Cricket's Burning Passion - Scyld Berry & Rupert Peploe
Methuen Publishing
Ltd ISBN:
0413776271 (Released 26th October) Buy
it Now
 Since
England's Ashes victory in the summer of 2005 we have
seen a huge number of cricket related books released,
all taking full advantage of the resurgence in English
cricket. A number of older books have also been re-released
on the back of the famous victory and the odd new
book launched in the hope that it rides the wave of
victory heading towards another Ashes series in Australia
later this year.
But for the relationship between
Florence Morphy and the Hon Ivo Bligh, it is highly
unlikely that the two countries would today be fighting
for the right to "hold" the Ashes. There's
no doubt that the oldest rivalry in cricket which
began in 1877 would have continued regardless but
whether a suitable prize would be at stake is another
matter entirely. Following England's defeat in England
in 1882 it sparked off cricket's greatest sporting
tradition. Such was the feeling of despondency at
the time, an article appeared in the Sporting Times
announcing the death of English cricket. However in
a matter of months, Ivo Bligh and his team had re-captured
the Ashes in a 2-1 defeat; or had they?!
The book, published by Methuen follows
the relationship between Bligh and Florence Morphy,
an impoverished piano teacher, that blossomed following
a meeting while Bligh was on tour in Australia during
the 1882/3 tour. Starting off with the catalyst for
the great encounters to follow, the book deal very
nicely with a detailed account of the Test match at
the Oval including the financial reasons for playing
despite poor weather and how England lost a match
that really was there for the taking! Buy
it Now
....and the tinkling of
hansom cabs along the Harleyford road could be clearly
heard. Every cricketer knows what it's like to wait
for his knock in a tight corner when he cannot stay
warm. AG Steel's teeth were chattering; he could not
keep his jaw still. Barnes' teeth would have been
chattering too if he had had any but he had false
teeth and he had taken them out....
Rather interestingly we learn that
it was Reginald Brooks, the son of one of Punch's
editors, was the author of the now infamous sporting
times article “In affectionate remembrance”
following the defeat on the 29th August 1882 at the
Oval. He died at the young age of 34 from drink and
heart trouble. Through letters we also learn that
Bligh mistakenly thought that the “cremation
and the ashes” notice appeared in an edition
of punch. Just two weeks later Bligh and his team
left to regain the ashes from Australia.
What sets this book out from the rest
who deal with the 1882/3 series is the information
is more or less from first hand accounts namely diary
entries from both Ivo and Florence and hundreds of
family letters and accounts. There really is no substitute
for hard indisputable facts and we have them in droves
here. It's about time the issues were settled by those
who knew the truth surrounding cricket's greatest
myth.
On the 15th November 1882, Ivo Bligh
travelled to Sunbury for the first time and there
he met Florence Morphy, it was a meeting that shaped
history. Despite popular belief, the couple didn't
meet at a Melbourne Cricket ground but at a dinner
that night hosted by Sir William and Lady Clarke.
Later in the book we read a letter sent to Ivo by
Lady Janet begging him (reading between the lines)
not to rush into asking Florence for her hand in marriage.
He was far too consumed with passion to take nay notice
of his dear friend!
As I mentioned earlier it is the letters
and diary entries from Ivo and Florence that make
this book what it is. We gain an insight into how
he felt on the tour and his parents initial rejection
to his request to marry Florrie. The whole tour is
covered in greater detail than I have seen before
including the smaller matches.
Another great edition or should I
say closure of the book is it's appendix. The authors
have given closure to the main protagonists educating
the reader as to what happened to the main characters,
how long they lived, what they did in life and cricket
and a whole bunch of other interesting facts. Together
with the players rundown we are presented with scorecards,
stats (we all love stats!), detailed sales for Christies
auction and who won the Ashes throughout time.
Superb read made all the more
fascinating by the consistent use of letters and diary
accounts from Ivo and Florence. You won't be sorry
you read this book, a comprehensive account of Ivo's
quest to re-capture the ashes and his 1882/3 tour
to Australia. Buy
it Now
Scyld Berry has been cricket correspondent
of the Sunday Telegraph since 1993. Previously he
was cricket correspondent of the Observer and has
covered every England tour since 1978. He is also
the author of Cricket Wallah: England’s tour
of India 1981-2, One Hundred Great Bowlers, and Cricket
Odyssey: England’s Tours 1987-8.
Rupert Peploe is the great-grandson
of Ivo Bligh and Florence Morphy.
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