Wes Hall and Alf Valentine at the end of West Indies' first innings in the 3rd Test, Sydney, January 14th 1961. In his 36 Tests Valentine only just scored more runs (141 at 4.70) than he took wickets (139 at 30.32

Nineteen-year-old slow left-armer Malcolm Hilton hit national headlines when he twice dismissed Don Bradman in Lancashire's match v the Australians in May 1948. He played four Tests for England taking 14 wickets at 34.07 but his international career was over by the time he was 24. But he suffered from the jitters and the vagaries of the county selectors and also enjoyed the social life of the game a little too much. He finished with 1006 wickets at 19.42.

Sid Barnes and Don Bradman resume their 2nd wicket partnership of 225 after lunch on the second day, H Leverson-Gower's XI v Australians, September 9th 1948. It was Bradman's last first-class match in England and he bowed out with 153 in 190 minutes including two sixes

India's captain Ajit Wadekar on his way to 45, England v India, 3rd Test, The Oval, August 23rd 1971. His batting was key in India winning this match which was their first in England and gave them their first series win over England. He returned home a hero. Three years later after India had been thrashed 3-0 he had to delay his return such was the level of hostility aimed towards him

The clothing of the Original English Lady Cricketers, the first recorded paid women's cricket team. They toured Great Britain between 1890 and 1892 attracting large crowds - their first game was watched by 15,000 - but interest waned and they folded when their manager absconded with their money

Not trouble but police try with limited success to push spectators back from the boundary edge, 1st Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, June 8th 1934. Grounds allowed people to sit on the grass for major matches, often right up to the rope even though that presented its own problems

More than 10,000 watched the first floodlit game in the Caribbean between a Sun Invitation XI and the touring Worcestershire at the small National Stadium, October 24th 1980. The evening saw 501 runs in 78 overs including 25 sixes. Collis King and Roy Fredericks guested for Worcestershire

David Steele batting for Northants v Middlesex, Lord's. May 14th 1982. This was his first season back at Northants after three years at Derbyshire. By now 40, his form with the bat was in decline but his bowling was excellent. In the three season before his retirement in 1984 he took 199 wickets at 27.17

This snap could be of anyone, anywhere. But it's Denis Compton bowling to author Dennis Castle, Cecil Hotel, Delhi, 1945. Behind the tree/wicket is Newcastle, Middlesborough, and England outside-right, Ralph Birkett

England captain Bob Willis at Lord's shortly before flying out to Australia for the Ashes, October 13th 1982. Willis took 18 wickets at 27.00 but England lost the series - and so the Ashes which they had held since 1977 - 2-1

Nasser Hussain chasing the ball early in his career

Cannot recommend highly enough this four-part podcast in which @NHoultCricket interviews Geoff Boycott at some length. Great insights into his career both on and off the pitch

I know I am getting old but ... just watched a cracking finish to the SA-Australia Test which has been entertaining for the last three days and which I will remember for some time. Turned over to the SL-England ODI which the commentators treat as if it is an epic sporting encounter. Yet to me it seems a bore where the balance between bat and ball is totally out of kilter ... surely cricket is more than thumping endless fours and sixes? (Marco Longari)

Anthony Au-Yeung's photo of a flying Tatenda Taibu in action in a T20 international against New Zealand at Auckland on February 11th 2012 was the winner of the 2012 Wisden Photograph of the Year competition

One of the last pictures of Wally Hammond, taken when he played in a friendly match during England's 1964-65 tour of South Africa, where he lived in retirement. He is pictured with David Allen, Denis Compton and John Murray. Hammond, who suffered a life-threatening car accident in 1960, died in July 1965 (John Woodcock)

Maurice Tate turned down the winter tour to Jamaica to prepare for the 1932 season and potentially the following winter's Ashes series. He stayed fit by running with the Brighton foot beaglers twice a week and playing golf

The Oval's legendary groundsman Bosser Martin cuts a sod from the pitch and hands it to Australian umpire Bob Crockett to take back home at the end of the 5th Ashes Test, August 22nd 1934. Four years later Martin's heavily doped pitch saw Australia lose by an innings and 579 runs

A wonderful picture of a packed Lord's on the second day of the 1st England v West Indies Test, June 26th 1933. Maurice Turnbull, on his debut, pulls Herman Griffith for four. England won by an innings in a little over two days (C)

The captains of the nine participants pose in front of the Sydney Opera House ahead of the 1992 World Cup. Pakistan won the tournament while hosts Australia failed to make the semi-finals