500-1: The Miracle of Headingley '81

Abstract

The events of 1981 hold a matchless place in the hearts of English cricket fans. For the only time in nearly fifty years, the whole country stood transfixed by the course of a Test series. Over the course of that summer, during the Third Test, England came from 1-0 down to retain the Ashes 3-1. The events of that match, and the exploits of Ian Botham, Bob Willis, Mike Brearley, and Terry Alderman bear constant retelling, and 500-1 uses contemporary newspaper, TV, and radio reports to recreate the fevered atmosphere of the series.