Cricket...the gentleman's game. Can you imagine breaking for afternoon tea in any other sport? That's just one of the things that makes cricket so very English.

A basic form of the sport can be traced back as far as the 13th century. It seems to have originated among shepherds and farm workers. Some 800 years on, who would have thought that the game would enjoy such popularity on an international scale?

Cricket fans will remember England's victory at the 2005 Ashes series - the first in 18 years. Unfortunately for England, Australia won the them back during the 2006/2007 series. Still, there's always another year.

The stamp below showing Lord's cricket ground in London was part of the Four Seasons stamp issue from August 1994, to represent 'Summertime'.

Illustration

35p stamp of Lord's cricket ground