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A thread on cricket books about India v England Test series.
Mostly tour books but I am also including some biographies and autobiographies having chapter(s) about one or more such series.
There are about 40 books in this thread.
I'll be surprised if anyone has read all of them.
Mostly tour books but I am also including some biographies and autobiographies having chapter(s) about one or more such series.
There are about 40 books in this thread.
I'll be surprised if anyone has read all of them.
1932:
The beginning.
'All-India Cricketers’ Tour 1932' was published in Madras by 'Three Stumps'.
A day by day account of the tour.
Plus twelve pages of Neville Cardus on Indian cricketers.
The beginning.
'All-India Cricketers’ Tour 1932' was published in Madras by 'Three Stumps'.
A day by day account of the tour.
Plus twelve pages of Neville Cardus on Indian cricketers.
1933/34:
This book was published much later.
It doesn't really give a lot of insights about Jardine.
Not the greatest tour book either but a fairly important one.
1936:
There is 'Cricket Comments' by P.H. Seervai.
A very scarce 114-page book.
This book was published much later.
It doesn't really give a lot of insights about Jardine.
Not the greatest tour book either but a fairly important one.
1936:
There is 'Cricket Comments' by P.H. Seervai.
A very scarce 114-page book.
1946:
Three books give information about this tour.
The Fight for the Rubber by L.N. Mathur (hard to get).
John Arlott's first cricket book.
And a bit about the Indian tourists in this book by EHD Sewell.
Three books give information about this tour.
The Fight for the Rubber by L.N. Mathur (hard to get).
John Arlott's first cricket book.
And a bit about the Indian tourists in this book by EHD Sewell.
1951/52:
Tour books.
Another book by L.N. Mathur: 'MCC In India'.
And this one by N.S. Phadke.
Both tricky to find these days.
There was not much attention given by the British media as their second string side toured the newly independent India.
Tour books.
Another book by L.N. Mathur: 'MCC In India'.
And this one by N.S. Phadke.
Both tricky to find these days.
There was not much attention given by the British media as their second string side toured the newly independent India.
1951/52: Some biographies which had a bit on this series.
Allan Watkins by Douglas Miller.
Donald Carr by John Shawcroft.
Both parts of the ACS 'Lives in Cricket' series.
And, of course, Stephen Chalke's superb book with the manager of that MCC team, Geoffrey Howard.
Allan Watkins by Douglas Miller.
Donald Carr by John Shawcroft.
Both parts of the ACS 'Lives in Cricket' series.
And, of course, Stephen Chalke's superb book with the manager of that MCC team, Geoffrey Howard.
1952: The only tour book is Raju Bharatan's 'Rivals in the Sun'.
There wasn't much real rivalry on the field of play, though.
1959: An even worse tour for the tourists.
The only book that had quite a bit on the tour was John Arlott's 'Cricket Journal 2'.
There wasn't much real rivalry on the field of play, though.
1959: An even worse tour for the tourists.
The only book that had quite a bit on the tour was John Arlott's 'Cricket Journal 2'.
1961/62:
No tour books but some autobiographies and biographies had chapters on this series.
Four Englishmen.
Bob Barber, Ken Barrington, Ted Dexter and MJK Smith.
No tour books but some autobiographies and biographies had chapters on this series.
Four Englishmen.
Bob Barber, Ken Barrington, Ted Dexter and MJK Smith.
1963/64:
Once again no real tour book.
But some life stories did have a bit on this series.
Especially Rusi Modi's book.
Once again no real tour book.
But some life stories did have a bit on this series.
Especially Rusi Modi's book.
1967: Again no book on the tour. But 'Tiger's Tale' does have a chapter on the cricket played in this series.
1971: A historic series but there was once again no detailed account of proceedings except this one by Sunder Rajan.
1971: A historic series but there was once again no detailed account of proceedings except this one by Sunder Rajan.
1972/73:
Sunder Rajan's next book was published at the conclusion of this series.
Tony Lewis and Pat Pocock wrote about their experience of playing in this series in their books.
Lewis' latest autobiography too has a chapter on this trip.
Sunder Rajan's next book was published at the conclusion of this series.
Tony Lewis and Pat Pocock wrote about their experience of playing in this series in their books.
Lewis' latest autobiography too has a chapter on this trip.
1974: Even though there are 42 reasons to write one, there is no book.
1976/77: CMJ's book is well known and quite easily available too.
And if you're in India, Rutnagur's book too can be found easily.
John Lever of course had a bit to say about this series....
1976/77: CMJ's book is well known and quite easily available too.
And if you're in India, Rutnagur's book too can be found easily.
John Lever of course had a bit to say about this series....
1979: Nothing.
1979/80: In this book Derek Underwood wrote a chapter on the Jubilee Test.
1981/82: Scyld Berry's famous book needs no introduction.
1979/80: In this book Derek Underwood wrote a chapter on the Jubilee Test.
1981/82: Scyld Berry's famous book needs no introduction.
1982: A book dominated by Patrick Eagar's beautifully captured pictures. Accompanied by Alan Ross' commentary.
1984/85: There are a few books which had a significant amount on this tour. These three by members of the touring side.
1984/85: There are a few books which had a significant amount on this tour. These three by members of the touring side.
1986: Another Eagar/Ross product.
They did it every year throughout the 1980s.
1990: There are quite a few books. One or two were perhaps written because of that 333 by Graham Gooch.
From an Indian perspective, there's Harsha Bhogle's first cricket book.
They did it every year throughout the 1980s.
1990: There are quite a few books. One or two were perhaps written because of that 333 by Graham Gooch.
From an Indian perspective, there's Harsha Bhogle's first cricket book.
1992/93: A miserable tour for England as the Indian spinners were too good for them.
A humourous take on things by Chandra Senan.
'England Tour of India 1992/93' is a more orthodox account by Syed Parvez Qaiser.
A humourous take on things by Chandra Senan.
'England Tour of India 1992/93' is a more orthodox account by Syed Parvez Qaiser.
Nothing much since then. The 'tour book' has seen a slow death.
Let's hope for a series worthy of a revival.
Ending with a recently published book on a tour that didn't happen, in 1939/40.
Let's hope for a series worthy of a revival.
Ending with a recently published book on a tour that didn't happen, in 1939/40.
