The 1948 Ashes series in Britain was quite unique. The Australian team went through the whole summer undefeated. Of the five-match Test series they won four and drew the fifth. This text presents a comprehensive account of the whole tour, match by match, as this remarkable side moved around the country, conquering all before them.

In May 1977, the cricket world woke to discover that a 39-year-old businessman called Kerry Packer had signed thirty-five elite international players for his own televised World Series Cricket. The Cricket War, now published with a new introduction and afterword, is the definitive account of the split that changed the game on the field and on the screen. In helmets, under lights, with white balls and in coloured clothes, the outlaw armies of Ian Chappell, Tony Greig and Clive Lloyd fought a daily battle of survival. In boardrooms and courtrooms, Packer and cricket's rulers fought a bitter war of nerves. A compelling account of top-class sporting life, The Cricket War also gives a unique insight into the motives and methods of the tycoon who became Australia's richest man.

Greg Chappell was the outstanding Australian batsman of his generation. Though he had an appetite for big scores, it was his calm brow and courtly manner that bowlers found just as disheartening. When he followed his brother Ian into the Australian captaincy, his feat of scoring centuries in each innings of his captaincy debut has been unequalled. After retiring he went into coaching, spending some time with South Australia and working as a consultant at Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy. In 2005 he was appointed coach of the Indian national cricket team on a two-year term—a stint that included a stormy public falling out with the captain, Sourav Ganguly. He has been Head Coach of Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Brisbane and in 2010 Greg Chappell was made Cricket Australia’s first full-time selector and National Talent Manager—a position of unequalled power. In this book Greg Chappell will reflect upon how things have changed since he grew up playing cricket in his backyard with his brothers Ian and Trevor; how Australia’s fortunes have see-sawed over the years; the great teams and the great players; the scandals and the opportunities. He has been a cricketer, captain, commentator and selector—he has seen it all.

From the most successful cricket coach of all time comes the secret to coaching success. If Better is Possible shows how business managers and coaches at all levels can lead their teams to greatness, and explores in detail what it takes to build and sustain championship teams. Written as a series of accessible essays, If Better is Possible offers guidance on making important and life-changing choices, creating a culture of success, gaining mental toughness, using systems and processes to achieve a winning advantage, providing leadership opportunities, and matching competitor's ideas. It presents valuable insights into the strategic thinking behind leading an elite team. Woven throughout is the behind-the-scene story of how the Australian Cricket Team, under John Buchanan's guidance, became invincible. The team won a record sixteen consecutive Test matches across six series and four countries. It won two World Cups and successfully retaing the Ashes. John Buchanan's If Better is Possible reveals the strategies he used to take the Australian Cricket Team to the top of their game - and keep them there.

"This is a fully illustrated book highlighting some memorable moments in Australian sporting history."--Provided by publisher.

The extraordinary performances of Australian athletes, and the awareness of the system that fostered them, came to the world's attention during the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Bloomfield traces the development of Australian sport from the early 19th century to the modern day institutions that drive our sporting success.