The Innings of a Lifetime traces the remarkable life of Walter Hadlee, one of the great figures of New Zealand cricket. It begins with the story of the 1949 New Zealand team's tour of England, when a team of amateurs took on players of the calibre of Denis Compton, Len Hutton, Godfrey Evans, Alec Bedser, Cyril Washbrook, Bill Edrich and Jim Laker, and drew the test series. This team is still regarded as one of the strongest New Zealand has sent abroad, and included such fine players as Bert Sutcliffe, Martin Donnelly, John Reid, Merv Wallace, Jack Cowie, Tom Burtt, Verdun Scott, Geoff Rabone, Frank Mooney, Harry cave and Hadlee himself - all of the prominent in the Who's Who of New Zealand cricket. The book traces Hadlee's life from his early years, when he fell in love with the game which was to shape his life, to his observations on the heroes of his youth, through his own illustrious test career. He also covers his administrative career, his dealings with the ICC, his role in the Packer affair, and his pride in the cricket performances of his three sons, Barry, Dayle and Richard, all of whom played for New Zealand. Finally, there are his observations on modern cricket and his selections of the best New Zealand and overseas teams of his time...