Clive Lloyd on his way to a match-winning 109 for Lancashire in their low-scoring Gillette Cup quarter-final against Essex at Chelmsford in June 1971. Lloyd was a key part of Lancashire's one-day dominance which saw them win the Gillette Cup in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1975. The match was described as "the greatest in the nine-year history bof the tournament". Lancashire won by 12 runs, David Lloyd taking a boundary catch to secure the victory. Lancashire also won the John Player League in 1969 and 1970 (Patrick Eagar/The Cricketer)

A packed Lord's for the final round of the Championship in 1920 when Middlesex beat Surrey in the decider in front of three days of full houses. The Championship, the highlight of the sporting summer, was finished by the end of August. In the modern era it too often feels little more than an inconvenient afterthought as far as the ECB are concerned

The old Tavern at Lord's pictured in 1965, two years before it was demolished

Four great Australian captains - Ian Chappell, Bill Lawry, Bob SImpson and Richie Benaud - pose during a photoshoot for a promotional film they were making in early 1976

The county flag is hoisted at Edgbaston in August 1951 after Warwickshire secured the County Championship for the first time in 40 years when Worcestershire beat Yorkshire at Scarborough. They next won the title in 1972. The ground is unrecognisable to the one now. Back then it had few stands and banks of open terracing. Although it hosted four Tests between 1902 and 1929, it was not considered good enough to do so again until major redevelopment brought it back to the schedule in 1957

First day of the final round of the 2026 County Championship and what a finale we have. Anyone seen any marketing or even a mention by the glorious ECB marketing men? Follow every match on the quite brilliant BBC local radio coverage

Twenty-year-old Tony Greig bowling for Sussex v Gloucestershire, July 15th 1967, in his first full season with the county. He scored 1299 runs at 24.50 and took 67 wickets at 26.52 and ended the year being named Best Young Cricketer of the Year by the Cricket Writers' Club

Len Hutton and Cyril Washbrook walk through a tunnel of spectators to open the England innings, 4th Ashes Test, Leeds, July 22nd 1948. Hutton returned after controversially being dropped for the previous Test, a decision referred to in one paper as the "biggest shock in the history of the game". He bounced back with 81 and 57

Percy Chapman and Johnny Douglas at Scarborough during the Gentlemen v Players match in September 1920. That winter Douglas led England to a 0-5 loss in Australia and after defeats in the first two Tests of the return series in 1921 he was sacked. Chapman captained England to victory in the deciding Test of 1926 and led them when they retained the Ashes in 1928-29. But his career was increasingly dogged by his alcoholism and he played the last of his 26 Tests when he was only 30

David Gray’s picture of Jos Buttler jumping over Steve Smith in the ICC T20 World Cup match between England and Australia in Dubai on October 30th 2021 was the 2021 Wisden Cricket Photograph of the Year

Doug Wright was a legspinner who had a long run and bowled at almost medium pace. In 34 Tests for England he took 108 wickets at 39.11 and in all matches in a career which went from 1932 to 1957 2056 wickets at 23.98

Australia's captain Allan Border remonstrates angrily with umpire Dara Dotiwala in the final session of the tied 1st Test at Madras, September 22nd 1986. An epic finish saw India, chasing 348 lose their last four wickets for 17. Despite the epic result The Cricketer noted that it was "hard to remember a more acrimonious game"

Walter Giffen, born on September 20th 1861, has a strong claim to being Australia's worst specialist Test batsman. In three Tests in 1886-87 and 1891-92 he scored 2, 0, 1, 3, 3 and 2. In 47 first-class matches he only managed six fifties with a high score of 89, finishing with 1179 runs at 15.93. Despite only one game in 1892-93 he was picked to tour England ... being George Giffen's brother might have helped. No nobody's surprise (other than his brother according to his autobiography) he was a complete failure scoring 170 runs at 12.14. The Australian press was justifiably scathing

Jack Russell relaxes with a cup of tea during England's 1990-91 tour of Australia (Ben Radford)

Eric Hatfield nudges a single behind square, Kent v Essex, Tunbridge Wells, July 14th 1914. He made 18 in what was his last innings for Kent. He was mobilised soon after and served on various fronts throughout the war. He was killed near Cambrai on September 21st 1918 aged 31 and posthumously awarded the MC. His Wisden obituary said he was an "enthusiastic cricketer" who played "whenever he was wanted"

Steve and Mike Gatting pictured in 1977. Steve played 58 games for Arsenal before a long career at Brighton. He also played cricket for Middlesex 2nd XI.