India, June 27 -- What was the idea behind this book and how is it different from others on the history and growth of Test cricket?

The idea was simple: to write a global, narrative history of Test cricket. This book didn't really exist before: there had been lots of brilliant books about individual countries, players and series, but not one that told the story of Test cricket over 148 years. The book is about the players, matches and politics that have shaped the game. I was blown away by the number of legends who agreed to chat and were so generous with their time.

In writing the book, I was led by a sense of story. So, what actually shaped the sport? As such, I zoom in a lot on the most influential characters and moments. In an India...