Almanac Cricket: ‘Tigers among the Lions’: A reflection on the 1972 Ashes
Barry Nicholls will be speaking at an event at the Payneham Cricket Club, John Street, Payneham, on Thursday, November 6. It’s an in-conversation with Malcolm Ashwood — an evening discussing life, writing, and cricket in the 1970s (and some footy). 7 pm for a 7:30 pm start.
Contact details are below for the Payneham event as well as for other Adelaide events Barry is involved in over the Melbourne Cup weekend.
The following short piece expresses why the Ashes series of ’72 was so appealing —to Barry and others—along with a few photos of Barry as a kid from around 1972 the time of the publication of Ian Chappell’s book.
Tigers among the Lions: A reflection on the 1972 Ashes
Sometimes a book can quickly transport you to a time and place.
Like hearing an old song.
That book for me is Tigers among the Lions (the story of the 1972 Ashes), written by Ian Chappell.
Barry’s copy
Though simple in style, it holds a special place in my heart. My love for the book isn’t just about the 1972 Ashes; it’s part of my personal story. I still have the copy my father gave me for Christmas that year, a gift that’s been with me through the years. It’s probably the one book I’d never let go of.
If you visit an old cricket mate’s place, he’s likely to have a copy of Tigers among the Lions in his collection – maybe signed by some of the players. Although it’s probably a bit worn, the hardback, with its curious title, holds sentimental value for men now in their 60s.
In the cover story, Ian Chappell outlines the links between the Australian team and the Tigers, mentioning that he and his brother Greg are involved with the Glenelg cricket club, which features black and gold colours—the same as those of team manager Ray Steele’s Richmond Tigers, for whom he played in the 1943 VFL premiership. Dennis Lillee’s nickname was also ‘Tiger.’
The Tigers were competing against the Lions, a symbol of English sports teams.
Technology significantly boosted Ian Chappell’s team’s popularity in Australia, allowing fans to watch daily 30-minute highlights of the Test matches. The final day’s play at The Oval was broadcast into Australian homes for the first time, showcasing the impressive new telecommunications. Plus, ABC had already introduced instant replays two summers earlier, during England’s Ashes win after an arduous and lengthy summer under Ray Illingworth. While these black-and-white, single-camera angles seem old-fashioned today, in the early 1970s, it felt like you had a bird’s-eye view of the action.
This historic series marked a significant moment in cricket history, showcasing emerging talents like Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, and Rod Marsh, who took the lead. As a result, the series drew considerable attention.
That English summer, the series swung back and forth, full of unforgettable moments. England won at Old Trafford, while Bob Massie’s swing bowling took 16 wickets, helping Australia level the series at Lord’s. Trent Bridge, after a lively first two days, ended in a draw, and Leeds saw Lillee and Massie contained, while Derek Underwood was recalled from the shadows of county cricket to perform spinning miracles on a pitch that turned sharply from day one. Fusarium, a mysterious disease affecting grass, later became a familiar word for Australian cricket fans.
That summer’s final six-day Test under glorious sunshine (it had been a wet summer) featured the Chappell brothers batting together, making history as the first siblings to each score a century in the same innings of a Test match, as Australia ultimately eased to victory. The image of Paul Sheahan and Rod Marsh swinging their bats as they headed off the ground captured the team spirit the Australian skipper had fostered.
It’s hard to believe this all happened over 50 years ago. The memories of hearing and seeing it still feel vivid, and many important moments are readily available on YouTube. Although it was a different time, revisiting it can be surprisingly comforting, even if just for a moment.
You can hear Barry speak at:
Nov 4 State Library of SA
More info: https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/events/tuesday-talks-books-my-life-barry-nicholls
Nov 5 ASSH
Details and RSVP: Bernard Whimpress [email protected]
Nov 6 Payneham CC
Details and RSVP: Malcolm Ashwood [email protected]
You can read more from Barry Nicholls Here
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Great memories, Barry!
There’s just something about cricket that does that
Hmmm, what happened to my copy of Tigers Among The Lions?
The risk of decluttering is there’s always something turfed that shouldn’t be.
Glen!