The Final Test

The Uncertain Future of Cricket’s First-Class Game

Huw Turbervill (The Cricketer)

$42.99

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Bloomsbury Sport
24 April 2025

Cricket

‘[A] compelling book… Test cricket is hanging on. It’s a worry’ – Graham Gooch

'Huw Turbervill is the ultimate passionate polemicist for the Test format with a zeal that manages to weave both George Orwell and Basil Fawlty into his arguments' – David Gower OBE

'As cricket expands into ever more formats and franchise leagues, more and more voices are to be heard; but the editor of The Cricketer should always be listened to' – Scyld Berry

The editor of The Cricketer goes on a soul-searching journey to discover what the future holds for Test cricket.

As T20 grows like Japanese knotweed, Test cricket is in mortal danger. White-ball tournaments – mainly T20 and T10 – are now sprouting in places like the US and Saudi Arabia, and Test cricketers are commonly being offered all-year-round contracts by IPL owners, allowing them to play short-form tournaments in the West Indies, the UAE and elsewhere.

The IPL has expanded, but Australia's Big Bash is contracting; the 2023 men's Ashes were concertinaed into a tiny window but The Hundred continues to dominate. Is there still hope for Test cricket in this tumultuous sporting landscape? Turbervill recalls the poignancy of the final Test of the English summer at The Oval in 2022, and describes how the match could be seen as a metaphor for the demise of the longer game.

As cricket fans seem divided in the sport's own version of the culture wars: traditionalists refusing to accede territory; pragmatists wanting to achieve a healthy balance and progressives conceding the change, Turbervill asks cricketers, commentators and writers about the future of Test cricket.

With guest appearances including David Gower, Graham Gooch, Merv Hughes, Reece Topley and many more, this book reveals if Test cricket can truly survive the next decade.

By: Huw Turbervill (The Cricketer)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Sport
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 236mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 28mm
Weight: 420g
ISBN: 9781399417525
ISBN 10: 1399417525
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 24 April 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Huw Turbervill started his career writing for local papers in Suffolk before joining the Sunday Telegraph and Daily Express, writing about cricket, football and sub-editing the sports pages. He then worked on the Daily Telegraph until 2015 when his dream came true, joining The Cricketer. His books include The Toughest Tour, the story of England’s tours to Australia since the War. His first trip to The Oval Test was in 1986, and he hopes that he will be at the Oval Test in 20 years’ time.

Reviews for The Final Test: The Uncertain Future of Cricket’s First-Class Game

As cricket expands into ever more formats and franchise leagues, more and more voices are to be heard; but the editor of The Cricketer should always be listened to. -- Scyld Berry Test cricket is the foundation on which cricket is based and I believe the most important format that must be protected and preserved at all costs. However, I do believe with the rise, success and importance of one-day and T20 cricket, all three formats must learn to co-exist but not at the expense of each other. Huw’s love of cricket and especially Test cricket is to be admired. To bring this book to life with the support of so many wonderful contributors with varied opinions, will add great interest and appeal to readers. -- Sir Richard Hadlee Test cricket is cricket at its best. The great players judge themselves even in the current era by their achievements in Tests. The white ball is squeezing it hard and we have to defend the place of Tests in the global calendar. Huw Turbervill is the ultimate passionate polemicist for the Test format with a zeal that manages to weave both George Orwell and Basil Fawlty into his arguments. -- David Gower OBE I agree with a lot of the comments being made in this compelling book. T20 is relentlessly killing 50-over cricket, and having a successful Test side is no longer the priority for many countries. Test cricket is hanging on. It’s a worry. -- Graham Gooch Nostalgic, passionate and a timely and well-written reminder of the grave danger in which the all-reaching tentacles of T20 have placed Test cricket -- Steve James