Book description
Alan Ross (1922-2001) - distinguished poet, travel writer, and
editor of London Magazine - also managed to excel in the role of
cricket correspondent for the Observer, in which capacity he followed
England/MCC on tours of Australia, South Africa and the West Indies.
In the book-length accounts he published of these tours, his lifelong
love of the game found glorious expression. Australia 63 offers Ross's
account of an Ashes series that pitted the England XI led by Ted
Dexter against Richie Benaud's host side. On paper England had talent
to spare, including the recall to the team of ordained minister David
Sheppard, and the renowned bowling attack of Fred Trueman and Brian
Statham. But Benaud's Australian side had strength in depth too. Both
captains were expressly committed to playing entertaining cricket. The
reality, however, did not quite live up to the billing.
Alan Ross (1922-2001) was a poet, writer, journalist, editor and
publisher. In fact, he was a man of letters par excellence. Born in
India, educated in England, he joined the Royal Navy in the Second World
War and endured the Arctic convoys to Russia. Alan Ross took over The
London Magazine (the definite article was later dropped) from John
Lehmann and revitalized it. There, it has been said, 'he simplified as
well as unified contemporary culture by the clarity of his unique
editorial taste. He also discovered many new talents.' His writing
embraced poetry, cricket journalism, biography, autobiography, criticism
and travel writing. Many of his titles are to be reissued in Faber
Finds.
