‘I’d fully support him in trying to again’ – Paine will back Smith if he wants to captain Australia
"I haven't had that conversation with Smithy"
"I haven't had that conversation with Smithy"
"We've got three of the best batsmen in the world in our top six”
"I’ve actually hit a bit of a snag today"
"Some decisions have been made in the best interests of our country"
"I remember feeling like a punching bag"
"There’s talk about smoke delaying this game, but who cares, it doesn't mean anything compared with what people are going…
"You should be open-minded enough to at least try it and see how it goes"
"It's disappointing and it makes me angry"
The Australia captain is yet to score a Test century in his 30-match career
"Sarfaraz would've already gone for four. Sweep shot – bang – four!"
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.