Richie Benaud’s Blue Suede Shoes

David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts vividly recreate the dramatic fourth Test of the 1961 Ashes series between England and Australia, a match that epitomized a turning point in cricket history. The narrative captures the fluctuating fortunes of the game and the intense experience of millions of viewers, while focusing on the contrasting personalities of England's cautious captain Peter May and Australia's charismatic, risk-taking Richie Benaud. This contrast symbolizes a broader cultural shift from the old imperial cricketing traditions to a new meritocratic era. Beyond the match itself, the book traces the lives of key players like Ted Dexter, Bill Lawry, and Fred Trueman, and reflects on the evolving relationship between English cricket and social change over six decades. It also wrestles with the enduring question for England supporters: why do the Australians, wearing the iconic baggy green caps, so often prevail? The book is praised for its immersive detail, social insight, and its status as an epic cricket classic retold.