Book Review: Cricket in the Second World War by John Broom

You will know, by now, that any book which combines cricket history with the social context is right up my street.

That being the case, John Broom's book on cricket during the last war was always likely to be pulling up a seat in my living room. And boy, was it a welcome guest.

The book is genuinely magnificent. Not just the subject area, covered like never before, but in the sheer depth of research. I have done plenty of that over the years, personally and professionally and cannot but admire the work that has gone into this wonderful book.

I was hooked by the end of David Frith's foreword and getting a cricket writer of his stature confirms the excellence of what is to follow. The style is simple, devoting a chapter to each year of the war, but the coverage is extraordinary. We see international and county cricketers sharing chapters with schools, leagues, clubs, universities - and not just in England. Overseas and womens cricket is covered too and military matches are extraordinary in both their frequency and location. 

I played many times at Stirling County Cricket Club and the tale of the wartime conscientious objector in the membership fascinated me. So too the tales of a myriad matches created to aid morale, to raise funds, to allow things to be seen as unchanged as possible, even though they were, forever. 

I especially appreciated a generous font size and the lavish illustrations just set the book off perfectly. It isn't the cheapest book, at £25, but you will get to the end of this and consider it money well spent. 

It is a book that makes you proud of the resolve of the people of the time, as well as their bravery. Tales of fatalities, the great and unknown, are scattered throughout, all of them making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Yet so too those who came through it, playing a key role in the eventual war victory. Drama and poignancy rub shoulders on every page and it is a book you will be the better for reading. 

John Broom is the author of six previous  published works, all of them by Pen & Sword Books.

Yet this may just be his finest moment. If it doesn't show up in the cricket book awards this year, I  will be very surprised.

Get it on your list for your birthday, or for Christmas.

You won't regret it.

Cricket In The Second World War: The Grim Test is written by John Broom and published by Pen & Sword, priced £25