--- product_id: 141429606 title: "Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket" price: "€ 33.07" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.hr/products/141429606-arlott-swanton-and-the-soul-of-english-cricket store_origin: HR region: Croatia --- # Award-winning Cricket History Meticulously Researched Narrative Iconic Voices of Post-War Cricket Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket **Price:** € 33.07 **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Summary > πŸ“– Relive the soul of English cricket through its legendary voices! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket - **How much does it cost?** € 33.07 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hr](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/141429606-arlott-swanton-and-the-soul-of-english-cricket) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - β€’ **Timeless Relevance:** From amateur disputes to the rise of one-day cricket, understand controversies that still resonate today. - β€’ **Award-Winning Insight:** Winner of the Telegraph Cricket Book of the Year 2019, a must-have for cricket aficionados. - β€’ **Legendary Commentators:** Experience the contrasting voices of Arlott and Swanton that shaped cricket broadcasting. - β€’ **Cultural & Sporting Evolution:** Explore how cricket mirrored Britain’s shift from class-based to egalitarian society. - β€’ **Rich Social & Sporting History:** Dive deep into the transformative post-war era of English cricket with vivid storytelling. ## Overview Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket is a meticulously researched and beautifully written award-winning book that chronicles the post-war evolution of English cricket through the perspectives of two iconic commentators. Celebrated for its rich social and sporting history, it captures the cultural shifts and controversies that shaped the game, making it essential reading for both seasoned fans and new enthusiasts eager to understand cricket’s enduring legacy. ## Description WINNER OF THE TELEGRAPH CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2019 'Beautifully written, meticulously researched and stuffed with rich sporting and social history ... Unputdownable' Mail on Sunday After the Second World War, as the BBC tightened its grip on the national consciousness, two of the most famous English voices were commentators on games of cricket. John Arlott and E.W. ('Jim') Swanton transformed the broadcasting of the nation's summer game into a national institution. Arlott and Swanton typified the contrasting aspects of post-war Britain. Because of their strong personalities and distinctive voices - Swanton's crisp and upper-class, Arlott's with its Hampshire burr - each had a loyal following. As England moved from a class-based to a more egalitarian society, nothing stayed the same - including professional cricket. Wise, lively and filled with rich social and sporting history, Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket shows how, as the game entered a new era, these two very different men battled to save the soul of the game. _______________________ 'Magnificent . One of the best cricket books I've read in years: it makes long-forgotten matches live and breathe as though they were played yesterday' Daily Mail, Books of the Year 'A triumph . [Kynaston and Fay] both have inside-outside sensitivities that keep this near-seamless collaboration shrewd, worldly, balanced and fresh' Times Literary Supplement Review: Cricket and its corridors of uncertainty - This is essentially the history of post-war cricket seen through the eyes of two men whose voices and writings shaped and enhanced the sporting experience for millions. They were of different backgrounds, styles and philosophies, but both had a significant impact on the game. There was certainly plenty to chew over: the amateur/professional wrangle, the emergence of the one-day game, the d'Oliveira affair and the Kerry Packer revolution to name but a few. All these controversial milestones are examined in fascinating detail. It was especially pleasing to be reminded of some of Arlott's famous word pictures for Test Match Special: 'A stroke of a man knocking a thistle-top off with a walking stick.' I suppose this book will appeal largely to those described in the Postscript as ' ... older followers of the game [who] pine for a lost golden age.' That would be a pity because it would be an education to younger cricket followers to know that there's nothing new about counties' financial struggles, slow over-rates, boorish behaviour and the fear that the shorter game will eventually devour its long-standing bedfellow. As far back as 1972, Arlott was reflecting that 'it would be a pity if the entertaining and rewarding tail [one-day cricket] were to wag the dog so hard as to shake it off.' This is an absorbing study, well written and admirably researched. Review: Cricket at its best - So far I have only browsed this book but it seems very good and is from a period when cricket was a highlight of my growing up ## Features - New Store Stock ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 83,024 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 23 in Cricket Player Biographies 32 in Cricket (Books) 65 in History of Sports (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 243 Reviews | ## Images ![Arlott, Swanton and the Soul of English Cricket - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71IalKTThLL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cricket and its corridors of uncertainty *by A***M on 8 June 2018* This is essentially the history of post-war cricket seen through the eyes of two men whose voices and writings shaped and enhanced the sporting experience for millions. They were of different backgrounds, styles and philosophies, but both had a significant impact on the game. There was certainly plenty to chew over: the amateur/professional wrangle, the emergence of the one-day game, the d'Oliveira affair and the Kerry Packer revolution to name but a few. All these controversial milestones are examined in fascinating detail. It was especially pleasing to be reminded of some of Arlott's famous word pictures for Test Match Special: 'A stroke of a man knocking a thistle-top off with a walking stick.' I suppose this book will appeal largely to those described in the Postscript as ' ... older followers of the game [who] pine for a lost golden age.' That would be a pity because it would be an education to younger cricket followers to know that there's nothing new about counties' financial struggles, slow over-rates, boorish behaviour and the fear that the shorter game will eventually devour its long-standing bedfellow. As far back as 1972, Arlott was reflecting that 'it would be a pity if the entertaining and rewarding tail [one-day cricket] were to wag the dog so hard as to shake it off.' This is an absorbing study, well written and admirably researched. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cricket at its best *by J***S on 7 June 2019* So far I have only browsed this book but it seems very good and is from a period when cricket was a highlight of my growing up ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beautifully written and absorbing *by S***H on 30 August 2018* This is a very well-written and compelling analysis of cricket, and its social contexts, through the prism of two of its most remarkable sons. I urge any cricket tragic like me to read it --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.hr/products/141429606-arlott-swanton-and-the-soul-of-english-cricket](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/141429606-arlott-swanton-and-the-soul-of-english-cricket) --- *Product available on Desertcart Croatia* *Store origin: HR* *Last updated: 2026-10-07*