“Cricket was, and remains, a political act. For many of the middle and upper classes, cricket provided a forum for the development and expression of an elitist culture known as amateurism, that either subjugated, diminished or excluded the working class as participants or spectators. While their success in this endeavour is reflected in English cricket’s reputation as a ‘posh’ sport, the overwhelming majority of cricketers were working men (and very often women) who played the game according to egalitarian, rather that elitist, culture” Duncan Stone, Different Class 2022.
This project is a portrait of the game of cricket from across the country. The cricketing landscape has been shaped over the years by the diaspora from cricket-playing nations across the world who have brought their own passions, styles and traditions to the game. The aim is to move the narrative along from being solely the rural, leafy village green and to meet the players, spectators, volunteers, ground staff and everyone else who make the game what it is today.
To follow my progress in this project, or to suggest people, grounds and places this I should visit, then pop over to my Instagram, or drop me an email tom@tomshawphotography.com
I was also interviewed by Jonathan Agnew during the Test Match Special broadcast during the tea break at the England v Ireland Test match at Lord’s, which you can listen to here…