Cricket Australia is creating an archive consisting of almost every match shown on free to air TV in this country since the end of World Series.

There is some 5000-6000 hours of match footage from Channel Nine, dating back to 1979, which CA's media rights and broadcast team, using a Sydney-based company, are digitising from the old Digibeta and video reel formats. The tapes were at risk of being lost to decay if they were not processed.

Posterity: Michael Bevan with Shane Lee after NSW's victory in the 2001 one-day final, then known as the Mercantile Mutual Cup. Credit:Robert Cianflone

The library includes not just Tests and one-day internationals but also domestic 50-over games, which will no doubt delight cricket tragics. They also plan on including women's games though they are harder to find.

There's some rare material as well. West Indies great Michael Holding playing for Tasmania at Launceston in a game where it was so windy they played without bails. Former Sri Lankan batsman turned match referee Roshan Mahanama getting smashed in the box two balls in a row. And who can forget the late Tony Greig presenting the golden goblets to the player of the match?