Wisden Cricketers' Almanack Australia
Encyclopedia
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack Australia (also known as Wisden Australia) was a cricket
annual and reference book, the Australia
n version of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
, generally known as Wisden. The Australian edition's gestation period was lengthy: the first edition appeared in 1998, when the Preface referred to a March 1981 report in The Australian
announcing the imminent appearance of the Australian edition.
During its life Wisden Australia was published at or near the beginning of the Australian season, in November or early December. In contrast to the yellow cover of the parent publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
, its cover was predominantly bright green, though the last two editions published, those of 2004-05 and 2005-06, emulated the parent by featuring dustjackets with photographs.
The Australian edition was also somewhat slimmer and cheaper, as there were fewer games to report on in Australia; in most other respects the format and content of the Australian edition were similar to those of the English version. One difference was that the former's coverage of first grade cricket
in each state and territory was more comprehensive than the latter's relatively sketchy coverage of top level English club and league cricket.
The first two editions, dated 1998 and 1999, covered the 1997-98 and 1998-99 Australian seasons respectively. The numbering changed with the third edition, which adopted the practice of the English Almanack by including in its title the date of the season immediately after the season covered. Thus the 2000-01 edition covered the 1999-2000 season, and so on up to the 2005-06 edition, the eighth in the series, published in 2005 which covered the domestic season 2004-05 and the 2005 Ashes
tour in England.
No further edition has been published since 2005. The most comprehensive reviews and records of Australian cricket are now to be found online or in the reports of the various state cricket associations. The website of Cricket Australia
, the national body, does not cover grade cricket in any detail.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
annual and reference book, the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n version of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
, generally known as Wisden. The Australian edition's gestation period was lengthy: the first edition appeared in 1998, when the Preface referred to a March 1981 report in The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
announcing the imminent appearance of the Australian edition.
During its life Wisden Australia was published at or near the beginning of the Australian season, in November or early December. In contrast to the yellow cover of the parent publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
, its cover was predominantly bright green, though the last two editions published, those of 2004-05 and 2005-06, emulated the parent by featuring dustjackets with photographs.
The Australian edition was also somewhat slimmer and cheaper, as there were fewer games to report on in Australia; in most other respects the format and content of the Australian edition were similar to those of the English version. One difference was that the former's coverage of first grade cricket
Grade cricket
Grade cricket is the name of the senior inter-club or district cricket competitions in each of the Australian states. The term may refer to:*Brisbane Grade Cricket *South Australian Grade Cricket League*Sydney Grade Cricket...
in each state and territory was more comprehensive than the latter's relatively sketchy coverage of top level English club and league cricket.
The first two editions, dated 1998 and 1999, covered the 1997-98 and 1998-99 Australian seasons respectively. The numbering changed with the third edition, which adopted the practice of the English Almanack by including in its title the date of the season immediately after the season covered. Thus the 2000-01 edition covered the 1999-2000 season, and so on up to the 2005-06 edition, the eighth in the series, published in 2005 which covered the domestic season 2004-05 and the 2005 Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
tour in England.
No further edition has been published since 2005. The most comprehensive reviews and records of Australian cricket are now to be found online or in the reports of the various state cricket associations. The website of Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia, formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board, is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia. It was originally formed in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket...
, the national body, does not cover grade cricket in any detail.
Editors
- Gideon HaighGideon HaighGideon Clifford Jeffrey Davidson Haigh is an English-born Australian journalist, who writes about sport and business. He was born in London of a Yorkshire father and an Australian mother, and was raised in Geelong, Victoria.- Career :Haigh has been writing about sport and business for over...
(1999 to 2000-01) - Warwick Franks (2001-02 to 2003-04)
- Chris Ryan (2004-05)
- Greg BaumGreg BaumGregory Martin Baum is an Australian sports journalist and football writer.-Early years and education:He was born in the Melbourne suburb of Boronia, the first of five children. He attended St Joseph's Primary School, Boronia, and later St Joseph's High School, Ferntree Gully, graduating in 1975...
(2005-06)