Issue 38 – out now

Managing editor Matt Thacker introduces issue 38 of the Nightwatchman

I like this time of year. Summer’s a-comin’, the cricket season is starting to beat out its rhythm, the Almanack has appeared, county cricketers get their chance to make a name for themselves before the international stuff takes over and monopolises the headlines. Early season feels authentic, worthwhile. Full of possibility.

And it’s also the issue of the Nightwatchman where we publish the commended short stories from the Almanack’s annual writing competition. It is always a treat to read through these, to see the names of writers as yet unknown, of vastly different ages and backgrounds, who have sat down and consciously crafted their 500 words, give or take, about our beloved sport. It is a time of hope and of renewal.

The June issue is also where we showcase Wisden’s photography competition, featuring the best cricket photos from the last 12 months. We always get in touch ourselves with the photographers to ask them to add a few lines about the what, the why and the how of their photographs and we hope this gives a bit more context to the pictures.

Elsewhere in this issue we have our usual range of pieces. Sir Geoffrey Boycott has let Jon Hotten get inside his head to talk about that over from Michael Holding (under Fairfield Books we are publishing Geoff record of his 108 Test matches and this is just a sneak preview); Souvik Naha wonders what really went on in 1945; we’ve got two stories out of New Zealand; updates from South Africa and Pakistan; we get to ride on the underground in the 1930s; and we even travel back to late eighteenth and early nineteenth century Italy and forward to a post-apocalyptic world where, you’ll be pleased to know, cricket is still played thanks to the chance discovery of a set of Almanacks. Naturally.

Matt Thacker, June 2022