Historic Cricket Pictures
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A mix of rare, unusual, spectacular, personal, and historic pictures from the earliest days of cricket to modern times
Lord's pictured on the first day of the Test Trial, June 5th 1926. It was the first time the new Grandstand and Nursery End seating had been used and 29,000 turned up on a warm day to watch. The opening of the new facilities had been delayed by a builders' strike. Only the pavilion survives today
December 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Lord's pictured on the first day of the Test Trial, June 5th 1926. It was the first time the new Grandstand and Nursery End seating had been used and 29,000 turned up on a warm day to watch. The opening of the new facilities had been delayed by a builders' strike. Only the pavilion survives today
Not a golf club in sight - England players in the nets at Adelaide on January 31st 1929, the eve of the 4th Test. It is worth noting the numbers who turned out to watch. Percy Chapman, the captain, walks towards the camera on the left; Douglas Jardine is on the extreme right
December 8, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Not a golf club in sight - England players in the nets at Adelaide on January 31st 1929, the eve of the 4th Test. It is worth noting the numbers who turned out to watch. Percy Chapman, the captain, walks towards the camera on the left; Douglas Jardine is on the extreme right
WG Grace in the nets around 1903
December 8, 2025 at 8:40 AM
WG Grace in the nets around 1903
Tony Greig returns to the pavilion after making 110 v Australia, 1st Test, Brisbane, December 1st 1974. "He deliberately cut over the slips, then added insult to injury by signalling his own fours. And when the bowlers tried a fuller length, they were magnificently driven to the boundary"
December 7, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Tony Greig returns to the pavilion after making 110 v Australia, 1st Test, Brisbane, December 1st 1974. "He deliberately cut over the slips, then added insult to injury by signalling his own fours. And when the bowlers tried a fuller length, they were magnificently driven to the boundary"
Back to February 10th 1933 when being at Brisbane for an England supporter was a tad less painful than today ... one of cricket most (in)famous photographs showing Bill Woodfull ducking a bouncer from Harold Larwood Australia closed on 251 for 3 - Larwood 0 for 65 from 20 overs
December 6, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Back to February 10th 1933 when being at Brisbane for an England supporter was a tad less painful than today ... one of cricket most (in)famous photographs showing Bill Woodfull ducking a bouncer from Harold Larwood Australia closed on 251 for 3 - Larwood 0 for 65 from 20 overs
Drinks for the England side during the 5th and final Test at The Oval in August 1926. No water carrier in a high-vis jacket sprinting on every five minutes, not even a blazered 12th man, but a waiter in full black tie. Standards
December 5, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Drinks for the England side during the 5th and final Test at The Oval in August 1926. No water carrier in a high-vis jacket sprinting on every five minutes, not even a blazered 12th man, but a waiter in full black tie. Standards
I can remember on this day 30 years ago dying so many deaths as Mike Atherton and Jack Russell battled for the last two session of the Johannesburg Test to save the game. Atherton finished 185* in 643 minutes while Russell doggedly made a 235-ball 29. Test cricket at its best (Patrick Eagar)
December 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I can remember on this day 30 years ago dying so many deaths as Mike Atherton and Jack Russell battled for the last two session of the Johannesburg Test to save the game. Atherton finished 185* in 643 minutes while Russell doggedly made a 235-ball 29. Test cricket at its best (Patrick Eagar)
Fantastic picture of a crowd watching club cricket in Jamaica in 1959 (Life magazine)
December 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Fantastic picture of a crowd watching club cricket in Jamaica in 1959 (Life magazine)
TV cameras as they were ... BBC at The Oval in 1955. There was no zoom ability - the operator had a choice of three lenses of different magnifications at the front which he could switch
December 3, 2025 at 3:42 PM
TV cameras as they were ... BBC at The Oval in 1955. There was no zoom ability - the operator had a choice of three lenses of different magnifications at the front which he could switch
Desperately sad to learn of the death of Robin Smith. Watching his savage cutting of a strong West Indies pace attack when he made 148* in the 2nd Test at Lord's, June 22nd 1991 stands out as one of my strongest cricketing memories. Coming in at 60 for 4 he steered England to safety (Patrick Eagar)
December 2, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Desperately sad to learn of the death of Robin Smith. Watching his savage cutting of a strong West Indies pace attack when he made 148* in the 2nd Test at Lord's, June 22nd 1991 stands out as one of my strongest cricketing memories. Coming in at 60 for 4 he steered England to safety (Patrick Eagar)
A lovely picture of the pavilion at Old Trafford around 1900 when it dominated the ground ...
December 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
A lovely picture of the pavilion at Old Trafford around 1900 when it dominated the ground ...
A packed Headingley watches Australia bat on the first day of the 3rd Ashes Test, July 10th 1926. Although England followed on they easily avoided defeat. Poor weather and an abundance of caution resulted in four dull draws before the timeless finale at The Oval.
December 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A packed Headingley watches Australia bat on the first day of the 3rd Ashes Test, July 10th 1926. Although England followed on they easily avoided defeat. Poor weather and an abundance of caution resulted in four dull draws before the timeless finale at The Oval.
Bert Lock, the head groundsman at The Oval, checks on his scarecrows ahead of the start of the 1957 season
November 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Bert Lock, the head groundsman at The Oval, checks on his scarecrows ahead of the start of the 1957 season
Without doubt the oddest item (and one of the most popular) in the Lord's Museum. The sparrow killed mid-flight by a ball bowled by Cambridge University's Jahangir Khan to Tom Pierce v MCC at Lord's on July 3rd 1936. Both ball and bird were declared dead
November 29, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Without doubt the oddest item (and one of the most popular) in the Lord's Museum. The sparrow killed mid-flight by a ball bowled by Cambridge University's Jahangir Khan to Tom Pierce v MCC at Lord's on July 3rd 1936. Both ball and bird were declared dead
Chris Tavare on his way to 56, India v Eng, 1st Test, Bombay, November 28th 1981. Tavare's innings last five hours and he faced 239 balls as England made 151 runs in the day off 86 overs. The 50,000 crowd were happy as England slid from 92 for 1 to 166 all out (Patrick Eagar)
November 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Chris Tavare on his way to 56, India v Eng, 1st Test, Bombay, November 28th 1981. Tavare's innings last five hours and he faced 239 balls as England made 151 runs in the day off 86 overs. The 50,000 crowd were happy as England slid from 92 for 1 to 166 all out (Patrick Eagar)
Harold Larwood bowling during the 1932 season. It was his most successful summer - he took 162 wickets at 12.86 - and was picked for that winter's Ashes series as early as July 30th
November 28, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Harold Larwood bowling during the 1932 season. It was his most successful summer - he took 162 wickets at 12.86 - and was picked for that winter's Ashes series as early as July 30th
Richard Burton playing cricket on the set of Alexander The Great during filming in Spain in the summer of 1955
November 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Richard Burton playing cricket on the set of Alexander The Great during filming in Spain in the summer of 1955
The beginning of the (temporary) end for Geoff Boycott, lbw to Abid Ali for 6, England v India, 1st Test, Old Trafford, June 6th 1974. He fell cheaply in the second innings and then, out of form and out of sorts, withdrew from Test cricket for three years (Patrick Eagar)
November 26, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The beginning of the (temporary) end for Geoff Boycott, lbw to Abid Ali for 6, England v India, 1st Test, Old Trafford, June 6th 1974. He fell cheaply in the second innings and then, out of form and out of sorts, withdrew from Test cricket for three years (Patrick Eagar)
Central Recreation Ground at Hastings after being flooded by sea water, Easter Sunday, March 23rd 1913. A severe gale the night before caused sea defences to be breached
November 26, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Central Recreation Ground at Hastings after being flooded by sea water, Easter Sunday, March 23rd 1913. A severe gale the night before caused sea defences to be breached
David Bairstow sitting his English A level at Hanson Grammar School in Bradford at 7am, June 5th 1970. Bairstow, 18, was in the middle of his first-class debut for Yorkshire v Gloucestershire at Bradford Park Avenue
November 24, 2025 at 1:27 PM
David Bairstow sitting his English A level at Hanson Grammar School in Bradford at 7am, June 5th 1970. Bairstow, 18, was in the middle of his first-class debut for Yorkshire v Gloucestershire at Bradford Park Avenue
Niki Lauda batting during a charity cricket match featuring most Formula One drivers. It took place on July 21st 1974, the day after the British Grand Prix, at Brands Hatch
November 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Niki Lauda batting during a charity cricket match featuring most Formula One drivers. It took place on July 21st 1974, the day after the British Grand Prix, at Brands Hatch
A view of the 2nd Ashes Test of 1930 at Lord's taken from the end of the Mound Stand. The stands were allocated letters, starting at A (now the Warner) through to Q (Allen) which ended neatly with P for the pavilion, not that anyone referred to it that way. The letter J can be clearly seen here
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
A view of the 2nd Ashes Test of 1930 at Lord's taken from the end of the Mound Stand. The stands were allocated letters, starting at A (now the Warner) through to Q (Allen) which ended neatly with P for the pavilion, not that anyone referred to it that way. The letter J can be clearly seen here
Eighteen-year-old Brendon Bracewell signs an autograph on the eve of his Test debut for New Zealand v England, The Oval, July 28th 1978. He played in all three Tests on the tour but only three more overall, finishing with 14 wickets at 41.78
November 19, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Eighteen-year-old Brendon Bracewell signs an autograph on the eve of his Test debut for New Zealand v England, The Oval, July 28th 1978. He played in all three Tests on the tour but only three more overall, finishing with 14 wickets at 41.78
Garry Sobers pushes a single to reach his hundred, WI v England, 4th Test, Barbados, January 9th 1960. Rain ended play almost immediately afterwards. Sobers and Frank Worrell put on 399 for the 4th wicket. Sobers eventually made 226 while Worrell finished on 197*
November 18, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Garry Sobers pushes a single to reach his hundred, WI v England, 4th Test, Barbados, January 9th 1960. Rain ended play almost immediately afterwards. Sobers and Frank Worrell put on 399 for the 4th wicket. Sobers eventually made 226 while Worrell finished on 197*
A remarkable end to the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG as Dennis Lillee took 3 for 1 in 12 balls, bowling Viv Richards via an inside edge with the final delivery of the day to leave West Indies 10 for 4. Lillee later described this as his favourite dismissal
November 17, 2025 at 11:10 AM
A remarkable end to the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG as Dennis Lillee took 3 for 1 in 12 balls, bowling Viv Richards via an inside edge with the final delivery of the day to leave West Indies 10 for 4. Lillee later described this as his favourite dismissal