Sport and leisure

BDW39T The Australian XI of 1882, the cricket team toured England and won the only test at the Oval, the start of the Ashes legend. Image shot 1882. Exact date unknown.

In pictures: The Ashes through history

Belgium and the Netherlands compete in a tug of war at the Antwerp Olympic

Olympic oddballs: 5 unusual Olympic sports from the past

Wrestlers in ancient Greece

Q&A How did ancient athletes prepare for the Olympics?

An Indian cricket team in imperial Britain. (Photo by Elliott & Fry/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

An Indian cricket team in imperial Britain

WM Woodfull of Australia ducks to avoid a rising ball from Harold Larwood of England during the Fourth Test match at Brisbane on the infamous 'Bodyline' Tour of Australia. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

4 historical cricketing curiosities

England Women's World Cup squad, Mexico, 1971

The 1971 Women’s World Cup: game changers?

Gussie Moran shocked onlookers with her lace knickers on show at the 1949 Wimbledon Championships (George W. Hales/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

10 memorable moments in Wimbledon’s history

The Lord's pavilion

Lord’s cricket ground: the mecca of the sport

Arthur Ashe in action at Wimbledon, where he won the men's singles title in 1975. (Photo by Ed Lacey / Popperfoto / Getty Images)

My history hero Tracy Austin chooses Arthur Ashe

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From Mary, Queen of Scots to the FIFA Women’s World Cup: a brief history of women’s football

The Scotland women’s team, featuring international star Rose Reilly (centre, pictured playing in a French league), played their first official international match in 1972. (Photo by Daily Record/Mirropix/Getty Images)

A history of women’s football in Scotland

(Image by Bettmann/Getty)

10 photographs that made history

A portrait of Fridtjof Nansen, taken after his daring expedition across Greenland. (Image by Alamy)

My history hero Paul Rose chooses Fridtjof Nansen

Members of Preston Ladies' Football Club (formerly Dick, Kerr’s Ladies) pose while carrying out leg exercises during practice, March 1937. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

First World War

1921: the year when football banned women