Wisden halts production to add a new section on the Australian Legend

London, February 27: The cricket annual Wisden halted production Monday following the death of Sir Donald Bradman so that editors could reprint the new edition with a section dedicated to the Australian star.

Hailed as the sport's greatest ever batsman, Bradman died at his home in Adelaide, Australia, on Sunday and tributes poured in from around the cricket world.

Wisden, which was to be published on April 6, had already reached the printing stage but the publishers decided to halt the presses so that Bradman's death and a tribute could be included.

"Printing has now been stopped and a new version will appear with a section dedicated to one of the true greats of the game," the publishers, John Wisden and Co., said in a statement.

Respected former cricket umpire Harold "Dickie" Bird said that fans would travel long distances to see Bradman play. "He was a genius," Bird said. "We will never see the like of Sir Donald Bradman again. You only have to look at his record.

"People would travel for miles to see him. When Bradman toured England with the Australians in 1938 my father walked more than 20 miles just to see him. He filled every ground."

English Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb said Bradman eclipsed all other names in the sport. "Don Bradman was easily the greatest name in cricket," Lamb said. "No one has made a bigger all-round contribution to the game."

As a mark of respect, the flags at Lord's - the home of English cricket - were lowered while the national flag at the Australian High Commission on the Strand in central London was also at half staff. "Usually it's only lowered for Prime Ministers or national disasters," a commission spokeswoman said.