bradman Foundation, which runs the Bradman Museum
in Bowral as well as acting to protect the integrity
of Bradman's name, has put its name behind Perry's
publications after the author revealed that a significant
portion of the profits would go to the foundation
to help protecting his name.
As
with his first book, Perry said
"There
are going to be some very big noses put out of joint."Bradman's
Best Ashes Team gives us a unique insight into Bradman's
thinking as to who were the best players to have played
in this wonderful competition dating back to 1877
when England won the first contest by 45 runs.
Of
the 24 selected (two teams including 12th men), Bradman
saw them in action or played with or against 22. On
selecting WG Grace and Sydney Barnes, both of England
- they were the only players he never saw playing
that made it to the final 24.
Another
surprise is that he places Grace in the number six
batting slot, and not as an opener where he made his
name during the nineteenth century.
The
book gives in detail the reasons behind Bradman's
choices and why each player was selected, ialso included
are statistics and personal reminiscences about the
cricketer in question.
One
or two of Bradman's choices may surprise the reader.
For example, he picks Charles Macartney as his number
five batsman in the Australian team, stating that
in his early days Macartney was a more than useful
left-arm spinner.
All
the players that made it to the final selection, including
the 12th men receive a chapter on their own. In it,
Perry sets about giving the reader an insight into
why Don chose a particular player and why he made
the position he did. There are a number of wonderful
chapters in the book, I particularly enjoyed the chapters
on Ponsford, Grimmett and Arthur Morris. The later
's chapter meant more to me after meeting up with
him last year.
Don's
paragraph is plentiful and although much has been
written about Don in the past decade or so, there
was still enough interesting material to keep me interested.
One of the greatest strengths of Bradman's best is
that you can pick up the book and read a chapter when
you feel like it, even if you haven't read it for
a few days.
Even
though Perry will undoubtedly receive criticism regarding
the release of the book and cashing in on Don's name
the book as far as this reader is concerned is Highly
recommended.
For
the record Bradman chose the following teams in batting
order:
Australia:
Bill Ponsford, Morris, Bradman, Harvey, Macartney,
Keith Miller, Don Tallon, Ray Lindwall, Dennis Lillee,
Bill O'Reilly, Clarrie Grimmett. 12th man: Benaud.
England:
Jack Hobbs, Len Hutton, Compton, May, Wally Hammond,
Grace, Evans, Fred Trueman, Alec Bedser, Barnes, Hedley
Verity. 12th man: Ian Botham.
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