Features
Wading into diplomatic hot water, we tell the tale of the Bodyline scandal of the 1930s, and then calm things down with a few good cricketing books. We also talk to England spin bowler Ashley Giles about winning the Ashes, meet an unsung hero and discover how cricket has travelled around the world
Interview: Ashes star Ashley Giles
Last summer Ashley Giles was one of the heroes of England’s first Test series victory over Australia since 1987. England lost the first match heavily but bounced back to win 2-1 with Giles playing a crucial role. The Warwickshire spin bowler talks to ICONS about his love of cricket and explains why the sport is an English icon.
Unsung Heroes
The patchwork tiles on the roofs around the St Annes cricket ground are testament to the youthful prowess of Andrew Flintoff.
The Bodyline Controversy
The record hammering England’s bowlers took from the legendary Australian batsman Donald Bradman in the 1930 Ashes series still stands. "The Don" helped himself to almost 1,000 runs at an astonishing average of 139 as his team returned home triumphantly with the famous urn. Determined to avenge the defeat, the scheming to counter Bradman’s prodigious talent began immediately. By the time the England team set sail for Australia two years later, under the captaincy of Douglas Jardine, a new line of attack had been devised – Bodyline.
Cricket in Literature
Cricket has occupied a place in the English literary imagination for three centuries. When considered as an inspiration for creative writing, as distinct from ordinary sports journalism, it is probably the most written-about of all our national sports.
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord’s is regarded the world over as the traditional and spiritual home of cricket.
The World of Cricket
While we naturally celebrate any success the England team enjoys, cricket is an international sport. The top league of teams are to be found in the Commonwealth, where England exported the game during the colonial era, but some surprising new countries are now getting in on the act.
Ten Things…
Here are ten interesting facts for cricket fans - how many do you already know?
