''The Cricket Annual'' was a compact

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

annual publication Annual publications, more often simply called annuals, are periodical publications appearing regularly once per year."Annuals", in ''Encyclopedia of library and information science'' (1968), vol. 1, pp. 434–447. Although exact definitions may var ...

published in 1961 and 1962. This was the final name of a cricket annual that had first appeared in 1895, and was before it was re-named to become the re-styled

Playfair Cricket Annual ''Playfair Cricket Annual'' is a compact annual about cricket that is published in the United Kingdom each April, just before the English cricket season is due to begin. It has been published every year since 1948. Its main purposes are to review ...

. In 1962 the Playfair titles (including the Playfair Cricket Annual) were acquired by Dickens Press which had just published ''The Cricket Annual''. In November 1962 editor Roy Webber died suddenly and the decision was made to combine the two annuals so that in 1963, Dickens published a new style ''Playfair Cricket Annual'', using the same name but basing the size, format and price on ''The Cricket Annual''.

Background

''The Cricket Annual'' was one in a long line of publications starting in 1895, with many different titles but with a continuity of format and style. They are pocket book size (approx 9.8 x 13.6 cm) but pre-1928 inaccurately trimmed and size varies (1906 is 8.9 x 13 cm). Pre-1915 books usually contained 96 pages (1908 = 80). From 1904-1914 they were edited by Alfred Gibson (Rover) and then for one year in 1921 by 'Mentor'. From 1922 until 1939 the editor was Frank Thorogood, in 1946 Percy Rudd, and then Crawford White until 1957 when he was joined by Roy Webber. Good quality copies prior to 1921 are rare and the 1895-1899 ''Star and Leader Cricket Manuals'' is difficult to find in any condition. The early annuals (pre-1914) sold for one penny (1d). When they reappeared after the First World War the price was 4d (1923 2d) and then in 1929 reduced to 3d until 1939. Post-1946, as the number of pages grew, the cost rose in increments from 6d to one shilling and six pence (1/6) by 1957. Titles''A Bibliography of Cricket, Compiled by

E.W. Padwick Eric William Padwick (23 January 1923 – 29 March 2010) was a professional bibliographer who compiled the definitive bibliography of cricket literature. He was also Deputy Librarian of the Guildhall Library. The Cricket Society commissioned ...

''. 2nd edition 1984, p.92 to 99. * 1895-1899 ''Star and Leader Cricket Manual'' * 1900-1908 ''Morning Leader Cricket Annual'' * 1909-1911 ''Morning Leader Cricket and Sports Annual'' * 1912 ''Morning Leader Cricket Annual'' * 1913-1914 ''Daily News and Leader Cricket Annual'' * 1921-1926 ''Daily News Cricket and Tennis Annual'' * 1927-1930 ''Daily News Cricket Annual'' * 1931-1939 ''News Chronicle Cricket Annual'' * 1946-1956 ''News Chronicle Cricket Annual'' * 1957-1958 ''News Chronicle & Daily Dispatch Cricket Annual'' * 1959-1960 ''News Chronicle Cricket Annual'' * 1961-1962 ''The Cricket Annual'' * 1963-2013 ''Playfair Cricket Annual''

Details

Editions produced since 1928:- For editions of the annual 1963-present see the

References

Defunct cricket magazines Annual magazines published in the United Kingdom Magazines established in 1961 Magazines disestablished in 1962 Sports magazines published in the United Kingdom Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom {{sport-mag-stub