Francis Payne and Ian Smith are New Zealand's foremost cricket statisticians and have been editing the Cricket Almanack for many years. Payne is a regular guest on both radio and television as well as fulfilling the role as chief statistician for New Zealand Cricket. Francis Payne and Ian Smith are New Zealand's foremost cricket statisticians and have been editing the Cricket Almanack for many years. Payne is a regular guest on both radio and television as well as fulfilling the role as chief statistician for New Zealand Cricket.