Research on women’s cricket uncovers historical treasures in Lancashire

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: May 27, 2026, 11:02 AM

Last updated May 27, 2026

Research on women’s cricket uncovers historical treasures in Lancashire

Summary

The MCC Library, known for its cricket materials, has expanded its archives dedicated to women’s cricket. Initially, the collection featured only three books, including Rachael Heyhoe Flint’s autobiography from 1978. The library now boasts a more comprehensive archive filled with scrapbooks, letters, diaries, and newspaper clippings. This discovery highlights the ongoing efforts to document the history of women’s cricket, which has often been overlooked in traditional cricket narratives.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

Key Details

•MCC Library's women’s cricket section previously contained only three books
•Recent efforts have significantly increased available archival materials
•New materials include letters, diaries, and scrapbooks related to women's cricket
•The findings support research into the historical narrative of women’s cricket

Latest Updates

11:02 AMThe Guardian Sport — The Spin | I became a detective in women’s cricket and found treasure in an old Lancashire cowshed

What they're saying

"
The MCC Library has gone from three books to a proper archive with scrapbooks, letters, diaries and newspaper cuttings In the spring of 2011, I went to the MCC library at Lord’s – the world’s largest collection of printed material on cricket. I was near the start of a PhD on the history of women’s cricket and I wanted source material: this, surely, would be where I would find it? Nope. When the MCC’s Neil Robinson took me to the section of the shelves on women’s cricket, I found that it consisted of three books, one of which was the autobiography of Rachael Heyhoe Flint, published in 1978. As for the MCC archives? The store cupboard was bare. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Raf Nicholson

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