The Authors were just one of several literary cricket teams around at the beginning of the twentieth century - famously, JM Barrie had his Allahakbarries and PG Wodehouse, AA Milne and Punch all had their own elevens. But the Authors were the only team made up entirely of writers and they would play at Lord's each year, against the Publishers and Actors. Arthur Conan Doyle and Wodehouse often opened the batting. Conan Doyle also captained the side, while EW Hornung (creator of Raffles) was the brains behind it. The Authors played their last match in 1912, losing to the Publishers.
A century on, the Authors will play again, having been revived by Charlie Campbell and Nicholas Hogg. The new-look side includes brothers Tom and James Holland, William Fiennes and Alex Preston, professional-cricketer-turned-author Ed Smith and historians Matthew Parker and Thomas Penn. Their 2012 season includes the traditional fixture against the Actors at Lord's, as well as ones against the Publishers, the Lords and Commons CC and many more. Planning has begun for 2013 and beyond
