This film is part of Free

MPs at the Wicket
MPs take to the Oval for a game of cricket
Overview
Not the greatest of days for a spot of cricket, but this newsreel item sees a number of MPs (and ex-MPs!) brave the weather for their first outing of the 1924 cricket season. The enthusiasm of Sir Rowland Blades, sporting a fetching striped hat, had been instrumental in getting it organised - and from the smiles as they line up for the camera, it seems everyone was looking forward to playing. Sir Rowland's enthusiasm might have taken a slight blow when he was caught for 0, but the match ended in an honourable draw.
Some of the players had lost their seats in the 1923 election, including Sir Edwin Stockton and General Clifton Brown. There is a long history of cricket at the Houses of Parliament, with the Lords and Commons Cricket Club dating back to at least 1850 and still going strong today.
Related

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

Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.

We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.

If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.

Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.

Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.

NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.