Press photography captures unexpected moments in history which would otherwise be lost.
In August 1980, cricketers from England and Australia gathered at Lord’s in London for what was billed as the Centenary Test.
Also present were players who had represented both sides during the previous one hundred years.
They included the England fast bowler Harold Larwood (1904-1995) though a sickness bug meant he watched the action from a hotel room.
Forever associated with the controversial Bodyline series, his amazing story was brilliantly captured by the journalist Duncan Hamilton in an award-winning biography (2009).
Hamilton recounted how, following that 1932-33 Bodyline clash, Larwood was badly treated by the English cricket authorities and later emigrated with his family – to Australia.
A few weeks after the Centenary Test, Larwood returned to his native Nottinghamshire where I was training to be a newspaper reporter.
A housing development in Worksop had been named in honour of Larwood and his England bowling partner Bill Voce, so I was despatched to cover the event.
What brought my report to life was the accompanying image captured by a staff photographer, who joined me on the assignment.
This image has lain unseen in my cuttings scrapbook ever since.
It’s republished here to mark Wednesday’s World Photography Day and to celebrate the important role still played by press photography.
Pressphotoman 
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