West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, one of the greatest cricketers of all time and a Patron of Broadhalfpenny Down, has died aged 89. A brilliant, record-breaking batsman, bowler of finger spin, wrist spin and seam, and an outstanding fielder in all positions, he was the premier architect of a resurgence in West Indian cricket. The fifth of six children to Shamont and Thelma Sobers, his father died in action during the Second World War in 1942 when his son was just f

The road into Hambledon still feels like it narrows towards something special. A bend, a hedge, the Bat and Ball, then Broadhalfpenny Down opens out like a stage, the cradle of cricket under an open Hampshire sky. That sense of occasion is exactly what powered the charity fixtures staged there between the Broadhalfpenny Brigands and the Lord’s Taverners between 1960 and 1972: 13 matches, watched by crowds who travelled from far and wide, the boundary edge lined with spectator

20 reasons why Broadhalfpenny Down remains one of cricket’s most charming stages, where history hangs in the air, and the scorebook reveals a few surprises.

Broadhalfpenny Down has hosted Blind & Viusally Impaired cricket for many years. The Primary Club Memorial Cup Final was played in 2017...