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Tests and Tours
It's cricket's ultimate challenge: an intense, five-day battle against the best in the world, many miles from home.
One of the British Empire's most enduring legacies is the network of 'test' cricket playing nations who regularly lock horns at the game's highest level in a series of mammoth matches. The test series is a genuine test of skill, strength and character. In the era before commercial air travel, this involved lengthy sea journeys and many months away from home on tours that were planned like expeditions. Wonderfully, these tours were often captured by the home movie camera as well as the newsreel.
West Indies Cricketers in Norwich, 1939West Indies Cricketers in Norwich, 1939
Home movie 1939 1 minsSilent Location: Lakenham
Vintage amateur film of the West Indies cricket team in Norwich; part of their 1939 tour of England.
New Zealand Cricket TeamNew Zealand Cricket Team
News 1965 4 mins Location: Worcester
Worcester, riding high as England's cricket county champions, prepare to face the 'unfashionable' Kiwis.
Australian Women’s Cricket Team at ExmouthAustralian Women’s Cricket Team at Exmouth
News 1976 4 mins Location: Exmouth
The Australian Women’s Team tour England in the hot summer of 1976
Alec Bedser Cricket Home Movies: MCC Tour of Australia 1954Alec Bedser Cricket Home Movies: MCC Tour of Australia 1954
Amateur film 1954 52 minsSilent
The voyage, the camaraderie, the matches, the sights: the whole experience of a 1950s tour down under is here.
Second Test at Lord'sSecond Test at Lord's
Non-Fiction 1926 1 minsSilent
England battered by Bardsley in the second Test against Australia at Lord's
MCC in West Indies 1948MCC in West Indies 1948
Amateur film 1948 25 minsSilent
The England cricket team enjoy the best of the West Indies on their 1948 tour.
Worcester CC v West Indies at WorcesterWorcester CC v West Indies at Worcester
Amateur film 1957 4 minsSilent Location: Worcester
A big day at New Road as the 1957 West Indies cricket team prepare to play home side Worcester.
West Indies v Minor CountiesWest Indies v Minor Counties
Sport 1966 1 mins Location: Lakenham
West Indies Vice-captain, the Barbadian cricketer Conrad Hunte, chats to Anglia Television at Norfolk's County Ground at Lakenham.
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
Test Match England v Australia at Manchester July 1930Test Match England v Australia at Manchester July 1930
Amateur film 1930 4 minsSilent Location: Old Trafford
Scenes from the Ashes 4th Test at Old Trafford, before rain stops play.
Surrey Plays Australia at the Oval in 1934Surrey Plays Australia at the Oval in 1934
Amateur film 1934 6 minsSilent Location: Oval, The
There's Oval action as Surrey play the Aussies in 1934 - with batsmen and bowlers warming-up, looked on by fans, before battle commences
Sussex Plays South Africa at HoveSussex Plays South Africa at Hove
Amateur film 1967 4 minsSilent Location: Hove
Hove is the venue for a cricket match between Sussex and a visiting team from South Africa - much to the delight of autograph hunters
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!
Somerset CCC v PakistanSomerset CCC v Pakistan
News 1962 2 minsSilent Location: Taunton
Somerset takes on Pakistan in the team’s second ever tour of England
A Century before LunchA Century before Lunch
Non-Fiction 1926 1 minsSilent Location: Headingley
A masterful innings by Australian batsman Macartney in the third test at Headingley.
All out - 1,107!All out - 1,107!
Non-Fiction 1926 1 minsSilent
Ponsford, Ryder and Woodfull seen batting in Victoria's record-breaking innings against New South Wales in Melbourne.
Cohen Personal Film: The Oval, 1938Cohen Personal Film: The Oval, 1938
Amateur film 1938 3 minsSilent
England thrash Australia in the fifth Test at the Oval - but still lose the Ashes.
Australians' First MatchAustralians' First Match
Non-Fiction 1921 1 minsSilent
Stunning views from the boundary of the 1921 Australian touring team's first match.
Cricket at BirminghamCricket at Birmingham
Non-Fiction 1928 1 minsSilent
Edgbaston sees Warwickshire take on the touring West Indies cricket team
England V. South Africa Test Match, 15th, 17th, And 18th June 1935England V. South Africa Test Match, 15th, 17th, And 18th June 1935
Amateur film 1935 31 minsSilent
England welcome the South African cricket team to Trent Bridge for the first Test
Warwickshire V Australians at EdgbastonWarwickshire V Australians at Edgbaston
Non-Fiction 1926 1 minsSilent
Warwickshire face the Australian touring cricket team at Edgbaston
The MCC Expeditionary Force in Australia 1954-5The MCC Expeditionary Force in Australia 1954-5
Amateur film 1955 36 minsSilent
A record of the England Cricket team’s tour of Australia in 1954-55 with stopovers on the way.
MCC Tour of South Africa - Allom Home Movie No. 1MCC Tour of South Africa - Allom Home Movie No. 1
Amateur film 1930 9 minsSilent
Charming amateur film of the 1930-31 Marylebone Cricket Club team relaxing while on tour in South Africa.
Johnny Wardle Home Movies - England in Australia 1958/59; Centenary Test, 1977Johnny Wardle Home Movies - England in Australia 1958/59; Centenary Test, 1977
Amateur film 1958 59 minsSilent
Sabrina bowls! The 50s bombshell takes centre stage - and the attention away from some wonderful cricket footage.
Johnny Wardle Home Movies - England Cricket Tour of South Africa 1956-57Johnny Wardle Home Movies - England Cricket Tour of South Africa 1956-57
Amateur film 1956 18 minsSilent
Before the sporting boycott of the apartheid state, South Africa was a touring destination for the English cricketer.
Test Cricket: Australia V. England at SydneyTest Cricket: Australia V. England at Sydney
Amateur film 1932 9 minsSilent
The English batsmen are at the crease against Australia in the first Test of the Bodyline series.
Cartoons by HiscocksCartoons by Hiscocks
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1926 4 minsSilent Location: Oval, The
Short animation of a comic duel between English batsman Patsy Hendren and Australian bowler Arthur Mailey at the Kennington Oval.
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