THE relationship between cricket, culture, class and politics is explored in a new exhibition at Liverpool’s International Slavery Museum.

Beyond The Boundary looks at how players such as Basil D’Oliveira “playing in the boundary of the cricket pitch broke the boundaries of racial apartheid”.

It explores the story of the enslavement and oppression of people from the global African Diaspora and their deep connections with cricket.

It also shows how despite cricket being seen as a “white” game, by the mid-20th century the West Indies team conquered the cricketing world with stars like Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards and Michael Holding

Individual stories of inspirational black cricketers are highlighted, as well as often over-looked women’s cricket.

The display, the brainchild of Dr June Bam-Hutchinson, includes a cricket bat signed by the victorious West Indies team of the 1970s, loaned by Conrad Benjamin, father of museum director Dr Richard Benjamin.

Dr Benjamin said: “My father came to Britain during the early 1950s from British Guyana, joined the RAF and played for the Combined Forces team for the West Indies.

“He was a great opening batsman and played against people like Geoff Boycott.

“I started playing when I was 10 and we played for the same side for a couple of seasons.”

Beyond The Boundary opens today and runs until September 12.

Admission is free.