Cricket Champions

1966 is rightly remembered as the time England won the football World Cup for the first time. However, the footballers were not the only world champions in England that summer.

At the end of April, the West Indies cricket team began a four-month tour of Great Britain. Led by Garry Sobers, and with many players who would become legends of the game, they were cricket’s world champions. The highlight of the eagerly awaited tour would be the five Test matches being played for the Wisden Trophy. The West Indies were understandably favourites to win, but there was real hope that England would present a tough challenge.

It turned out to be nothing of the kind. In a series full of incident, England was often in disarray, sacking their captain twice, and using 23 different players. Yet, in the last Test they still managed to surprise.

Cricket Champions is an enthralling account of the summer of 1966, a time of many memorable sporting performances. Above all it was a time when the West Indies showed they were a remarkable team led by Garry Sobers, a truly outstanding cricketer who could do it all.