Stars on Sunday. Paul Edwards chats to author Mark Sands

I need to be more specific. You see, whenever we’re asked to recall any sport in a particular era, there’s a temptation to trot out a series of facts or images that might be true and faithful but are hardly intimately connected with the topic under discussion. 

The name of the Prime Minister is a favourite. The singer or song that was No1 in the charts for much of a particular year is another. Chuck in a favourite food, especially if it’s no longer available – say Vesta Chow Mein – and the job’s a good ‘un. 

Except that it isn’t. We haven’t been able to place these events within the precise context of the cricket we were watching. So let me be more precise, still. Remember cricket on TV on Sunday afternoons in the 70s? Now we’re getting there – or at least those of us born before 1975 might be. Suddenly we have matches that could begin at 2.00 and be over by 7.00. We have John Arlott’s humane lyricism contrasting with Jim Laker’s laconic counterpoint. And for some readers of Lanky Lanky, we have Clive Lloyd swatting sixes into the stands or and Jack Simmons spearing off-spinners into middle-and-off with a leg side field. Are you already riffling through your own memories?