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 the previous English season and to provide detailed career records and potted biographies of current players. It is produced in a "pocket-sized" format, being approximately 5×4 in (i.e., about 13×10 cm), so that it is a convenient size for carrying to cricket matches. The front cover of each edition has featured a photograph of a prominent current cricketer. There is a popular myth that this "honour" has a "hex" or "curse" associated with it, as the player featured then invariably has a poor season.
2019 English cricket season
The season will see the 2019 Cricket World Cup played in the country between 30 May and 14 July as well as an Ashes tour by Australia following the competition. Pakistan will take part in a one-day tour before the World Cup and the England men's team will play a One Day International in Ireland and a Test match against Ireland at Lord's in the first Test between the two teams. The West Indies and Australian women's sides will both tour during the season.