Stars on Sunday

Stars on Sunday: The History of Cricket's John Player League is a rich and colourful account of the ground-breaking domestic limited-overs competition. From the pioneering matches of the International Cavaliers to the formation of the league under the sponsorship of tobacco brand John Player, the book relives every season from 1969 to 1986, capturing the key matches, star performers and the exciting race for the title. Players and fans recall a time when sport on Sunday afternoons meant county cricket, whether attending a fixture in person or as part of the huge TV audience guided by the comforting tones of John Arlott and Jim Laker. From the early successes of Lancashire and Kent to the dominance of Essex in the 1980s, the John Player League hooked a generation of fans into the county game, with TV coverage that allowed new fans to quickly get to know the players and adopt new favourites. Whether reliving favourite cricketing memories or learning about the league that was a forerunner of the formats that dominate today's game, this book is a must-read for cricket fans of all ages.