Bradman's War: How the 1948 Invincibles Turned the Cricket Pitch Into a Battlefield

Shortlisted for the 2013 Prime Minister's Literary Awards The Australian and English Test cricketers who fought and survived together in WWII came home planning to resume the Ashes in a new spirit of friendship. Australia's legendary captain had something else in mind. The 1948 'Invincibles' - the only Australians to complete a tour of England undefeated - stormed the record books, even if Bradman's final innings left him forever stranded on a Test batting average of 99.94. In his absorbing account, Malcolm Knox exposes the mixed feelings among the fans, commentators and players - from both teams - about the manner in which their feats were achieved. At its heart was a rift between players who had experienced the horrors of active duty, epitomised by the fiery RAAF pilot Keith Miller, and those who had not, such as the invalided Bradman. Bradman's War celebrates the talents of Ray Lindwall, Sid Barnes, Lindsay Hassett, Bill Johnston, Arthur Morris and, of course, their irrepressible captain, but wonders if the Don's single - minded tactics, even against the war - ravaged veterans of the county clubs, cost Test cricket the opportunity to be played for the love of the game