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Cricket on Test
From village green to Lord's: the late, great Richie Benaud narrates a guide to the state of cricket in England.
Overview
The great Richie Benaud was still better known as a cricketer than a commentator when he narrated this edition of Rank's Look at Life cinemagazine. The film provides a guide to cricket in England 1965, asking if the game is too slow and missing the spirit of fun and enjoyment so evident in Jamaica. From Broadhalfpenny Down - the so-called cradle of cricket in Hambledon, Hampshire - to a village game in Nettlebed and cricket's "centre of gravity", Lord's, the history and rituals of the game are explored. But there's an eye on the future too: the next generation of cricketers are taken in hand, with expert coaching from experienced players like Bill Voce.
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