I cherish this picture from the second Test of the 1936-37 tour at Sydney because it shows one of cricket’s mischievous recurring little blips. Joe Hardstaff has hooked Bill O’Reilly, and the Australians watch anxiously as the ball descends. But the fielder dropped the catch. Now look: a bail has fallen. Hardstaff should have been out “hit wicket”. He wasn't. But he would have been if today’s remorseless television scrutiny had been in place.

Charlie Bannerman, who 52 years earlier scored the first Test century, congratulates Archie Jackson after the 19-year-old had scored 164 on his Test debut for Australia in the fourth Test at Adelaide on the 1928-29 tour. The image symbolises the sense of continuity that contributes to Test cricket’s appeal. Jackson’s life was cut short by tuberculosis just four years later

A boy’s first day at a Test remains forever a special memory. On mine, during the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground 50 years ago, England’s injury-hit attack toiled all day and the glamorous Keith Miller advanced to the brink of a century. Next morning the Errol Flynn/Gary Cooper of Australian cricket back-cuts to reach three figures.