WG Grace coming back from the nets before the start of the match between AE Stoddart's XI v The Rest at Hastings on September 5th 1898. It was the summer Grace turned 50 but he still managed 1513 runs at 42.02 even thought his powers were beginning to wane

Mike Brearley in the nets in 1972. He took over as Middlesex captain in 1971 after several years of playing part time around his academic commitments. In 1976 he led them to their first trophy in 26 years, heralding a period of tremendous success for the county

Lovely to see the always sartorially elegant Philip Brown PHILIP BROWN interviewed on Sky Sports. Interesting to hear what happens behind the scenes. An outstanding photographer ... his book well worth buying

Philip Brown said this was possibly his favourite picture, taken on Galle Face Green the eve of the ICC World Twenty20 Final, October 6th 2012

Plus ca change ... Rain stopped play at The Oval in the wretched summer of 1927. It was fine until June then Wisden noted "it broke up so completely that the summer may be regarded as one of the worst in the history of cricket". Most counties suffered loses as a result

The wonderful Albert Chevallier Tayler painting of Kent v Lancashire in the 1906 Canterbury Week with Colin Blythe bowling to Johnny Tyldesley was commissioned to celebrate Kent's 1906 Championship title. The county sold it for £680,000 in 2006 and it now resides at Lord's

Sky Sports saying poor attendance at The Oval down to weather and problems on the railways. I suspect unreasonable ticket prices for what was always likely to a session plus a little a major factor as well. The lessons of Lord's seem to have been ignored

Robin Smith ducks a bouncer from Courtney Walsh, WI v England, 5th Test, Antigua, April 16th 1990. In England's second innings Smith batted for over an hour with a hairline fracture of his right index finger before the pain forced him to retire hurt (Patrick Eagar)

Two photographs of the County Ground at Taunton during Somerset's match against the Australians in August 1926. Somerset went all out to chase down a tough ask of 302 runs in three hours 40 and only fell 54 short

A newspaper seller in the rain outside The Oval ahead of the fifth day of the 5th Ashes Test, August 21st 1930. The entire day was washed out. England were 24 for 1 after following on 290 behind. They lost by an innings and 39 runs on the sixth day