The inside tale of Warwickshire’s 1994 historic treble-winning season is set for release in hardback book on Thursday 11 April to coincide with the launch of the Specsavers County Championship 2019.
Titled ‘The Greatest Season’, the remarkable story of the how Warwickshire became the first county to win three major trophies in the domestic game is told by renowned sports broadcaster and author Pat Murphy.
Published by Fairfield Books, the book also includes photographs from celebrated cricket photographer Graham Morris who captured Warwickshire’s victory over local rivals Worcestershire in the B&H Cup final at Lord’s, the journey to the County Championship and Sunday League titles, but also the world record First Class innings of 501 Not Out from Bears batsman Brian Lara at Edgbaston.
That treble stands as a lasting reminder of a team that didn’t really get its deserved acclaim. Until now, a quarter of a century on.
Pat Murphy
Pat Murphy said: “That summer of ‘94 was one of my happiest professionally, as I reported for the BBC on the magisterial progress towards three trophies of players I had got to know so well over the years. The juggernaut just rolled on and it was fascinating to observe at close quarters how that squad’s core ability and solid team spirit got them over the line so often.
“Friendships were formed between players and we camp followers that have endured to this day. It’s been great fun jogging those players’ memories of that historic season. That treble stands as a lasting reminder of a team that didn’t really get its deserved acclaim. Until now, a quarter of a century on.”
Warwickshire CCC has announced plans to mark the release of The Greatest Season with a special launch event in the 1882 Lounge at Edgbaston after play on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship season on Thursday 11 April, when the Bears face Kent.
With Murphy hosting a question and answer session with members of Warwickshire’s great 1994 squad, a signing session and light bites, tickets for the launch are available at £30 with a copy of The Greatest Season included. Those who have already pre-ordered the book can purchase a launch ticket for £10.
Neil Snowball, Chief Executive of Warwickshire CCC, said: “You often don’t appreciate a team’s achievement until you can step back and assess just what they did and now, 25 years on, we recognise that this wasn’t just one of the finest displays of teamwork in cricket, but across sport.
“The players from the 1994 season are rightly regarded as heroes by our supporters from that generation. Pat’s book will not only entrance those of a certain vintage but allow our younger supporters and players to understand just what the fuss was all about.”
