Keeper of the Flame: Jack Russell Cricket Paintings

Few cricketers have left as vivid a mark on the game as Jack Russell — not only with gloves and bat, but with brush and palette. Known for his unorthodox stance, dogged defiance at the crease, and lightning-fast reflexes behind the stumps, Russell scored over 10,000 first-class runs and took more than 1,200 dismissals in a career that spanned two decades. Yet his second innings as an artist has given cricket an even richer legacy.

One of his most evocative subjects is Broadhalfpenny Down — the cradle of cricket. The home of the legendary Hambledon Club, which dominated the game in the 18th century, Broadhalfpenny remains a hallowed patch of Hampshire turf where the spirit of the game whispers through the grass.

Russell has painted the ground three times, each canvas a love letter to cricket’s soul. The first, a nostalgic piece, captures the old Hut that stood before the new pavilion was built — a quiet testament to simpler times and the rustic charm of village cricket.

The Hutt and The Bat & Ball, Broadhalfpenny Down by Jack Russell

The second, painted during the 250th anniversary match, brims with celebration and reverence. Jack was there in person that day, looked after with warm hospitality by Nina Bates, whose efforts ensured the former England wicketkeeper had every comfort as he set up his easel. Russell sent a message of love and support as soon as he saw "The Final Cut, the film that tells the story of Nina, and her husband Harry, in their last season in charge of the ground.

250th Anniversary of First Class Cricket Match by Jack Russell

His third painting is arguably the most atmospheric — a view sweeping down toward the Hambledon valley, bathed in golden light, with a village cricket match in full flow. Every blade of grass, every cricketer in mid-stroke or relaxed repose, pulses with life. It’s not just art; it’s storytelling.

Towards the Hambledon Valley by Jack Russell

Why does Jack Russell paint? "Because I still see the game in pictures," he once said. For him, the rhythm of cricket never stopped — it simply changed mediums. Where once he captured edges behind square, now he captures moments behind the eyes.

From a man who protected England’s stumps, now come masterpieces that protect its cricketing heritage. At Broadhalfpenny Down, on canvas and in history, Jack Russell stands eternal.

"I still see the game in pictures" – Jack Russell

More information at https://jackrussell.co.uk/

The Final Cut is available to watch at https://www.youtube.com/@cradleofcricket