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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 NetsPrince Ranjitsinhji Practising Batting at the Nets
Sport 1897 1 minsSilent
Probably the first ever cricket film: Indian cricketing royalty prepares for the first test between England and Australia at Sydney.
Ian and VivIan and Viv
News 1980 6 mins Location: Taunton
Interview with International and Somerset cricketers Ian Botham and Viv Richards
Cricket Notes 1924Cricket Notes 1924
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1924 1 minsSilent
Rain may stop play, but never the British sense of humour.
Women Cricketers: Kent V. AustraliaWomen Cricketers: Kent V. Australia
1951 1 minsSilent
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 FilmMike 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 MatchSussex County Cricket Match
Amateur film 1960 7 minsSilent 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 GameThe 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 TestTimeless Test
Non-Fiction 1930 2 minsSilent
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 minsSilent
Essex County cricket team get some much needed practice in the nets at the County Ground, Leyton.
Look Where You're GoingLook 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 minsSilent 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 HoveSussex vs The West Indies at Hove
Amateur film 1963 13 minsSilent Location: Hove
Cricket legends abound in Hove as Sussex play the West Indies during their 1963 tour of the UK
England Women's Cricket ElevenEngland 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 WicketAmazons at the Wicket
Non-Fiction 1925 1 minsSilent 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 HoveWomen's Cricket in Hove
Amateur film 1963 5 minsSilent Location: Hove
High up on the Downs above 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 CricketAustralia 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 WicketsWomen Willows and Wickets
Non-Fiction 1929 1 minsSilent 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 SouthamptonCelebrating a Centenary of Cricket in Southampton
Amateur film 1985 13 minsSilent Location: Southampton
A centenary of cricket at Hampshire's County Ground is celebrated - with Australia topping the bill
Great Local Derby, Accrington v Church Cricket Match (1902)Great Local Derby, Accrington v Church Cricket Match (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 5 minsSilent Location: Accrington
Rare film record of an Edwardian local league cricket game between two Lancashire sides.
Colden Common v Twyford Cricket MatchColden Common v Twyford Cricket Match
Amateur film 1955 9 minsSilent 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
On The Set of The ShoutOn The Set of The Shout
News 1977 6 mins Location: Hartland Abbey
A cricket match with extras
Cricketers AllCricketers All
1949 40 mins Location: Rawtenstall
Well played! A celebration of our national game and some of its finest players.
MPs at the WicketMPs at the Wicket
Non-Fiction 1924 1 minsSilent
MPs take to the Oval for a game of cricket
Bombing BFD (Bradford) CricketBombing BFD (Bradford) Cricket
Non-Fiction 1940 4 minsSilent 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 StoriesThe Manufacture of Cricket Bats and Other Stories
Amateur film 1939 15 minsSilent
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 BatsCricket 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 StarsCobbler 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.
New Cricket HeadguardNew 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.
Essex WillowsEssex Willows
Government sponsored film 1946 24 minsSilent
A fascinating look at how a cricket bat is professionally crafted, by hand, in 1946, from its beginnings as a willow tree.
Cricket on TestCricket 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.