Historic Cricket Pictures
@picturesporting.bsky.social
A mix of rare, unusual, spectacular, personal, and historic pictures from the earliest days of cricket to modern times
Floodlit cricket at Taunton when Somerset met a West Indies XI, September 15th 1982. The game was in aid of Viv Richards' benefit and 7000 turned out to see West Indies win the 35-over game by 17 runs. The floodlights had been borrowed from the Rolling Stones
September 16, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Floodlit cricket at Taunton when Somerset met a West Indies XI, September 15th 1982. The game was in aid of Viv Richards' benefit and 7000 turned out to see West Indies win the 35-over game by 17 runs. The floodlights had been borrowed from the Rolling Stones
Kent's Frank Woolley in a press photograph from April 1914. In a career that spanned three decades he took 2066 wickets at 19.87 and scored 58,959 runs at 40.77, the latter an aggregate second only to Jack Hobbs. He is the only non wicketkeeper to take more than 1000 catches (C)
September 14, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Kent's Frank Woolley in a press photograph from April 1914. In a career that spanned three decades he took 2066 wickets at 19.87 and scored 58,959 runs at 40.77, the latter an aggregate second only to Jack Hobbs. He is the only non wicketkeeper to take more than 1000 catches (C)
Another of my favourite photos, Ken Kelly's autumnal shot of Mike Brearley in his last match before retiring walking off after leading Middlesex to a ten-wicket win and with it the County Championship at Worcester, September 11th 1982. That was not quite that. He made one final appearance in 1983
September 11, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Another of my favourite photos, Ken Kelly's autumnal shot of Mike Brearley in his last match before retiring walking off after leading Middlesex to a ten-wicket win and with it the County Championship at Worcester, September 11th 1982. That was not quite that. He made one final appearance in 1983
hn Lennon dressed in character as Musketeer Gripweed on location in Almeria (Spain) during 'How I Won the War', October 5th 1966
September 10, 2026 at 11:22 AM
hn Lennon dressed in character as Musketeer Gripweed on location in Almeria (Spain) during 'How I Won the War', October 5th 1966
The Long Room at The Oval around 1900, three years after it opened
September 10, 2026 at 10:18 AM
The Long Room at The Oval around 1900, three years after it opened
The picturesque Darley Dale hosted one Derbyshire game - their final round in the John Player League on September 7th 1975 - but what a game. The BBC covered it as Hampshire needed to win to secure the title, which they duly did aided by fifties from Gordon Greenidge and Barry Richards
September 7, 2026 at 10:41 AM
The picturesque Darley Dale hosted one Derbyshire game - their final round in the John Player League on September 7th 1975 - but what a game. The BBC covered it as Hampshire needed to win to secure the title, which they duly did aided by fifties from Gordon Greenidge and Barry Richards
An unlikely photoshoot ... Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot (Curiosity Killed The Cat), Paul Young, Donny Osmond and Alvin Stardust pose for photographers ahead of a charity match at Edgbaston, September 10th 1987. Also taking part were Phil Collins, Tom Robinson, Mark Nicholas and Bob Taylor.
September 4, 2026 at 3:21 PM
An unlikely photoshoot ... Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot (Curiosity Killed The Cat), Paul Young, Donny Osmond and Alvin Stardust pose for photographers ahead of a charity match at Edgbaston, September 10th 1987. Also taking part were Phil Collins, Tom Robinson, Mark Nicholas and Bob Taylor.
Sid Barnes, known as a joker, tries to hand a stray dog to umpire Alex Skelding during the Australians match v Surrey at The Oval, May 10th 1948. Skelding was having none of it and was even less impressed at Barnes' suggestion that if he took it all he would need was a white stick
September 4, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Sid Barnes, known as a joker, tries to hand a stray dog to umpire Alex Skelding during the Australians match v Surrey at The Oval, May 10th 1948. Skelding was having none of it and was even less impressed at Barnes' suggestion that if he took it all he would need was a white stick
Geoff Arnold bowling for Surrey in 1973. One of my favourite players when I first fell in love with the game, in 34 Tests he took 115 wickets at 28.29 (Patrick Eagar) (C)
September 3, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Geoff Arnold bowling for Surrey in 1973. One of my favourite players when I first fell in love with the game, in 34 Tests he took 115 wickets at 28.29 (Patrick Eagar) (C)
A lady arrives for the Eton-Harrow game at Lord's sporting Harrow colours, July 12th 1935. Almost every newspaper, national as well as the leading regionals, devoted both sport and separate fashion columns to the game including the left-leaning Daily Mirror
September 1, 2026 at 1:39 PM
A lady arrives for the Eton-Harrow game at Lord's sporting Harrow colours, July 12th 1935. Almost every newspaper, national as well as the leading regionals, devoted both sport and separate fashion columns to the game including the left-leaning Daily Mirror
Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie addresses supporters after Hampshire's 140-run defeat of Derbyshire at Bournemouth had secured the county their first County Championship, September 1st 1961. "I'm frightened I shall wake up in the morning and find we have not won it after all."
September 1, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie addresses supporters after Hampshire's 140-run defeat of Derbyshire at Bournemouth had secured the county their first County Championship, September 1st 1961. "I'm frightened I shall wake up in the morning and find we have not won it after all."
The start of something special - Ian Botham hits out in the 3rd ODI v West Indies, Edgbaston, August 31st 1976. Botham, 20, was called into the England side for the three-match series, making his debut in the first game of the series. He didn't set the world alight but he soon would (Patrick Eagar)
August 31, 2026 at 4:38 PM
The start of something special - Ian Botham hits out in the 3rd ODI v West Indies, Edgbaston, August 31st 1976. Botham, 20, was called into the England side for the three-match series, making his debut in the first game of the series. He didn't set the world alight but he soon would (Patrick Eagar)
The danger to batsmen before helmets came in cannot be understated, nor can the courage needed to face fast bowling ... Dennis Amiss just avoids a bouncer during the 3rd Prudential ODI between England and West Indies, Birmingham, August 31st 1976 (Patrick Eagar)
August 31, 2026 at 11:04 AM
The danger to batsmen before helmets came in cannot be understated, nor can the courage needed to face fast bowling ... Dennis Amiss just avoids a bouncer during the 3rd Prudential ODI between England and West Indies, Birmingham, August 31st 1976 (Patrick Eagar)
Three legends of Kent and England - Colin Cowdrey, Frank Woolley and Les Ames - at Canterbury for the re-naming of the old Concrete Stand after Woolley and the Iron Stand after Ames, August 1973. All three scored more than a hundred hundreds - Woolley took 2000+ wickets and more than 1000 catches
August 12, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Three legends of Kent and England - Colin Cowdrey, Frank Woolley and Les Ames - at Canterbury for the re-naming of the old Concrete Stand after Woolley and the Iron Stand after Ames, August 1973. All three scored more than a hundred hundreds - Woolley took 2000+ wickets and more than 1000 catches
A stunning picture of cricket on Hambledon's Broadhalfpenny Down during the 2022 heatwave (Marc Aspland)
August 12, 2026 at 2:02 PM
A stunning picture of cricket on Hambledon's Broadhalfpenny Down during the 2022 heatwave (Marc Aspland)
A press picture of beach cricket from 1936. Two of the ladies seem to be enjoyed the posed photograph ... first slip seems to be mightily unimpressed however
August 12, 2026 at 1:49 PM
A press picture of beach cricket from 1936. Two of the ladies seem to be enjoyed the posed photograph ... first slip seems to be mightily unimpressed however
The impact of the heatwave ... Cranleigh in Surrey ... the ground as it was in August 2024 and how it looks this week
August 11, 2026 at 3:38 PM
The impact of the heatwave ... Cranleigh in Surrey ... the ground as it was in August 2024 and how it looks this week
A large crowd watches a charity cricket match on the green at Bearsted near Maidstone in Kent in August 1946
August 11, 2026 at 10:11 AM
A large crowd watches a charity cricket match on the green at Bearsted near Maidstone in Kent in August 1946
Bob Willis in the nets after his recall on the eve of the 3rd Test v Pakistan, August 21st 1974. He lost his place in June because of injury and this was seen as a test to see if he was ready for the Ashes tour. Although he had match figures of 2 for 129, he made the trip
August 11, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Bob Willis in the nets after his recall on the eve of the 3rd Test v Pakistan, August 21st 1974. He lost his place in June because of injury and this was seen as a test to see if he was ready for the Ashes tour. Although he had match figures of 2 for 129, he made the trip
A great day yesterday photographing the Cricketer Cup final which went to a Super Over ... here's a picture I took of the parched ground at Arundel castle after the close of play
August 10, 2026 at 4:24 PM
A great day yesterday photographing the Cricketer Cup final which went to a Super Over ... here's a picture I took of the parched ground at Arundel castle after the close of play
Forgive the personal indulgence but this was my first photo taken at Lord's, on the first day I attended a Test, v Pakistan, August 9th 1974 - David Lloyd as he returned from the pre-play nets ...he looks shattered! He was 18* overnight and added 5 more
August 10, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Forgive the personal indulgence but this was my first photo taken at Lord's, on the first day I attended a Test, v Pakistan, August 9th 1974 - David Lloyd as he returned from the pre-play nets ...he looks shattered! He was 18* overnight and added 5 more
Four years after retiring and leaving Middlesex for a brief spell as Surrey coach, Fred Titmus arrives at Lord's ahead of a recall for Middlesex's game v Hampshire, July 9th 1980. A washed out first day caused a rethink and he did not play.
August 8, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Four years after retiring and leaving Middlesex for a brief spell as Surrey coach, Fred Titmus arrives at Lord's ahead of a recall for Middlesex's game v Hampshire, July 9th 1980. A washed out first day caused a rethink and he did not play.
Australia, 2nd Test, Durban, February 5th 1970. Richards scored 140 in 181 minutes from 164 deliveries. He scored another hundred in the 4th Test in what was to be his final Test innings. He finished the series - and his career - with 508 runs at 72.57 from his four Tests
August 7, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Australia, 2nd Test, Durban, February 5th 1970. Richards scored 140 in 181 minutes from 164 deliveries. He scored another hundred in the 4th Test in what was to be his final Test innings. He finished the series - and his career - with 508 runs at 72.57 from his four Tests
The Rolling Stones playing cricket in a photoshoot for their 1968 Beggars Banquet LP taken at Swarkestone Hall Pavilion in Derbyshire. Michael Joseph's shot was originally intended to be used on the back cover
August 6, 2026 at 1:32 PM
The Rolling Stones playing cricket in a photoshoot for their 1968 Beggars Banquet LP taken at Swarkestone Hall Pavilion in Derbyshire. Michael Joseph's shot was originally intended to be used on the back cover
Thousands of spectators' bicycles neatly parked outside the 2nd India-England Test, Bangalore, December 1981
August 6, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Thousands of spectators' bicycles neatly parked outside the 2nd India-England Test, Bangalore, December 1981