{"product_id":"9781915237422-a-striking-summer","title":"A Striking Summer","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHow Cricket United a Divided Nation\u003cbr\u003eStephen Brenkley captures the drama of the 1926 Ashes series, delves into the characters of the players and shows how in such troubled times the game of cricket briefly united the nation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBritain in 1926 was a troubled country. Revolution was in the air as the catastrophic\u003cbr\u003eafter-effects of the First World War continued. A General Strike in May soon ended, but it left a legacy of\u003cbr\u003ebitterness and recrimination. Millions of workers across many industries were sacked or locked out, and\u003cbr\u003ecoal mining came to a standstill. Poverty was widespread, but it lived alongside plenty.\u003cbr\u003eAgainst this backdrop Australia's cricketers arrived to defend the Ashes that they had won decisively in all\u003cbr\u003ethree series since the war. Cricket in England, like everything else, was still recovering after the conflict.\u003cbr\u003eThe whole population was desperate for success as interest in the matches transcended class and status.\u003cbr\u003eAt every venue crowds queued all night to watch the Tests. They were rewarded with great individual\u003cbr\u003eperformances from some of the greatest players of all time - and it all went down to the wire. The Ashes\u003cbr\u003edepended on the final Fifth Test, to be played to a finish. The country held its collective breath.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41769864855649,"sku":"9781915237422","price":21.33,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/stand_32503269.jpg?v=1738683804","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781915237422-a-striking-summer","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}