George Geary: A gifted seamer who survived wartime injury
Geary claimed 46 wickets in 14 Tests, ending his career with 2,063 first-class wickets in 549 first-class games
Geary claimed 46 wickets in 14 Tests, ending his career with 2,063 first-class wickets in 549 first-class games
Had he devoted himself to cricket, Sheppard would have captained more often. Instead, he devoted himself to the Church
“Only Martin Crowe knew how to play reverse swing”
An easily underrated captain, van der Merwe led South Africa to two significant series wins
"He played shots Gower wouldn’t have bothered with”
“Even if you were batting against Fred Trueman in a Roses match, he’d say, ‘Now, get forward'"
“He displayed integrity and his characteristic old-world gentlemanly respect and humility to the end.”
Quiet and unassuming in manner, Abel was never spoiled by success
Bob WIllis, 'the lionhearted windmill'
"Eleven Loxtons would defeat the world – at anything"
The latest issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly, guest-edited by Isa Guha, out May 5:
The 160th edition of the most famous sports book in the world – published every year since 1864 – contains some of the world’s finest sports writing. It reflects on the extraordinary life of Shane Warne, who died far too early in 2022, and looks back at another legendary bowler, S.F. Barnes, on the 150th anniversary of his birth. Wisden also reports on England’s triumph at the T20 World Cup, to go alongside their 2019 ODI success, and on their Test team’s thrilling rejuvenation under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.
Writers include Lawrence Booth, Gideon Haigh, James Holland, Jonathan Liew, Emma John, David Frith, Simon Wilde, Jon Hotten, Robert Winder, Tanya Aldred and Neil Harvey, the last survivor from Australia’s famous 1948 Ashes tour of England. As usual, Wisden includes the eagerly awaited Notes by The Editor, the Cricketers of The Year awards, and the obituaries. And, as ever, there are reports and scorecards for every Test, together with forthright opinion, compelling features and comprehensive records.
Cricket’s past is steeped in a tradition of great writing and Wisden is making sure its future will be too. The Nightwatchman is a quarterly collection of essays and long-form articles which debuted in March 2013 and is available in book and e-book formats.
Every issue features an array of authors from around the world, writing beautifully and at length about the game and its myriad offshoots.