A striking summer: when the 1926 Ashes series united a divided nation

In an extract from his new book Stephen Brenkley explains the fervour and political intrigue stirred by Australia’s tour

Britain in 1926 was a troubled country. Revolution was in the air as the catastrophic after-effects of the First World War continued. A General Strike in May soon ended, but it left a legacy of bitterness and recrimination. Millions of workers across many industries were sacked or locked out, and coal mining came to a standstill. Poverty was widespread, but it lived alongside plenty. Against this backdrop Australia’s cricketers arrived to defend the Ashes that they had won decisively in all three series since the war.

Cricket in England, like everything else, was still recovering after the conflict. The whole population was desperate for success as interest in the matches transcended class and status. In his new book, A Striking Summer, Stephen Brenkley captures the drama of the series, delves into the characters of the players and shows how in such troubled times the game of cricket briefly united the nation. The following extract charts the extraordinary level of excitement that accompanied the Australians’ arrival in England and how, despite the many grave challenges facing the country, the impending Ashes found its way to the forefront of the national conversation.

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