Book chronicles Somerset's glory years (From This is The West Country)
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Book chronicles Somerset's glory years
10:40am Friday 19th October 2012 in News
The big three - Joel Garner, Ian Botham and Viv Richards
SOMERSET were lucky to have three all-time great cricketers playing for the county at the same time
When you consider that Sir Viv Richards, Sir Ian Botham and Joel Garner were in the same team it’s not surprising fans look back fondly on ‘The Glory Years’.
A book of photos recording action on and off the field from 1973 to 1987 has just been published.
The pictures were taken by professional photographer Alain Lockyer with words by Richard Walsh – both have supplied material for our sister paper, the County Gazette.
At the launch of the book in the cricket museum this week, president Roy Kerslake paid tribute to Richards, “the most destructive batsman” ever at the County Ground; “gentle giant” Garner, who destroyed teams with his yorkers delivered from a height; and Botham, a “fantastic all-rounder and larger- than-life character”.
But it took a team effort to win five trophies in five years and Mr Kerslake recalled some of the unsung heroes such as Peter Denning, Vic Marks, Nigel Popplewell and Peter Roebuck, all under the inspired leadership of Brian Rose.
Somerset Cricket, The Glory Years 1973-1987 is published by Wellington-based Halsgrove, price £19.99.
Profits from the sale of the book will go to the cricket museum.
