Many astute judges, including Sir Donald Bradman himself, call Stan McCabe the best batsman they have ever seen. While his Test batting average of 46 seems low in comparison to the heady averages of Bradman, Pollock & co., I’m not one to contradict astute judges so I’m happy to label McCabe as one of the greatest batsmen ever.

The problem with the great batsmen and batswomen who are exciting to watch but have a relatively modest record is that an innings by innings statistical record barely tells half the story. Still, full marks to the author for his reminder about a cricketer who has fallen into somewhat obscurity but once compared favourably with the Don.

Along with the innings by innings batting scrutiny and the myriad statistics wrung from those runs, his bowling gets the same treatment (with a reminder that his somewhat military medium pace bowling was occasionally used to open the bowling in Test matches) and we get a short biography of the man included, although Sheen does not wade into the debate over whether McCabe committed suicide or the fall he suffered was accidental (if you want my opinion, which you probably don’t, it was the latter). ( )