On the 5 September 1826, the prominent English cricketer, John Wisden, was born in Crown Street, Brighton, Sussex (1826-1884).

Wisden played 187 first-class cricket matches for three English county teams, Kent, Middlesex and Sussex. Initially a fast round-arm bowler, before overarm bowling was permitted, his pace slowed in later years so he bowled medium pace, and slow underarm. While bowling fast, he took on average nearly 10 wickets in each game.

He was also a competent batsman, and scored two first-class centuries.

After his father died he moved to live in London, with the wicket-keeper Tom Box.

In 1845, aged 18, he made his first-class debut for Sussex against the MCC, taking 6 wickets in the first innings and three in the second. He joined the All-England Eleven in 1846, and moved to the United All-England Eleven in 1852.

In 1849 Wisden was engaged to George Parr’s sister Annie, but she died before the wedding, and he never married. He traveled with a touring team led by George Parr to Canada and the US in 1859.

He retired from cricket in 1863 at the relatively early age of 37. He is best known for launching the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 1864, the year after he retired from first-class cricket.

Wisden died at the age of 57, in the flat above his Cranbourn Street shop. and is buried in Brompton Cemetery.

05 September, 2019