Lawrence Booth

Another year of cricket, another "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack" to tell us all about it. 2019 was the 156th edition of the Almanack, as "Wisden" continues to stretch its record as the longest running sports annual in the world.

While "Wisden" covers all the major international matches, the most interest is in the minor matches and happenings, including a parrot stopping play in Leicestershire, a prize goat was mauled to death by a leopard in India, and the ongoing travails of Adelaide's South Road Cricket Club. Meanwhile, it's great to see the growing role of cricket in Nepal and Bhutan, although Kenya's sad slide from Word Cup semi-finalist to its current situation is regrettable.… (mehr)

Wisden marked its 151st edition by reviewing, in detail, not one but two Ashes series (the first such instance since the 1922 edition). There was also full details of the Champions Trophy, held in England in 2013, and the women's World Cup. The annual selection of articles included a look at on-field behaviour by Martin Crowe, the former New Zealand captain, as well as a fulsome farewell to Sachin Tendulkar, who retired after 200 Test matches and 100 international centuries. There was also a look at five major figures of the women's game - appropriate in an edition in which Charlotte Edwards, England's captain, became only the second woman ever to be named as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year. The others were Shikhar Dhawan (a star of India's Champions Trophy victory), Ryan Harris, Chris Rogers and Joe Root. The South African fast bowler Dale Steyn was named as Wisden's Leading Cricketer in the World. Apart from in-depth coverage of cricket around the world, there were also the usual authoritative sections featuring obituaries, book reviews and records. Other highlights included details of the England player endangered by a flame-thrower during a match, the international player fined for having the wrong-colour bootlaces, and instances of play being stopped by chewing gum, scaffolding and insect repellent. (copied from http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/almanack/year.html?year...… (mehr)