Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 79 i Wisden Cricket Monthly

LARA: THE ENGLAND CHRONICLES I promise this is the only time I'll mention it (hmm), but Brian Lara's autobiography, cowritten with me, is out now. It's been an interesting few months. Many have asked me what he's like, to which I might talk about the singular focus, or the wild mercury flashes; or perhaps the vampiric approach to sleep, or the off-the-cuff gift for narrative structure, and how it all seemed to spool out from a mind as restless as it's instinctively creative. Somewhere along the line I gained a little sense of what it might have been like to sit on your bat at the non-striker's when he was having one of those days. You can order a copy from the Nightwatchman website, and should you happen to be…

LAWRENCE BOOTH Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack editor and Daily Mail writer @BoothCricket After their exit from a T20 World Cup in which his side had beaten Oman, Namibia, West Indies and the USA, but lost to Australia, South Africa and India, England's head coach Matthew Mott offered a novel perspective. “Sometimes,” he said, “it's not all about results.” This might have carried some weight at the end of an instantly forgotten threematch bilateral series. But at the conclusion of a World Cup, with England no longer champions in either whiteball format for the first time in five years? Not so much. Yet the first part of his next sentence suggested that the media criticism which has dogged Mott and Jos Buttler ever since England's miserable defence of the 50-over World Cup…

Morgan believes the ECB's decision to open up The Hundred to private investment is the right one, in order to grow the women's game and ensure sufficient funds for grassroots cricket. “Infrastructure in the women's game is costly," he says, “it doesn't just come from nowhere. Getting cricket in more schools, getting more facilities for, not only counties or minor counties, but drip feeding all the way down. Either outside investment or generating more revenue through The Hundred supports the game in general. “One of the main reasons The Hundred was started was to generate revenue to support the ECB and the counties, outside of bilateral cricket. Thankfully, it happened. And, thankfully, we're in a place where we're questioning whether we should grow the game or not. For me, there's…

LETTERS LETTER OF THE MONTH Poor T20 vision At 28, I may be at the younger end of your demographic, hence a slightly different view. Overall across your podcast and magazine, you do cover all formats of cricket well. However, there's this ongoing thread in your magazine and the media at large that T20 is a less nuanced, less intellectual and poorer version of the game. This was particularly emphasised by Mark Ramprakash's column [WCM78] where he repeated some very common tropes from the cricket old guard when dismissing T20, which don't even make any sense. Yes, in the recent IPL scores were incredibly high, and people repeatedly claim that this makes bowlers irrelevant. Do pundits not understand that in cricket both teams have to bat and bowl? And that…

NEXT MATCHES: kent, T20 (H), July 11; Sussex, T20 (A), July 13; Surrey, T20 (H), July 14; Hants, T20 (A), July 19; Warks, ODC (H), July 24; Gloucs, ODC (A), July 28; Leics, ODC (H), July 31; Glam, ODC (H), Aug 4; Yorks, ODC (A), Aug 6; Surrey, ODC (H), Aug 9; Notts, ODC (A), Aug 11; Sussex, ODC (A), Aug 14 Essex face nervous wait The news that Essex have been charged by the Cricket Regulator with failing to address the alleged historical use of racist language and conduct between 2001 and 2010 sent further shockwaves through the club. Nonetheless, it was not unexpected. Essex's own independently-commissioned Newton Report - published in Decemberwith numerous allegations of racist conduct upheld but no names made public - was a separate enquiry…

NEXT MATCHES: Gloucs, T20 (H), July 12; Somerset, T20 (H), July 14; Surrey, T20 (A), July 18; Essex, T20 (H), July 19; Northants, ODC (H), July 26; Somerset, ODC (H), July 28; Kent, ODC (A), July 31; Lancs, ODC (H), Aug4; Derby, ODC (H), Aug 7; Durham, ODC (A), Aug 9; Worcs, ODC (A), Aug 11; Middx, ODC (A), Aug 14 Bears dent Hampshire's title hopes Hampshire's Championship title bid took a hit when they were thwarted by Warwickshire's rearguard effort at Edgbaston. First Championship hundreds of the season from James Vince (166*) and Liam Dawson (120) had taken the visitors to 453-6 in their second innings, Vince declaring late on day three to set the Bears a nominal target of 498. Hampshire looked on course for the win when…

NEXT MATCHES: Durham, T20 (A), July 12; Leics, T20 (A), July 14; Lancs, T20 (A), July 17; Yorks, T20 (A), July 19; Leics, ODC (A), July 24; Sussex, ODC (H), July 26; Yorks, ODC (H), July 28; Glam, ODC (A), July 31; Surrey, ODC (A), Aug 4; Gloucs, ODC (H), Aug 9; Essex, ODC (H), Aug 11; Warks, ODC (A), Aug 14 Rehan's kid brother breaks out Farhan Ahmed, the younger brother of the still very youthful England leggie Rehan Ahmed, has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Notts. Farhan, 16, is a Trent Bridge academy graduate who impressed hugely with England under-19s at January's World Cup. A conventional off-spinner with preternatural control, Farhan has been tearing it up in youth and second XI cricket. Across 2021 and 2022, he took…

NEXT MATCHES: kent, T20 (A), July 12; Essex, T20 (H), July 13; Somerset, T20 (A), July 18; Middx, T20 (H), July 19; Notts, ODC (A), July 26; Warks, ODC (H), July 28; Yorks, ODC (A), July 31; Glam, ODC (A), Aug 2; Leics, ODC (H), Aug 4; Gloucs, ODC (A), Aug 7; Surrey, ODC (H), Aug 11; Essex, ODC (H), Aug 14 Robinson reaches a crossroads It's been a curious month for Ollie Robinson. Pigeonholed as a red-ball specialist to such an extent that he was permitted just 50 deliveries with a white ball in two seasons before this one, he has become a key member of Sussex's T20 side in this campaign, taking the new ball and returning good numbers, picking up eight wickets with an impressive economy rate…

BATTERS Kraigg Brathwaite AGE: 31 ROLE: Right-hand opening bat; captain TESTS: 89 matches; 5,513 runs at 34.24, 12 hundreds; 29 wickets at 52.41; 1 five-wicket haul FC STATS: 210 matches, 13,664 runs at 38.70, 32 hundreds; 48 wickets at 44.93 BEST TEST BATTING: 212 (447) v Bangladesh, Kingstown, 2014 BEST TEST BOWLING: 6-29 v Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2015 Alick Athanaze AGE: 25 ROLE: Left-hand top-order bat TESTS: 4 matches, 168 runs at 24.00 FC STATS: 39 first-class matches, 2,297 runs at 34.80, 2 hundreds BEST TEST BATTING: 47 (99) v India, Roseau, 2023 Mikyle Louis AGE: 23 ROLE: Right-hand top-order bat TESTS: 0 FC STATS: 7 first-class matches, 682 runs at 48.71, 3 hundreds Zachary McCaskie AGE: 27 ROLE: Right-hand top-order bat TESTS: 0 FC STATS: 18 first-class matches, 994…

MARK RAMPRAKASH Former England batter and current Middlesex batting coach @MarkRamprakash “We're going to bowl first, because I haven't got a clue what's going to happen.” Adam Hollioake, our captain at Surrey, summed up what we were all thinking on the opening night of the Twenty20 Cup back in 2003. We'd had hardly any preparation and didn't really know how we were going to play. We just rocked up on the day and went with the flow. There was a bit of scepticism from some players, and traditionalists had reservations about how the competition would be incorporated into the domestic schedule, but for the most part the tournament was embraced. There were only five group matches in that first season - they didn't over-egg the pudding, as they subsequently have…

“An all-flair left-hander, smallish but chunky, with strong wrists and minimal technical complications, Jacob Bethell has got a touch of Eoin Morgan about him PHIL WALKER ADAM HOPKINS Wisden Cricket Monthly staff writer Maybe not the name that immediately springs to mind when you think of English cricket's next great leg-spinning hope, with Rehan Ahmed already establishing himself on the scene, but given Adil Rashid probably still has a couple of years left in an England shirt, Luke Hoilman has more time to cook. The 23-year-old leggie already has plenty of T20 experience under his belt, having debuted for Middlesex in 2020 and taken 52 wickets in 49 innings, including a career-best 5-16 against Surrey in this year's Blast. He doesn't bowl many bad balls, impressively few for a young…

THE COUNTY FILES NEXT MATCHES: Lancs, T20 (H), July 11; Birmingham, T20 (A), July 14; Worcs, T20 (A), July 18; Durham, T20 (H), July 19; Northants, ODC (A), July 24; Middx, ODC (H), July 27; Lancs, ODC (H), July 31; Worcs, ODC (H), Aug 2; Somerset, ODC (A), Aug 4; Hants, ODC (A), Aug 7; Kent, ODC (H), Aug 9; Durham, ODC (A), Aug 14 Donald finds his spark "You're Wou're making me feel old, I think I'm officially on the downslope now,” says Aneurin Donald, wearing a huge grin. Back in 2016, a baby-faced Donald bludgeoned Derbyshire's bowlers to Penrhyn Avenue's every corner. He was a Glamorgan starlet in those days, equalling Ravi Shastri's then record for the fastest double-century in first-class cricket. The 19-yearold's innings included him zipping…

THE COUNTY FILES NEXT MATCHES: Essex, T20 (A), July 11; Sussex, T20 (H), July 12; Glam, T20 (H), July 16; Surrey, T20 (H), July 19; Somerset, ODC (A), July 26; Lancs, ODC (A), July 28; Hants, ODC (H), July 31; Middx, ODC (H), Aug 4; Worcs, ODC (A), Aug 7; Derby, ODC (A), Aug 9; Durham, ODC (H), Aug 11: Northants, ODC (H), Aug 14 Agar blow leaves Spitfires in tailspin Kent's season threatened to spin off the rails after the Division One strugglers suffered an innings loss on home soil to Lancashire to follow a miserable run of six straight defeats in the Blast. The Lancs fixture was their third red-ball loss on the bounce and summed up their season so far. After Kent posted a below-par 244, the…

THE COUNTY FILES NEXT MATCHES: Gloucs, T20 (A), July 11, Glam, T20 (A), July 12; Gloucs, T20 (H), July 18; Sussex, T20 (A), July 19; Worcs, ODC (A), July 24; Derby, ODC (A), July 27; Northants, ODC (H), July 29; Kent, ODC (A), Aug4; Durham, ODC (H), Aug 6; Lancs, ODC (A), Aug 8; Somerset, ODC (H), Aug 11; Hants, ODC (H), Aug 14 Seaxes maintain promotion push While Middlesex's T20 record continues to be woeful - bottom of the South Group in 2023, at the time of writing they're bringing up the rear once again with one win from eight matches - their Championship promotion bid is gaining momentum after a commanding victory over Derbyshire, their third win in six red-ball games. “It was a hard-earned win,” said captain…

THE COUNTY FILES NEXT MATCHES: Surrey, T20 (H), July 12; Hants, T20 (A), July 14; Sussex, T20 (H), July 18; Glam, T20 (A), July 19; Kent, ODC (H), July 26; Hants, ODC (A), July 28; Durham, ODC (A), July 31; Lancs, ODC (H), Aug 2; Derby, ODC (H), Aug 4; Northants, ODC (A), Aug 7; Worcs, ODC (H), Aug 9; Middx, ODC (A), Aug 11 Green takes centre stage For all the glitzy sheen to Blast kings Somerset, the man who Lewis Gregory so often turns to when he needs a wicket is a player who tends to slip under the radar, despite him boasting a world-beating record. Since the start of 2023, no bowler in world cricket boasts a better strike-rate than Ben Green's 10.5. The seamer has taken…

THE COUNTY FILES NEXT MATCHES: Worcs, T20 (H), July 12; Derby, T20 (H), July 14; Northants, T20 (A), July 18; Leics, T20 (H), July 19; Essex, ODC (A), July 24; Leics, ODC (A), July 26; Sussex, ODC (A), July 28; Surrey, ODC (H), Aug 2; Gloucs, ODC (A), Aug 4; Glam, ODC (H), Aug 8; Yorks, ODC (H), Aug 11; Notts, ODC (H), Aug 14 Jacob climbs the ladder As the dust settles on England's underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign and the search for new talent begins, certain well-timed performances get thrust into the spotlight. Step forward Jacob Bethell, the Barbados-born-and-raised southpaw who took the Warwickshire pathway into the professional game via a scholarship to Rugby School and a series of eye-catching performances for England under-19s. Against Northants in the…

Queens of Scotland Step aside, Southern Vipers – there's a new name on the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The Blaze, who are only in their second season in their current guise (they moved to Trent Bridge from Loughborough at the start of 2023, having previously been known as Lightning), picked up a trophy at the third time of asking, having lost to Vipers in last year's 20-over and 50-over finals. Their seven-wicket win in the final at Derby, against South East Stars, came off the back of a near faultless run in the group stages, Blaze winning nine out of 10 matches. Their victory is also proof of the debt English women's cricket owes to Scotland, who supplied three of Blaze's star performers: captain Kirstie Gordon, who finished as the competition's…

BOWLERS Alzarri Joseph AGE: 27 ROLE: Right-arm fast; righthand bat; vice-captain TESTS: 32 matches, 92 wickets at 35.04, 1 five-wicket haul; 616 runs at 12.57, 2 fifties FC STATS: 66 matches, 206 wickets at 28.91, 8 five-wicket hauls; 1,291 runs at 14.83, 5 fifties BEST TEST BOWLING: 5-81 v South Africa, Centurion, 2023 BEST TEST BATTING: 86 (125) v New Zealand, Hamilton 2020 Shamar Joseph AGE: 24 ROLE: Right-arm fast; lefthand bat TESTS: 2 matches, 13 wickets at 17.30, 2 five-wicket hauls; 57 runs at 28.50 FC STATS: 7 matches, 34 wickets at 20.08, 4 fivewicket hauls; 122 runs at 11.09 BEST TEST BOWLING: 7-58 v Australia, Brisbane, 2024 Gudakesh Motie AGE: 29 ROLE: Left-arm orthodox; left-hand bat TESTS: 5 matches, 22 wickets at 20.86, 2 five-wicket hauls; 56 runs…

WEST INDIES SPECIAL DANIEL NORCROSS Test Match Special commentator “I was inside the changing room behind two closed doors and I heard this terrible noise. I shouted to our physio Bernard Thomas: ‘Bolt [Thomas’ nickname], that's hospital’.” England were a mere seven overs into the first innings of the 1984 series against the West Indies. They had lost Graeme Fowler and Derek Randall for ducks and now Andy Lloyd, on debut at his home ground of Edgbaston, had just had his Test match career ended within 40 minutes by a short ball from Malcolm Marshall that clattered high onto his right cheekbone. “They brought him back into the dressing room and he said he was fine,” recalls Fowler. “He was talking. He was OK. Except he said he had this…

Stanley Jackson Given that Winston Churchill was Jackson's fag at Harrow, it's perhaps no great surprise that the ex-England captain and army veteran found his way to the House of Commons after a decorated playing career in which he averaged 49 from 20 Tests and skippered his country to victory in the 1905 Ashes. After marrying the daughter of the Tory MP for Howdenshire, he took the seat himself after winning the 1915 by-election, sitting as an MP for 11 years, briefly serving as financial secretary to the War Office and later being appointed Governor of Bengal. Darren Gough The former England fast bowler turned down a personal request from David Cameron to stand in the 2011 by-election in his hometown of Barnsley. Gough reportedly hung up when the PM…

Send in your answers via email (editorial@wisden.com) or via post (Time Warp, Wisden Cricket Monthly, Fourth Floor, Bedser Stand, Kia Oval, Kennington, London, SE11 5SS). Entries must be received by August 5, 2024. WIN! 1. 5 years ago… On July 26, 2019, England beat Ireland by 143 runs in the one-off Test at Lord's. Who did Jack Leach cover for as opener in England's second innings, scoring 92 as a nightwatchman? 2. 10 years ago… On July 13, 2014, who did Alastair Cook dismiss at Trent Bridge to pick up his first and only Test wicket? 3. 15 years ago… On July 13, 2009, Bangladesh defeated West Indies by 95 runs in the first Test in Kingstown, St Vincent. Which 36-year-old captained a Windies side featuring seven Test debutants? 4.…

5. FELIX ON THE BAT BY NICHOLAS WANOSTROCHT (1845) The Young Cricketer's Tutor, which headlined the book version of John Nyren's memoirs (as covered in these pages last month) was not cricket's first technical manual. It drew on published works by Thomas Boxall (1801) and William Lambert (1816), as well as notes by the Hambledon batter James Aylward (whose record score of 167 stood until 1820). But the success of Nyren's volume promoted interest in technique. Over time, coaching manuals have come to represent the third largest genre of cricket writing (after biography and tour books). Nyren placed great store by what was already called “fair play”, a concept that would develop into the even more nebulous “spirit of cricket”. However, as well as high rhetoric on the character-forming qualities…

Last month, the World Cricketers’ Association (formerly FICA) released a new poll which found that the T20 World Cup will soon be considered the most sought-after trophy in international cricket. Whereas in 2019, 85 per cent of respondents considered the 50-over version to be the pinnacle, that figure had dipped to a mere 50 per cent in 2024, with the numbers even more starkly skewed among under-26s. India's cricketers are barred from joining players’ associations, and so they did not contribute to the survey, but it's hard to imagine they'd have offered any redress to those findings after the events ofthe past two ICC global tournaments. If the 50-over World Cup was dead to India from about the mid-point of Australia's buzzkill run-chase in Ahmedabad, then the T20 final will…

YAS RANA Host of the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast @Yas_Wisden ‘Adjudged’ is a loaded word in the world of county cricket social media. At face value its innocuous enough, but when used by o§cial county accounts, its meaning is clear: “Our player has received a stinker from the umpire.” Sometimes, there's not even an attempt at subtlety. Back in 2022, one county tweeted that their opener could “consider himself incredibly unlucky as he is adjudged lbw for 54”. The public undermining of domestic umpires on o§cial channels has become widespread. The Laws clearly state that “showing dissent at an umpire's decision” constitutes a Level One offence that could potentially lead to a side incurring a five-run penalty. If players show any form of a dissent, there are guidelines in place…

“Cricket is f***ing useless,” Dr David Goldblatt, the sportswriter and academic, told WCM last year. “It is obviously going to be one of the most threatened sports in the world by climate change, but it's been so hopeless at getting on top of this. You want cricket for the next 30 years? It's time to get real.” Goldblatt's 2021 report, Playing Against the Clock: The Climate Emergency and the Case for Rapid Change, laid out in chilling detail the impact that global warming could have on cricket. Yet three years later, the ICC have still failed to sign up to the UN's Sports for Climate Action Framework, which requires its 350-plus signatories including the ECB, FIFA and the International Olympic Committee - to “adhere to a set of five principles…

THE COUNTY FILES NEXT MATCHES: Middx, T20 (H). July 11; Hants, T20 (A), July 12; Glam, T20 (H), July 14; Middx, T20 (A), July 18; Glam, ODC (A), July 25; Essex, ODC (H), July 28; Surrey, ODC (A), July 30; Yorks, ODC (A), Aug 2; Warks, ODC (H), Aug 4; Sussex, ODC (H), Aug 7; Notts, ODC (A), Aug 9; Leics, ODC (H), Aug 14 Brown sets out on new path When Will Brown, Gloucestershire's outgoing chief executive, was seriously injured in a hike accident in January last year, suffering a broken neck in the process, it gave him pause for reflection. Having served the club for 11 years and experienced the highs and lows as keenly as anyone, he realised itwas time to pursue other avenues. “I'm sad and…

NEXT MATCHES: Derby, T20 (A), July 11; Yorks, T20 (H), July 12; Notts, T20 (H), July 17; Northants, T20 (H), July 19; Durham, ODC (H), July 24; Kent, ODC (H), July 28; Derby, ODC (A), July 31; Somerset, ODC (A), Aug 2; Hants, ODC (A), Aug 4: Middx, ODC (H), Aug 8; Northants, ODC (A), Aug 11; Worcs, ODC (H), Aug 14 Rocky pulls no punches "The resemblance is quite remarkable,” said Mark Butcher of Rocky Flintoff, son of his former England teammate Andrew, after the 16-year-old bludgeoned his first century for Lancashire's Second XI in April, including a straight-arm pull shot for six that was eerily familiar. “The Flintoff genetic make-up is so strong that his movements are almost identical to those of his dad's.” Rocky is yet to…

THE COUNTY FILES NEXT MATCHES: Leics, T20 (A), July 12; Durham, T20 (A), July 14; Birmingham, T20 (H), July 18; Lancs, T20 (A), July 19; Derby, ODC (H), July 24; Hants, ODC (A), July 26; Middx, ODC (A), July 29; Durham, ODC (A), Aug 2; Worcs, ODC (H), Aug4; Somerset, ODC (H), Aug 7; Lancs, ODC (H), Aug 11; Kent, ODC (A), Aug 14 Ravi's evergreen class Ravi Bopara is one of the great survivors of English cricket. After serving Essex with distinction, and then Sussex, he accepted the role of T20 captain at Northants this term and has shown his enduring class fora team going nicely in the competition. A scene-stealing home debut - the old stager took his side home from the final ball of the match, 56…

THE COUNTY FILES NEXT MATCHES: Somerset, T20 (A), July 12; Essex, T20 (A), July 14; Hants, T20 (A), July 18; Kent, T20 (A), July 19; Yorks, ODC (H), July25; Glam, ODC (H), July 28; Gloucs, ODC (H), July 30; Warks, ODC (A), Aug 2; Notts, ODC (H), Aug 4; Leics, ODC (A), Aug 6; Essex, ODC (A), Aug 9; Sussex, ODC (A), Aug 11 Lawrence takes his shot Timing is everything for a batter, and Dan Lawrence made his dip for the line at just the right moment, hitting a scintillating 175 in Surrey's innings win over Worcestershire in late June, a week before England announced their first Test squad of the summer. It was Lawrence's second red-ball century since arriving at The Oval, and his fifth 50-plus score in…

NEXT MATCHES: Leics, T20 (H), July 11; Birmingham, T20 (A), July 12; Yorks, T20 (H), July 14; Derby, T20 (H), July 18; Middx, ODC (H), July 24; Durham, ODC (H), July 28; Derby, ODC (A), Aug 2; Northants, ODC (A), Aug 4; Kent, ODC (H), Aug 7; Somerset, ODC (A), Aug 9; Hants, ODC (H), Aug 11; Lancs, ODC (A), Aug 14 Pears face injury crisis It's proving to be a traumatic summer at New Road, with the tragic death of Josh Baker casting a shadow over the club. The loss of the homegrown spinner puts any struggles on the field in perspective, but the Pears can't catch a break, sitting one off the bottom in the Championship with an injury crisis depleting their already limited resources. Skipper Brett D'Oliveira…

WEST INDIES SPECIAL BRIAN LARA Ask Jimmy Adams about Brian Lara and he'll tell you about Lara's elephantine memory. He'll detail what fascinates him about his hyperactive, restless mind, and he'll wonder out loud if even now, some 17 years after Lara's retirement, his friend will ever truly disentangle himself from the unreality of his strange existence and convoluted legacy. “There have been times over the years when I've wondered whether he is content,” Adams writes in the foreword to Lara's new book, LARA: The England Chronicles. “Something I've wondered about a few of our great players in the past. I watch and listen to them and think, “For all that you've achieved in the game, are you truly content?” For a mortal like me, if I had achieved what Brian…

1stTest, Edgbaston England 191 (Botham 64; Garner 4-53) & 235 (Downton 56; Garner 5-55) v West Indies 606 (Gomes 143, Richards 117; Pringle 5-108) West Indies won by an innings and 180 runs 2nd Test, Lord's England 286 (Fowler 106; Marshall 6-85) & 300-9dec (Lamb 110; Small 3-40) v West Indies 245 (Richards 72; Botham 8-103) & 344-1 (Haynes 214*, Gomes 92*) West Indies won by 9 wickets 3rd Test, Headingley England 270 (Lamb 100; Holding 4-70) & 159 (Fowler 50; Marshall 7-53) v West Indies 302 (Gomes 104; Allott 6-61) & 131-2 (Greenidge 49) West Indies won by 8 wickets 4th Test, Old Trafford I West Indies 500 (Greenidge 223, Dujon 101; Pocock 4-121) v England 280 (Lamb 100*; Garner 4-51) & 156 (Gower 57; Harper 6-57) West Indies…

In association with No 5 Unlikely nemeses ROB SMYTH Author and freelance sportswriter Andre Nel is the only man who's had Brian Lara twice on his honeymoon. We should probably explain that. Nel got married on the third evening of the fourth Test between South Africa and West Indies in 2004, and celebrated by dismissing Lara twice the following day. These weren't just the actions of a man who was high on love: Nel troubled Lara throughout his career. He was equally successful against the other devastating left-hander of his era, Adam Gilchrist. “It's quite cool," says Nel of his record against them. “I wasn't a superstar – I was a decent, steady bowler [123 Test wickets at 32] so to get all these greats out gives me a nice…

The Wisden Club Cricket Hall of Fame What's your first-class batting average? Probably not as high as Steve Johnson's, which is 170. The Big Fish. The one time the Shropshire opener dipped his toe in those waters, for the Minor Counties XI against the Indians on home turf at Wellington, he followed a first dig 146* against Kapil Dev, Srinivas Venkata rag havan et al with a steady 24, the statistical if not emotional high point of an illustrious career. “That was a great thrill,” he says, “but I have to say it was a batting paradise.” Born in Doncaster to a father who was a “devout Yorkshire supporter” and a mother who “taught me howto catch walking around Doncaster racecourse”, Johnson's first club was Harrogate, after the family moved…

Calling all cricket collectors – Saturday August 24 will see the Worcester Cricket Memorabilia Market take place at New Road from 10am to 5pm. An ideal opportunity to buy or sell cricket memorabilia, there will also be an appearance from former Worcestershire and Middlesex cricketer Ricky Ellcock, who will be signing copies of his book Balls to Fly. There will be a variety of items to suit all budgets including cricket books on sale for £1, a selection of autographed items, ceramics and postcards. Admission to the market is free for day three ticket-holders for the Worcestershire v Kent Championship match, and for those wishing to exhibit, tables are available for £30. Contact rbrown@theurswickschool.co.uk for more information or to reserve a table.…

No. 4: Andrew Hamilton and WG Grace Andrew Hamilton was an important figure in the sporting life of Edinburgh. He was a champion bowler, becoming secretary of the Scottish Bowls Association, then the first president of the International Bowling Board. He was also secretary of the Caledonian Curling Club, president of the Carlton Cricket Club, secretary of the Insurance and Banking Golf Club at Duddington, and on the board of the Edinburgh Ice Rink. I bought a small archive on him last year, and included were 13 letters from WG Grace. When WG moved to London from Gloucestershire he started his own cricket club, London County, but also took up bowls, and laid out his own bowling green. His correspondence with Hamilton starts in 1901 and the letters continue until…

Close of Play JOHN MORRIS “They were talking about sending us home at one point. We then got fined £1,000.1 felt I'd been ostracised from the group I was 18 in 1982 when I made my Derbyshire debut. We played 28 first-class games per season and I loved it. It was hectic, and we didn't play to make money, butyou just got on with it. County cricket was a champagne lifestyle on a beer income. It was a golden era for overseas players. Clive Rice and Richard Hadlee at Notts were fierce bowlers. Malcolm Marshall for Hampshire. At Derbyshire we had Devon Malcolm and Michael Holding sharing a new ball together! I was learning the game from the greats. In 1990 I got a big hundred at Portsmouth against Hampshire, and…