At the end of this summer’s eagerly awaited Ashes Test Matches, albeit one from which the authorities have attempted to squeeze out any vestige of tradition, consideration to the participants or convenience to supporters, one thing is certain – there will be an onslaught of books about the series. Publishers will be desperate to get something out before the Aussies are even in the departure lounge at Heathrow (and will probably manage it minutes after the final ball is bowled at the Oval). By the time they have got through security there will be a dozen Ashes 2009 books on the shelves or floating around cyberspace. Some will be unreadable (generally those ‘written’ by a player), some will pass muster, at least in the picture department; all will suffer from lack of perspective. Now is the time to write the definitive account of the 2005 Ashes series.

Marcus Berkmann has wisely declined to be one of the ferrets fighting in this season’s sack by bringing out his Ashes tome before any actual cricket starts. He includes a chapter on the epic 2005 struggle, but only a chapter, and chapter nineteen at that. For his gripping volume is