Bill O’Reilly: Unwavering deadliness - Almanack
"Having taken a wicket, he would on most occasions at once deliver a ball of similar deadliness"
"Having taken a wicket, he would on most occasions at once deliver a ball of similar deadliness"
He is the most likely man among the younger professional batsmen to play for England in Test matches
Quiet and unassuming in manner, Abel was never spoiled by success
"After much heart searching and thought, the simple but important truth emerged - that even the best bowling can be…
He bowled chest-on, and he had a very big chest
"Eleven Loxtons would defeat the world – at anything"
"The narrative of the country boy unspoiled by fame, always in touch with his roots, resonated with Australians"
The war lost him four invaluable years, but Holmes is a first-class legend
Fingleton faced down England’s Bodyline attack
"A great fighter, a grand friend and an unforgiving enemy"
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.