John Wisden remembered with a Google Doodle Wisden was born in Brighton on September 5, 1826. After making his debut for Sussex in his late teens, he went on to become a skilled all-rounder, playing 187 first-class cricket matches for Kent, Middlesex and Sussex. Often said to be one of the best of his day, he earned the nickname 'The Little Wonder'. While his playing career was still in full swing Wisden started a 'cricket and cigar' shop near Leicester Square in Central London. Soon after, he started publishing his annual Cricketers' Almanack. The publication, with its mixture of statistics, trenchant opinion and carefully crafted features became an indispensable part of the game. First published in 1864, a new volume of the book has appeared every year since, with 2013 marking the 150th edition of the book. Cricketing enthusiasts have spent thousands on rare editions. The rarest, the 1875 edition, fetched £25,000 from a library in Philadelphia, which hosted England's first overseas 'test' match.