Cricket is a game full of traditions, full of history. It's even given us the saying 'It's just not cricket!' for when we want to frown on something slightly dishonourable. Since 1550 cricket has been a leisurely game played over many, some would say too many days. So in 1971 when the traditional New Year's Day test in Melbourne was washed out by rain, it was only to satisfy cricket-starved Melburnians that an impromptu match, which would take just one day to complete, was organised. The one-day (40 over) format of the game had begun in England in 1963 and an Australian domestic competition between states had been held in the 1969/70 season. But 5 January 1971 was the first time that the game sometimes known as 'pyjama cricket' or 'hit and giggle' met the domain of international cricket. 46,000 spectators came to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to be 'outraged' - and they loved it. England batted first and made a modest 190. Australia chased the score down with 5 overs to spare. Australians particularly enjoyed this victory as the first two tests had been drawn. And therein lies one of the attractions of one-day cricket - you almost always get a result.

In recognition of the fiftieth anniversary we have found the following stamps with a Cricket theme.