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
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
Bishen Bedi walks off the SCG after leading India to an innings victory over an Australian side weakened by defections to World Series Cricket, 4th Test, January 12th 1978 (Holman Collection)
November 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Bishen Bedi walks off the SCG after leading India to an innings victory over an Australian side weakened by defections to World Series Cricket, 4th Test, January 12th 1978 (Holman Collection)
The Nawab of Pataudi Sr. and Wally Hammond return from an inspection on the rain-hit first day of the 3rd Test at The Oval in August 1946. Only 90 minutes play were possible and with only three days put aside for the match, it made a draw almost inevitable
November 11, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The Nawab of Pataudi Sr. and Wally Hammond return from an inspection on the rain-hit first day of the 3rd Test at The Oval in August 1946. Only 90 minutes play were possible and with only three days put aside for the match, it made a draw almost inevitable
Jimmy Cook and Andrew Hudson walk out to open the batting at Eden Gardens watched by a delighted Ali Bacher, November 10th 1991. This was South Africa's return to the international fold after 21 years isolation
November 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Jimmy Cook and Andrew Hudson walk out to open the batting at Eden Gardens watched by a delighted Ali Bacher, November 10th 1991. This was South Africa's return to the international fold after 21 years isolation
Bill Kelly, the manager of the 1930 Australian team, lays a wreath at the Cenotaph to commemorate Anzac Day in 1930
November 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Bill Kelly, the manager of the 1930 Australian team, lays a wreath at the Cenotaph to commemorate Anzac Day in 1930
New Zealand soldiers playing at a camp in Syria during World War 2
November 5, 2025 at 11:17 AM
New Zealand soldiers playing at a camp in Syria during World War 2
In the days before portable electronic devices and the internet, touring was often a fairly boring affair. Here Evan Gray, Jeremy Coney and Ewen Chatfield show off the mass of videos the New Zealand squad too with them to Pakistan in 1984 to fill the long evenings
November 4, 2025 at 1:07 PM
In the days before portable electronic devices and the internet, touring was often a fairly boring affair. Here Evan Gray, Jeremy Coney and Ewen Chatfield show off the mass of videos the New Zealand squad too with them to Pakistan in 1984 to fill the long evenings
The old pavilion at Lord's pictured in 1889. It was built in 1825 after the original pavilion on the site was destroyed by a fire. It was in turn replaced by the current pavilion built in the winter of 1889-90
November 4, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The old pavilion at Lord's pictured in 1889. It was built in 1825 after the original pavilion on the site was destroyed by a fire. It was in turn replaced by the current pavilion built in the winter of 1889-90
Harold Larwood bowling to Don Bradman early on the third day of the 5th Test at The Oval, August 19th 1930. Although Bradman scored 232 and Australia won by an innings, it is said the idea of using Bodyline came to Douglas Jardine as he watched newsreel footage of the game
November 2, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Harold Larwood bowling to Don Bradman early on the third day of the 5th Test at The Oval, August 19th 1930. Although Bradman scored 232 and Australia won by an innings, it is said the idea of using Bodyline came to Douglas Jardine as he watched newsreel footage of the game
On November 1st 1994, wicketkeeper Phil Emery made his debut for Australia, summoned to Pakistan at short notice after Ian Healy broke a finger. It was Emery's only Test and in it he managed to break his left thumb and take a ball in the face. (David Munden)
November 1, 2025 at 11:58 AM
On November 1st 1994, wicketkeeper Phil Emery made his debut for Australia, summoned to Pakistan at short notice after Ian Healy broke a finger. It was Emery's only Test and in it he managed to break his left thumb and take a ball in the face. (David Munden)
An advertisement from the Cricketer in 1929 showing pads, gloves and keeping gloves for sale. The rudimentary designs are interesting, and the most expensive buckskin pads were £1.25 which is around £100 now
October 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
An advertisement from the Cricketer in 1929 showing pads, gloves and keeping gloves for sale. The rudimentary designs are interesting, and the most expensive buckskin pads were £1.25 which is around £100 now
A shortlisted picture for the Wisden-MCC Photograph of the Year in 2017 ... David Rowe's shot of Surrey’s Sam Curran being completely cleaned up Essex's Paul Walter in a NatWest T20 Blast match at The Oval
October 29, 2025 at 11:08 AM
A shortlisted picture for the Wisden-MCC Photograph of the Year in 2017 ... David Rowe's shot of Surrey’s Sam Curran being completely cleaned up Essex's Paul Walter in a NatWest T20 Blast match at The Oval
One of the earliest photographs of cricket in India, showing British army officers playing on the parade ground in Kohat (now in Pakistan). This was taken by Major Keyes of the 1st Punjab Infantry between 1862 and 1864
October 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
One of the earliest photographs of cricket in India, showing British army officers playing on the parade ground in Kohat (now in Pakistan). This was taken by Major Keyes of the 1st Punjab Infantry between 1862 and 1864