An unplayable ball ... Greg Blewett is bowled by a shooter from Curtly Ambrose for a first-ball duck, Australia v West Indies, 5th Test, Perth, February 3rd 1997. Unsurprisingly the game did not go into a fourth day

The Baggy Green of Bobby Simpson from the 1961 tour of England which fetched Aus$17,000 at auction in 2023. Unlike today caps were issued for each series so tend to be in far better condition than those of modern players

A lovely George Beldam picture of England's opening pair AC MacLaren (left) and Lionel Palairet walking out to bat, England v Australia, 5th Test, The Oval, August 11th 1902. The match went into folklore as 'Jessop's match'

New Road Worcester again flooded, April 9th 2024. The county's opening Championship games were moved to Kidderminster back in February after a poor winter, but early starts to the season and climate change only adds to a perennial problem (Annabel Lee-Ellis)

Pictures of Don Bradman batting are plentiful, less so of him bowling. He took 36 FC wickets at 37.97 with his leg breaks, but after 1932-33 rarely bowled. Here he is for NSW v Victoria at the SCG, January 30th 1934

One of my favourite pictures from the Bodyline series but one of the ones rarely seen ... Gubby Allen in full flow. Allen refused to bowl Bodyline himself but the reasons for this are unclear, even if it suited interested parties to claim it was a moral decision

David Boon poses against a backdrop of snow which prevented any play in the season opener between Durham and Worcestershire at Chester-le-Street on April 13th 1999. It thawed in time for play to start at lunchtime the next day

Steve Waugh on his way to 92, England v Australia, 4th Test, Old Trafford, July 29th 1989. Waugh scored 506 runs at 126.50 in the six-Test series

A young Jack Hobbs in the nets

Calm. Serene. Ready.

What a lovely sight.

Here we go ... welcome to a new season as the wonderful County Championship gets underway. Enjoy the summer everyone

Canterbury on their way to a one-wicket win over Wellington at the Basin Reserve, December 26th 1900. The second day - December 24th - was a rest day as it was a Sunday but play resumed on Christmas Day

Another interesting decision ... Keith Arthurton lbw Shane Warne, WI v Australia, 4th Test, Sabina Park, May 3rd 1995. Steve Bucknor gives this which is, depending where you sit, brave or guesswork. Not sure I have ever seen an lbw when a ball has pitched this wide

A ticket for the second day of the 5th Test at The Oval, August 16th 1948. The cost was 6s 6d (32½p or £28.50 today). The crowd saw Australia advance from 153 for 2 to 389 before England closed on 54 for 1. The seat was close to where I sat for the 1975 Ashes Test