2008-04-30 A detailed and invaluable pocket guide - ideal for any cricket fan

The "Playfair Cricket Annual" has an excellent reputation as the pocket guide for any follower of the game. Now in its 61st edition, it contains everything a cricket enthusiast should need to know, with a wealth of statistics on all the players and teams playing in England in 2008, on both the county and international levels.

As always, it has been fully revised for the 2008 season, with a new preface by BBC Test Match Special scorer and statistician Bill Frindall. Other informative articles include a brief analysis of the Duckworth-Lewis scoring system, used for resetting targets in rain-affected one-day matches; and an explanation of Kolpak registrations for overseas players - currently a controversial issue in the county game. However, the real role of this book is as a statistical reference, and in this respect it does not disappoint.

The first half of the book is a register of all players currently contracted to the 18 English county teams, providing vital statistics - such as height, career history, batting and bowling styles, highest scores and best bowling performances in both first-class and limited overs cricket - for every one. A further section lists career bowling and batting averages for all contracted first-class players, making this a comprehensive yet accessible ready-reference. The reader will also find records for every county and international team, and for every form of the game played in England (including Test Matches and ODIs, but also the County Championship, Friends Provident Trophy, Pro40 League and Twenty20 Cup).

Nearer the back are provided complete scorecards for every Test Match that took place in 2007, as well as a list of all English domestic and international fixtures for the 2008 summer. Finally there is a fielding chart illustrating the names of all the most common positions - ideal for new fans of the game.

All in all, the "Playfair Cricket Annual" is an affordable and invaluable guide. The information given is presented very densely, and in most cases the book's clear structure makes it easy to locate whichever statistics are required - although the small type may be a problem for those who are harder of sight. In addition, at only 320 pages it is relatively compact and lightweight, and its pocket-sized format means that this is an excellent companion for taking to matches.