On 5 September 1826 John Wisden was born at Brighton — the future Sussex fast bowler, England representative, and founder of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (1864), the most important reference work in the history of the game.
Wisden was born to a working-class Brighton family. His father, a builder, died when John was nine; he was apprenticed to the Sussex professional Tom Box. By his late teens he was a leading roundarm bowler. His later career included founding the John Wisden & Co sports goods firm and, in 1864, the Cricketers' Almanack — published continuously ever since.
5 Sep 1826
Wisden born at Brighton
1845
First-class debut
1850
Takes 10 wickets in an innings, all bowled
1864
Founds Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
1884
Wisden dies
Wisden played first-class cricket from 1845 to 1863, took the rare 'all bowled' wicket-haul (10 wickets in an innings, all bowled) in 1850, and founded the Almanack in 1864.
The birth of the most influential cricket administrator-publisher of the nineteenth century.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is the single most important continuing publication in cricket. Wisden's birth in 1826 is the conventional start of that arc.
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1811-07-04
The 1811 Lord's season was the leanest of the Middle Ground years. With the Napoleonic blockade at its tightest, willow scarce, professionals diverted to militia service and the betting public's purses thin, only fourteen major matches were played at Lord's all summer. The 1811 season is the clearest measure of cricket's wartime contraction.
Officers vs Civilians
1812-12-15
By the close of 1812 cricket was being played regularly in both Madras and Bombay — the earliest documented fixtures in either Presidency. Garrison officers and civilian East India Company servants ran the matches; the Madras Gazette and Bombay Courier preserved the earliest scoresheets. The Calcutta game (documented 1804) had been joined by all three Presidency capitals.
Kent vs MCC
1813-09-09
On 9-10 September 1813 Kent played the MCC at the Vine, Sevenoaks — the first post-war major match at the historic Kent ground and the start of the Vine's revival as a regular major venue. The Vine had hosted little major cricket since 1808; the September 1813 fixture marked its return to the front rank.