1 CD, David Kynaston, historian. The CD consists of 1 track.
[0:00-1:09] Opening words by Adam Chadwick, [1:10-3:29] Introduction and brief biography by Alastair Lack, [3:30-4:52] Kynaston talks about his first match at Lord's in 1961, changes to cricket in following years and football becoming the national sport, [4:53-5:59] Kynaston talks about 1953 being the epitome of cricket's time as the national game, the 1953 Ashes series and its climax at the Oval, [6:00-10:34] Kynaston quotes A A Thomson following the cricket from Whitehall and the diary of Judy Haynes who was on holiday with her family.
[10:35-12:05] Kynaston sets out aim of the lecture to discuss what it was like to be a spectator of first class cricket in the 1950's set against 10 criteria, [12:06-14:29] Kynaston talks about his first criterion, aesthetic, and sensory experience of watching cricket, quoting John Arlott, praising the redevelopment of Lord's and highlighting what's been lost aesthetically, [14:30-18:09] Kynaston talks about his second criterion, meritocratic, and whether spectators saw the best cricketers and best captains, highlights 3 examples: 1) The selection of the touring party to Australia in 1950-1951; 2) The tour of 1954-1955; 3) and E W Swanton trying to influence Peter May on who will be his vice-captain, [18:10-20:55] Kynaston talks about his third criterion, competitive, the balance between bat and ball and highlights 3 negative examples: 1) Below-par international teams; 2) Surrey's dominance in county cricket; 3) Fielding.
[20:56-23:34] Kynaston talks about his fourth criterion, craft and technical accomplishment, quoting Arlott on the professional as craftsman and makes 3 points: 1) Uncovered pitches; 2) Lighter bats; 3) No one-day cricket and also absence of leg-spin bowling as in present day,[23:35-27:17] Kynaston talks about his fifth criterion, excitement, giving examples of "dull and unadventurous cricket" including quoting C L R James, Neville Cardus and John Arlott, [27:18-30:05] Kynaston talks about his sixth criterion, personalities, references Cardus talking about Lancashire cricketers and highlights flair players in England teams, county cricket, overseas players and no helmets.
[30:06-33:36] Kynaston talks about his seventh criterion, sportsmanship, highlighting unspoken agreements between players and teams, professionals not walking and time wasting, [33:37-35:25] Kynaston sets out his eighth criterion, crowd behaviour, mentioning Lord's as only English Test Match ground where civilised behaviour can be expected all-round the ground, quotes C L R James on spectators applauding more than they used to but on the whole crowds were better behaved, [35:26-38:56] Kynaston talks about his ninth criterion, mattering, gives 5 examples why cricket mattered: 1) Lack of other leisure activities; 2) Part of national ritual; 3) Fewer Test Matches at international level; 4) Localism and more grounds; 5) Players came from counties they represented, [38:57-42:09] Kynaston talks about his tenth criterion, coverage, with more county matches being covered and more in-depth in the press, radio being the same, and similar complaints on television commentators using E W Swanton as an example.
[42:10-43:55] Kynaston says on the whole things are similar between the 1950's and present day, ends quoting Judy Haynes watching Essex vs. Worcestershire in 1955 on the food she consumed, [43:56-44:27] Questions segment introduced by Alastair Lack, [44:28-46:23] Kynaston answers a question on levels of post-war attendances, [46:24-47:32] Kynaston talks about the Oval Test of 1953 starting on a Saturday, [47:33-49:48] Kynaston talks about when the dividing line between the 1950's and 1960's was with cricket being a couple of years behind social change, [49:49-51:52] Kynaston talks about wanting to live through the 1960's again.
[51:53-53:45] Kynaston answers a question on shamateurism and amateur/professional divide, [53:46-55:27] Kynaston answers a question on the prevalence of injuries and amount of games played in a season, [55:28-57:22] Kynaston answers a question on the pay of professional cricketers, [57:23-59:27] Kynaston answers a question on over and run rates of the 1950's, [59:28-1:00:41] Kynaston answers a question on the ambience of Lord's. [1:00:42-1:03:52] Kynaston responds to a point on a loss of character within the game by talking about his 2 favourite matches at Lord's, [1:03:53-1:04:32] Kynaston responds to a point on Glamorgan in 1948 being the originators of great close-in fielding, [1:04:33-1:06:30] Kynaston answers a question on Les Jackson not being picked for England teams, [1:06:31-1:08:08] Kynaston answers a question batting getting easier on covered wickets, [1:08:09-1:08:22] Alastair Lack asks for only a couple of more questions, [1:08:2-1:09:22] Kynaston answers a question on corporate boxes at Lord's, [1:09:23-1:10:52] Kynaston answers a question on touring countries no longer doing a full tour of counties and quality of radio coverage, [1:10:53-1:13:00] Applause and closing remarks by Alastair Lack.