AS SOCIETY evolves, so too does sport. The past century has seen technological change seep through so many of our greatest pastimes. Football boots and balls are light years ahead of what they were back in 1966. The movements of every professional rugby player are tracked and analysed for maximum performance. Racing bikes are lighter; shotguns and rifles are more accurate. Gone are the cat-gut strings and wooden frames of the tennis racket, replaced by complex composite materials that provide the apex of power and precision. Tradition can only cling on for so long when faced with the pressures of ever-increasing performance.
When it comes to the summer sport of cricket, however, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Timeless test matches have been reduced to five days, then to four, then to 50 overs, then to T20. White clothing is seen less and less, the pyjamas more and more. But, pyjamas and palatability aside, the sport remains at its heart a competition between bat and ball, near-identical to the sport that a certain WG Grace would have been playing in the late 19th century. The balls are red leather wrapped around a cork core. The bats are blades of English willow, Salix alba ‘Caerulea’, produced by businesses such as Gunn & Moore and Gray-Nicolls, two firms whose history pre-dates the Test match.
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Strength in Numbers -The success of Britain's growing band of Farmer Clusters shows the value in working together and engaging with the public in the name of conservation, says Gabriel Stone
In a world that leans into gloomy headlines, it's important to wave the flag for a refreshing success story. That's especially the case when it comes to our overburdened farming sector and the wider way in which we manage the landscape. Yes, we: everyone can play a role, not least through one inspirational initiative. Ever since a 2013 pilot project by the GWCT in association with Natural England, Farmer Clusters have mushroomed across Britain. Led by farmers with guidance from expert advisers, today's network of about 125 clusters encourages a cohesively managed, locally tailored, larger-scale approach to conservation work.
Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
Return of the natives
There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.
Tagging the Cornish tunny
Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea
In it for the long haul
It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders
Unpicking the story of hunt buttons
These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex
A place of tradition in the heart of town
Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes
Don't play it by ear
Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit
Back to base-ics
Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays