Auckland Cricket,1901-1945

"This book is the second in the series recording the history of Auckland cricket. As with the first volume it focuses on what was happening in club cricket, how the representative side was doing, and the personalities involved in running cricket. There are many illustrated pen portraits of prominent people spread throughout this history. The photograph on the cover epitomises cricket as it was played in the early twentieth century. It is of the Eden Districts First Grade Xl. The club president is on the left, the scorer is next to him and the secretary is at the other end. There are eight Auckland or ex Auckland players and four who have played for New Zealand in this photograph. The story of The Middle Years includes: the introduction of the District Scheme for club cricket, which was the cricketers' answer to the poor state of Auckland cricket at the turn of the century; the introduction of the Plunket Shield competition; the development of Eden Park, and the general growth of cricket as the years passed. It is a period of continual change - two world wars, the Spanish Flu and infantile paralysis epidemics, and the Great Recession of the 1930s all occurred within these forty five years. During this near half century a number of great Auckland cricketers came to the fore, probably as a result of regular provincial cricket and recognition of New Zealand as a test-playing nation. These players are covered in the book, and included are match cards of each match along with a brief report." from the author's website http://jimallnatt.co.nz/