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Cricket on Film
When cricket is played, it seems as if summer will never end. And when cricket is filmed, summer can last for ever.
Today’s multi-camera TV coverage brings us every moment and detail of the game. But in earlier times capturing it on film was fraught with difficulty: the long playing time, the distance from boundary to wicket, finding the best angle. Film, though, preserves and evokes cricket's past more vividly than any almanac. Cricket is obsessed with its own traditions and history, its records and personalities. This collection of films, shot for newsreels, documentaries or personal recollection, contains all that and much more. Through cricket, we can see the social history of our nation, its class structures and regional differences, and beyond that, the story of Britain’s empire and its colonial legacy.
Prince Ranjitsinhji Practising Batting at the Nets Prince Ranjitsinhji Practising Batting at the Nets
Sport 1897 1 mins Silent
Probably the first ever cricket film: Indian cricketing royalty prepares for the first test between England and Australia at Sydney.
Ian and Viv Ian and Viv
News 1980 6 mins Location: Taunton
Interview with International and Somerset cricketers Ian Botham and Viv Richards
Cricket Notes 1924 Cricket Notes 1924
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1924 1 mins Silent
Rain may stop play, but never the British sense of humour.
Women Cricketers: Kent V. Australia Women Cricketers: Kent V. Australia
1951 1 mins Silent
Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club hosts a women's cricket match between the Kent XI and the touring Australian team.
Mike Atherton on BFI's Cricket on Film Mike Atherton on BFI's Cricket on Film
Short documentary 2016 12 mins
Cricketing legend Mike Atherton joins BFI senior curator Steve Bryant on a tour through a century of cricket on film.
Sussex County Cricket Match Sussex County Cricket Match
Amateur film 1960 7 mins Silent Location: Horley
First-class big-hitters from the county team, including Rupert Webb, take on Horley in this exciting colour film from 1960’s Sussex
The Summer Game The Summer Game
Sport 1970 33 mins
WG Grace and Bodyline, village greens and rain-soaked pitches - the story of cricket has rarely looked better.
Timeless Test Timeless Test
Non-Fiction 1930 2 mins Silent
It's just not cricket… Don Bradman and Australia punish England at the Oval in the deciding test of the 1930 Ashes series
Cricket Again! Cricket Again!
Non-Fiction 1922 0 mins Silent
Essex County cricket team get some much needed practice in the nets at the County Ground, Leyton.
Look Where You're Going Look Where You're Going
Documentary 1954 11 mins Location: Ardwick
Eyes right, eyes left, eyes right again - a Test cricketer endorses the road safety code.
Arthur Mold Bowling to A.N. Hornby (1901) Arthur Mold Bowling to A.N. Hornby (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 9 mins Silent Location: Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Did he bowl or did he throw? A fascinating record of an early cricketing controversy.
Sussex vs The West Indies at Hove Sussex vs The West Indies at Hove
Amateur film 1963 13 mins Silent Location: Hove
Cricket legends abound in Hove as Sussex play the West Indies during their 1963 tour of the UK
England Women's Cricket Eleven England Women's Cricket Eleven
Sport 1971 7 mins Location: Kingston upon Hull
Can frail womanhood cope playing such a hardy sport as cricket? Abso-blooming-lutely! So says England Women’s captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint.
Amazons at the Wicket Amazons at the Wicket
Non-Fiction 1925 1 mins Silent Location: Richmond
Women cricketers slog their male counterparts to the boundary in this fixture between Cobham Ladies and Manor Athletic in Richmond
Women's Cricket in Lewes Women's Cricket in Lewes
Amateur film 1963 5 mins Silent Location: Hove
A women's cricket team enjoy a match, a chat and even a quick smoke while a dog makes off with a handbag
Australia v East Anglia Women's Cricket Australia v East Anglia Women's Cricket
Sport 1976 5 mins Location: Hemel Hempstead
Women cricketers are just as tough as the men, and no, despite rumours, they don’t wear coconut shells to protect themselves during matchplay!
Women Willows and Wickets Women Willows and Wickets
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Sunbury
Action from a women's game of cricket in Sunbury, with one of the teams consisting of workers at Lyons Corner Houses.
Celebrating a Centenary of Cricket in Southampton Celebrating a Centenary of Cricket in Southampton
Amateur film 1985 13 mins Silent Location: Southampton
A centenary of cricket at Hampshire's County Ground is celebrated - with Australia topping the bill
On The Set of The Shout On The Set of The Shout
News 1977 6 mins Location: Hartland Abbey
A cricket match with extras
Colden Common v Twyford Cricket Match Colden Common v Twyford Cricket Match
Amateur film 1955 9 mins Silent Location: Colden Common
This nostalgic film from Jack Francis captures the essence of village cricket as Colden Common battles it out with Twyford in 1955
Great Local Derby, Accrington v Church Cricket Match (1902) Great Local Derby, Accrington v Church Cricket Match (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 5 mins Silent Location: Accrington
Rare film record of an Edwardian local league cricket game between two Lancashire sides.
Cricketers All Cricketers All
1949 40 mins Location: Rawtenstall
Well played! A celebration of our national game and some of its finest players.
MPs at the Wicket MPs at the Wicket
Non-Fiction 1924 1 mins Silent
MPs take to the Oval for a game of cricket
Bombing BFD (Bradford) Cricket Bombing BFD (Bradford) Cricket
Non-Fiction 1940 4 mins Silent Location: Bradford
A film of two halves, beginning with the citizens of Bradford wandering through a city centre ravaged by the bombs of the Luftwaffe, and then enjoying a leisurely game of cricket.
The Manufacture of Cricket Bats and Other Stories The Manufacture of Cricket Bats and Other Stories
Amateur film 1939 15 mins Silent
John P Howard's superb film shows how cricket bats are made as well as a variety of other stories like cutting records to Air Ministers at Hendon
Cricket Bats Cricket Bats
News 1974 5 mins Location: Worcester
A master craftsman in willow: Duncan Fearnley explains the intricacies of making his championship winning cricket bats.
Cobbler Makes Cricket Boots for World's Cricket Stars Cobbler Makes Cricket Boots for World's Cricket Stars
News 1972 3 mins Location: Northampton
Anglia TV visit the world famous cobbler for cricketers, Albert Whiting, in his Northampton shop.
Cricket on Test Cricket on Test
Sport 1965 9 mins Location: Nettlebed
From village green to Lord's: the late, great Richie Benaud narrates a guide to the state of cricket in England.
New Cricket Headguard New Cricket Headguard
Sport 1971 3 mins Location: Chelmsford
Lancashire and England cricketer David “Bumble” Lloyd is far from 'bowled over' by the idea of the introduction of a new headguard. Anglia TV.
Cricketing Legends
Seeing them in action brings the record books to life and reveals the batting skills and bowling actions that secured their place in cricket's pantheon.
Tests and Tours
It's cricket's ultimate challenge: an intense, five-day battle against the best in the world, many miles from home.
The County Game
The tradition that won't die: county cricket may be under threat, but its greatest days will always live on film.
Grass Roots
Away from the county grounds, in the park or on the village green, on the beach or in the street, cricket is a social occasion.