Ian Chappell is regarded as one of the greatest ever captains of Australia. He epitomised the spirit of Australian cricket in the 1970s, and the team never lost a series on his watch. But little has been written about the final year of Chappell's playing career. In the 1974-75 season, after he handed the Australian captaincy to his brother Greg, Ian took on the task of skippering his native South Australia and trying to end their miserable run of finishing last for nine seasons in a row.
CHAPPELL'S LAST STAND is the first book to zoom in on that remarkable turnaround season, when Chappell captained like a cornered tiger and masterfully guided South Australia from bottom of the ladder to within reach of the Shield title. Repeatedly warned and fined, Chappell spent the season at war with administrators, even leading his team on strike. Never once did he take a backwards step.
Described in vivid detail by ABC journalist Michael Sexton, CHAPPELL'S LAST STAND illustrates the tenacity and pure cricketing genius of Ian Chappell, and also provides unique insight into the rivalries, talents and tensions of a pivotal time in Australian cricket that led to World Series Cricket.
