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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.

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West Indies Cricketers in Norwich, 1939West Indies Cricketers in Norwich, 1939

Home movie19391 minsSilent Location: Lakenham

Vintage amateur film of the West Indies cricket team in Norwich; part of their 1939 tour of England.

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New Zealand Cricket TeamNew Zealand Cricket Team

News19654 mins Location: Worcester

Worcester, riding high as England's cricket county champions, prepare to face the 'unfashionable' Kiwis.

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Australian Women’s Cricket Team at ExmouthAustralian Women’s Cricket Team at Exmouth

News19764 mins Location: Exmouth

The Australian Women’s Team tour England in the hot summer of 1976

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Alec Bedser Cricket Home Movies: MCC Tour of Australia 1954Alec Bedser Cricket Home Movies: MCC Tour of Australia 1954

Amateur film195452 minsSilent

The voyage, the camaraderie, the matches, the sights: the whole experience of a 1950s tour down under is here.

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Second Test at Lord'sSecond Test at Lord's

Non-Fiction19261 minsSilent

England battered by Bardsley in the second Test against Australia at Lord's

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MCC in West Indies 1948MCC in West Indies 1948

Amateur film194825 minsSilent

The England cricket team enjoy the best of the West Indies on their 1948 tour.

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Worcester CC v West Indies at WorcesterWorcester CC v West Indies at Worcester

Amateur film19574 minsSilent Location: Worcester

A big day at New Road as the 1957 West Indies cricket team prepare to play home side Worcester.

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West Indies v Minor CountiesWest Indies v Minor Counties

Sport19661 mins Location: Lakenham

West Indies Vice-captain, the Barbadian cricketer Conrad Hunte, chats to Anglia Television at Norfolk's County Ground at Lakenham.

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Sussex vs The West Indies at HoveSussex vs The West Indies at Hove

Amateur film196313 minsSilent Location: Hove

Cricket legends abound in Hove as Sussex play the West Indies during their 1963 tour of the UK

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Cartoons by HiscocksCartoons by Hiscocks

Animation & Artists Moving Image19264 minsSilent Location: Oval, The

Short animation of a comic duel between English batsman Patsy Hendren and Australian bowler Arthur Mailey at the Kennington Oval.

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Surrey Plays Australia at the Oval in 1934Surrey Plays Australia at the Oval in 1934

Amateur film19346 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

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Sussex Plays South Africa at HoveSussex Plays South Africa at Hove

Amateur film19674 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

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Australia v East Anglia Women's CricketAustralia v East Anglia Women's Cricket

Sport19765 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!

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Somerset CCC v PakistanSomerset CCC v Pakistan

News19622 minsSilent Location: Taunton

Somerset takes on Pakistan in the team’s second ever tour of England

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A Century before LunchA Century before Lunch

Non-Fiction19261 minsSilent Location: Headingley

A masterful innings by Australian batsman Macartney in the third test at Headingley.

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All out - 1,107!All out - 1,107!

Non-Fiction19261 minsSilent

Ponsford, Ryder and Woodfull seen batting in Victoria's record-breaking innings against New South Wales in Melbourne.

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Cohen Personal Film: The Oval, 1938Cohen Personal Film: The Oval, 1938

Amateur film19383 minsSilent

England thrash Australia in the fifth Test at the Oval - but still lose the Ashes.

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Australians' First MatchAustralians' First Match

Non-Fiction19211 minsSilent

Stunning views from the boundary of the 1921 Australian touring team's first match.

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Cricket at BirminghamCricket at Birmingham

Non-Fiction19281 minsSilent

Edgbaston sees Warwickshire take on the touring West Indies cricket team

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England V. South Africa Test Match, 15th, 17th, And 18th June 1935England V. South Africa Test Match, 15th, 17th, And 18th June 1935

Amateur film193531 minsSilent

England welcome the South African cricket team to Trent Bridge for the first Test

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Warwickshire V Australians at EdgbastonWarwickshire V Australians at Edgbaston

Non-Fiction19261 minsSilent

Warwickshire face the Australian touring cricket team at Edgbaston

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MCC Tour of South Africa - Allom Home Movie No. 1MCC Tour of South Africa - Allom Home Movie No. 1

Amateur film19309 minsSilent

Charming amateur film of the 1930-31 Marylebone Cricket Club team relaxing while on tour in South Africa.

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The MCC Expeditionary Force in Australia 1954-5The MCC Expeditionary Force in Australia 1954-5

Amateur film195536 minsSilent

A record of the England Cricket team’s tour of Australia in 1954-55 with stopovers on the way.

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Johnny Wardle Home Movies - England in Australia 1958/59; Centenary Test, 1977Johnny Wardle Home Movies - England in Australia 1958/59; Centenary Test, 1977

Amateur film195859 minsSilent

Sabrina bowls! The 50s bombshell takes centre stage - and the attention away from some wonderful cricket footage.

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Johnny Wardle Home Movies - England Cricket Tour of South Africa 1956-57Johnny Wardle Home Movies - England Cricket Tour of South Africa 1956-57

Amateur film195618 minsSilent

Before the sporting boycott of the apartheid state, South Africa was a touring destination for the English cricketer.

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Test Cricket: Australia V. England at SydneyTest Cricket: Australia V. England at Sydney

Amateur film19329 minsSilent

The English batsmen are at the crease against Australia in the first Test of the Bodyline series.

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Timeless TestTimeless Test

Non-Fiction19302 minsSilent

It's just not cricket… Don Bradman and Australia punish England at the Oval in the deciding test of the 1930 Ashes series

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Test Match England v Australia at Manchester July 1930Test Match England v Australia at Manchester July 1930

Amateur film19304 minsSilent Location: Old Trafford

Scenes from the Ashes 4th Test at Old Trafford, before rain stops play.