Victory in Australia

The Daily Telegraph top ten sports books of 2025

'Meticulously researched and (for any cricket fan) unputdownable... splendidly atmospheric' – The Times

'A wonderful book... excellent recent re-telling.' – Mike Atherton

‘A masterpiece that sets the bar for blending cricket and social history’ – Nick Hoult, chief cricket writer, The Daily Telegraph

THE DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT OF AN EPIC ASHES BATTLE

The Ashes series of 1954–55 marked a watershed moment in the history of English cricket. Under the leadership of Len Hutton, the national team’s first professional captain, one of the greatest group of players ever to represent England won an Ashes series in Australia for the first time in more than 20 years. It is a feat that has been repeated only four times in more than 70 years since.

But Hutton’s men had to overcome the additional obstacle of losing heavily in the first Test – only one England team has managed to win an overseas Ashes series after such a monumental setback.

The names of the cricketers who locked horns in 1954–55 resonate down the decades – Hutton's team included Denis Compton, Frank Tyson, Brian Statham, Trevor Bailey, Godfrey Evans, Peter May and Colin Cowdrey. Among their Australian opponents were Ray Lindwall, Keith Miller, Neil Harvey and Richie Benaud. In the 1950s, these players were not just elite sportsmen, they were household names.

An Ashes series for the ages is brought thrillingly to life in this momentous slice of sporting and social history.