"THE annoying thing about Gideon Haigh is that he makes it look much too easy," wrote Patrick Collins in this year's Wisden Cricketers' Almanac.

"While the rest of us scuffle and sweat, he writes like a man who finds himself with an empty page, a handy pen and a spare half hour before dinner."

Collins was referring to the quality of Haigh's 2007 Silent Revolutions, a collection of the Australian author's finest writings on cricket history, but the sentiments apply just as well to his latest offering, The Green and Golden Age, which samples some of his best work since 1997 with a distinctly Australian theme.

Haigh's green and gold standard is as impressive as his cast list, which includes Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, the Waugh brothers and Yorkshire's very own Darren Lehmann, of whom he notes: "Unlike many athletes, he talks to you rather than at you, and unguardedly, as though thinking aloud."

As well as individual profiles, Haigh tackles such diverse subjects as match-fixing, the decline of West Indian cricket, Twenty20 cricket and the game's laws. There is also a delightful admonishment for Lord's – "the Fawlty Towers of English cricket".

Quality writing abounds. Collins was right. Haigh does make it look much too easy.

The Daily Telegraph Book of Cricket, edited by Nick Hoult, is a fascinating trawl through more than a century of the best cricket writing, incorporating such luminaries as Martin Johnson, Christopher Martin-Jenkins and EW Swanton.

It is both fascinating from a cricketing and journalistic perspective. My only criticism of the book is that it lacks an index, but I understand that is being rectified. Otherwise, it is the perfect dip-and-mix for those infuriating rain breaks.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club has possessed many notable cricketers, of course, many of whom have had the literary treatment. One who has not, prior to now, is Rockley Wilson, the subject of a satisfying biography by Sheffield-born author Martin Howe. Born in 1879, Wilson was an amateur whose main profession was as a school-master at Winchester College, where he had a big influence on several generations of public school cricketers.

Prior to the 1932-33 Bodyline series, Wilson was asked by a journalist for his views on England's prospects under Jardine. "He might well win us the Ashes," he replied, "but he might lose us a Dominion." Jonathan Cainer eat your heart out.

Wilson only played 136 first-class games, but was acknowledged as one of the best slow right-arm bowlers of his day.

In 1920, Wilson finished fourth in the national averages with 64 wickets at 13.84 and earned a place in Johnny Douglas's MCC party for the ill-fated tour to Australia in 1920-21, when the tourists were thrashed 5-0; Wilson made his solitary Test appearance in the last game in Sydney.