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The Nightwatchman

@nightwatchmanxi

Wisden’s cricket quarterly. Posts for cricket tragics. "What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?”

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14.11.2024
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Latest posts by The Nightwatchman @nightwatchmanxi

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In the new issue of WCM, out now, Andrew Miller has his say on the T20 World Cup

Print: thenightwatchman.net/shop/wisden-...

Digital: pocketmags.com/wisden-crick...

10.03.2026 10:00 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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West Indian cricket’s first revolutionary

Vaneisa Baksh on Learie and his lineage for Nightwatchman 53

Read: thenightwatchman.net/writing/west...

09.03.2026 10:10 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 1
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I spy a 2026 Cricket Season WALL CHART!!!

07.03.2026 14:43 👍 35 🔁 3 💬 3 📌 0

Issue 95 of Wisden Cricket Monthly is available now in print and digital formats

07.03.2026 15:45 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The cover of the most recent County Cricket Matters, which is a painting by Jack Russell titled 'stumping'--about which he knows a thing or two--and which bears the tag line The Ashes Aftermath. It's not going to be a fun read, is it?

The cover of the most recent County Cricket Matters, which is a painting by Jack Russell titled 'stumping'--about which he knows a thing or two--and which bears the tag line The Ashes Aftermath. It's not going to be a fun read, is it?

it is snowing again. I finished @slightlyfoxed.bsky.social yesterday and am planning on the day with @nightwatchmanxi.bsky.social but tomorrow was looming already, so imagine my delight when this arrived in the post today. Thank you @anniechave.bsky.social and @ccmatters.bsky.social. #cricket

06.03.2026 14:59 👍 7 🔁 3 💬 2 📌 0

The latest issue of The Nightwatchman is hot off the press. Grab your copy now!

06.03.2026 10:35 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Issue 95 of Wisden Cricket Monthly is out now

They reveal the 50 best uncapped players in the county game, talk to some of those who came out on top, and assess their chances of breaking into the Test team

Print: www.thenightwatchman.net/shop/wisden-...

Digital: pocketmags.com/wisden-crick...

05.03.2026 10:03 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1

Some good stuff in The Nightwatchman as always.

05.03.2026 02:34 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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In the post: the latest edition of @nightwatchmanxi.bsky.social Always a very stimulating read

04.03.2026 20:54 👍 9 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0

I’ve got something in this issue about Charlie Buller, whose life reads like something from a novel. On sale now!

04.03.2026 18:16 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Issue 53 of The Nightwatchman is out now, packed with excellent long-form cricket writing from Vaneisa Baksh, Cris Andrews, Andy Moles, Garfield Robinson, Margaret Brecknell and more

Print: www.thenightwatchman.net/shop/issue-53

Digital: www.thenightwatchman.net/shop/the-nig...

04.03.2026 10:26 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 3
The cover of issue 53 of The Nightwatchman.

The cover of issue 53 of The Nightwatchman.

It has arrived in the US. It's good. It always is, though, rather, alas, like an Aus test side, so no surprise but more welcome for having a little piece by me about @absentmindguy.bsky.social. Great fun working with Matt @nightwatchmanxi.bsky.social. I appreciated the opportunity.

03.03.2026 18:20 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
The opening paragraphs of Making the Case in the current issue of The Nightwatchman.

Here is the origin story: 20 runs needed
from the final over. There are wickets
in hand, but it’s Matt Henry and Zak
Foulkes batting; neither is a rabbit, but
it’s Logan van Beek bowling, so you’d
probably put your money on him to
secure the win.
   Depending on how you look at it,
either the bowler made a complete
mess of things, two consecutive wides
in the middle of the over and the shot
between them going for six, or the
batters managed the over to perfection,
two singles rotating the strike and
three sixes, including Foulkes’ last ball
maximum to secure victory by four
wickets, 173 for 7 against 177 for 6.
   Either way, it came down to the
last ball.
   In New Braunfels, Texas, former
sports reporter for a daily paper, father
of two, and middle school special
education teacher with a primary focus
in Mathematics, Shaun Springfield, had
some down time, so he hooked up a
projector for some of his students and
showed them a cricket match live from
New Zealand. It was the Super Smash
eliminator, Canterbury v Wellington, in
Hamilton on 26 January 2024. It came
down to Foulkes against van Beek.
It was also the first match he or his
students had watched live.
   Almost immediately afterwards,
Springfield posted on his then-blog
Shaun Does Stuff, to announce that
“Cricket is amazing. My advice: if you are
not watching cricket, you should start.”

The opening paragraphs of Making the Case in the current issue of The Nightwatchman. Here is the origin story: 20 runs needed from the final over. There are wickets in hand, but it’s Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes batting; neither is a rabbit, but it’s Logan van Beek bowling, so you’d probably put your money on him to secure the win. Depending on how you look at it, either the bowler made a complete mess of things, two consecutive wides in the middle of the over and the shot between them going for six, or the batters managed the over to perfection, two singles rotating the strike and three sixes, including Foulkes’ last ball maximum to secure victory by four wickets, 173 for 7 against 177 for 6. Either way, it came down to the last ball. In New Braunfels, Texas, former sports reporter for a daily paper, father of two, and middle school special education teacher with a primary focus in Mathematics, Shaun Springfield, had some down time, so he hooked up a projector for some of his students and showed them a cricket match live from New Zealand. It was the Super Smash eliminator, Canterbury v Wellington, in Hamilton on 26 January 2024. It came down to Foulkes against van Beek. It was also the first match he or his students had watched live. Almost immediately afterwards, Springfield posted on his then-blog Shaun Does Stuff, to announce that “Cricket is amazing. My advice: if you are not watching cricket, you should start.”

I have just seen the PDF of the new @nightwatchmanxi.bsky.social. @absentmindguy.bsky.social is the focus of one story. I would recommend it, but modesty forbids... The other pieces are excellent, of course.

28.02.2026 19:35 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 2 📌 1
Preview
The Adil Rashid Succession Plan: Four Spinners Who Could Be England's Next White-Ball No.1 | Cricket News Today England's spin succession must be at the forefront of their planning if their T20 success is to continue, writes Katya Witney.

The Adil Rashid succession plan: Four spinners who could be England's next white-ball No.1 - Katya Witney

www.wisden.com/series/icc-m...

27.02.2026 10:20 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Hundred Teams Pledge Not To Exclude Pakistan Players Following Shadow-Ban Reports | England Cricket News The ECB and the eight Hundred teams have released a joint statement following reports that sides linked to the Indian Premier League would decline to sign players from Pakistan. Read more

The ECB and the eight Hundred teams have released a joint statement following reports that sides linked to the Indian Premier League would decline to sign players from Pakistan - @benwisden.bsky.social

www.wisden.com/cricket-news...

25.02.2026 09:58 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
Moeen Ali: Players Could Act Over Pakistan Exclusion From The Hundred | Cricket News Today Moeen Ali has responded to reports that India-based owners in the Hundred may not sign Pakistan players at the upcoming auction.

Moeen Ali: Players could act over Pakistan exclusion from The Hundred

www.wisden.com/cricket-news...

24.02.2026 10:10 👍 7 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
Four Notable County Championship Off-Season Signings, And Why They Matter The 2026 County Championship season will get underway in just over a month's time.

Four notable County Championship off-season signings, and why they matter

Katya Witney for @wisdencricket.bsky.social

www.wisden.com/cricket-news...

21.02.2026 12:05 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Mark Butcher: Jofra Archer Must Re-Find New-Ball Bite To Cover England's Clear Vulnerabilities | T20 World Cup Following England's nervy T20 World Cup win over Italy, Mark Butcher has said that Jofra Archer must find movement with the ball to lead England through the Super Eights.

Mark Butcher: Jofra Archer must re-find new-ball bite to cover England's clear vulnerabilities

www.wisden.com/series/icc-m...

18.02.2026 10:27 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
The Cricketers' Who's Who 2026 - Fairfield Books The 47th edition of the essential guide to the English cricket season.

The Cricketers’ Who’s Who 2026

The essential guide to the 2026 cricket season. Everything you need to know about every single player from all 18 counties, including an in-depth women’s section

Foreword by Annie Chave

Pre-order below ⬇️

fairfieldbooks.co.uk/shop/the-cri...

16.02.2026 10:29 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Why Matt Prior Is Stepping In To Save His Boyhood Club Former England wicketkeeper and Sussex player Matt Prior on how success fell into financial disarray, and why the club's culture must change.

Why Matt Prior is stepping in to save his boyhood club

Former England wicketkeeper and Sussex player Matt Prior on how Sussex fell into financial disarray, and why the club's culture must change - Katya Witney

www.wisden.com/cricket-news...

15.02.2026 13:14 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Subscribe to Wisden Cricket Monthly digital now and get a year of brilliant cricket writing for just £13.99 – saving over 40% on the normal price

Subscribe here: pocketmags.com/offer/trinor...

13.02.2026 10:26 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 1
Preview
Five Talking Points From England's Near-Miss Against Nepal | T20 World Cup 2026 What can England learn from their narrow-win over Nepal in their T20 World Cup 2026 tournament opener?

How will England fare against West Indies this afternoon?

www.wisden.com/series/icc-m...

11.02.2026 09:50 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Associate Excellence At T20 World Cup Lights Path To Future Less Dependent On India-Pakistan Rivalry | ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 | Cricket News Today The stellar displays of Associate nations at the ongoing men's T20 World Cup against the backdrop of the tournament's off-field messes stresses the need to cricket to set its sights elsewhere, writes ...

Associate excellence at T20 World Cup lights path to future less dependent on India-Pakistan rivalry

www.wisden.com/series/icc-m...

10.02.2026 10:02 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

You can pre-order The Cricketers' Who's Who 2026 now!

08.02.2026 12:37 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Wisden's Men's U19 World Cup 2026 Team Of The Tournament | Cricket News Today The 2026 U19 World Cup concluded on Friday, February 6, with India beating England in the final to win their sixth title. Here’s Wisden’s team of the tournament.

Wisden's Men's U19 World Cup 2026 team of the tournament

www.wisden.com/series/icc-u...

07.02.2026 11:23 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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The Cricketers’ Who’s Who 2026

The essential guide to the 2026 cricket season. Everything you need to know about every single player from all 18 counties, including an in-depth women’s section

Foreword by
@anniechave.bsky.social

Pre-order now: fairfieldbooks.co.uk/shop/the-cri...

05.02.2026 10:49 👍 7 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 1
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The remarkable story of Tony Pigott’s first and only England cap

www.wisden.com/cricket-news...

04.02.2026 10:43 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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In the latest issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly, Jonathan Trott reveals his England coaching ambitions

Order your copy below ⬇️

Print: thenightwatchman.net/buy/wisden-c...

Digital: pocketmags.com/wisden-crick...

02.02.2026 10:13 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Three In Three, Three Times: England All-Rounder Joint-Second On All-Time List After Hat-Trick Vs Sri Lanka | SL v ENG | Cricket News Today Sam Curran picked up his third T20 hat-trick in the opening match of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka on Friday (January 30).

Three in three, three times: Sam Curran joint-second on all-time list after hat-trick vs Sri Lanka

www.wisden.com/cricket-news...

31.01.2026 12:02 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Wisden Cricket Monthly issue 94 – Can international cricket hold itself together?

In the new issue of WCM we preview the Men's T20 World Cup and examine the geopolitical friction which is threatening to pull the world game apart

Read more: www.wisden.com/cricket-news...

30.01.2026 10:16 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0