Cricket Highlights (1899-1938)

Long documentary tracing the history of British cricket. Another copy is on *PM2839* (film id ). “The Lord’s Taverners present ’Cricket Highlights’ Commentary written by Michael Melford and spoken by E.W. Swanton.“ L/S of Lord’s Cricket Ground - a match in progress. C/U of batsman “England’s young and very successful captain“ (not named but probably Peter May). 1899 footage of the “Lord’s Taverners and their ladies“ - a panning shot of spectators in the stand. The film’s narrator describes how this documentary will show 60 years of cricketing history “From W.G. Grace to Peter May, Boer War to Cold War, Penny Farthing to highlights of yesterday, of the rich period between the wars.“ W.G. Grace is seen practising in the nets. We then see Ranji in the crease. C/U of Jacks Hobbs, he smiles and laughs at the camera. Ranji “47 and rather plump“ walks out onto the pitch (Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji). We see him walking off again: “in this hurried new world, even he didn’t stay to