Rewind to 1956-57

Christopher Martin-Jenkins, in the Times, looks back on England's tour of South Africa in 1956-57 and compares it with the one underway. He points out some of the similarities and also some glaring differences, many of which lay off the field than on.

But the biggest changes have come in the pace of the tour off the field. Part of the charm of the MCC film is cine taken by Trevor Bailey and others of the extracurricular fun. We see them, between matches, big-sea fishing, visiting the Victoria Falls, relaxing on the beach and hacking round a golf course. Colin Cowdrey plays the fool before the camera. Jim Laker, who had a deflating tour after his triumphant Ashes series the previous summer, spoons his way out of a bunker, fag in mouth, phlegmatic as ever.