< 1 minute readWe named our England heroes for the World Cup before it had started. We remember now that cricketing heroism is more about what you do on the pitch than the shape of your head. That said, the man named on the basis of head shape, Tim Bresnan, has been something
Continue readingAuthor: King Cricket
Otherwise known as Alex Bowden, a lapsed cricket journalist who has written for ESPNCricinfo, wisden.com, Cricket 365, The Cricketer and plenty of other places.
Links to some non-cricket writing and a bit more background here.
On drive | batting lessons
< 1 minute readWhen playing the on-drive, always remember the following mantra. The batsman whose shoulder rolls counter-topwise places undue emphasis on hip position and will often play bethwart the intended line. Yes, of course we all know the dangers inherent in a counter-topwise rolling shoulder, but are we always aware of it?
Continue readingIndia hate batting powerplays too
< 1 minute readWe’re really warming to the batting powerplay. Brought in to try and give the idiots more fours and sixes, you’ve got to love the way cricket has micturated all over those well laid plans. If England bat out five maidens in their batting powerplay losing one wicket in the process,
Continue readingMatt Prior opens against Bangladesh
< 1 minute readOf all the available opening options, Matt Prior was pretty much our last choice, but we’re sick of having opinions and so have reacted without emotion. That might reflect a lack of caffeine at this early hour as much as anything. Just thought we’d check whether anything had happened while
Continue readingAshes 2011 by Gideon Haigh | book review
2 minute readIf you spend much time reading about cricket, you will know Gideon Haigh. He is the cricket writer whose arse is most frequently kissed by other cricket writers. But why is this? Why is Gideon Haigh so highly regarded? Having just read Ashes 2011, the answer is fairly clear. He
Continue readingKamran Akmal helps Ross Taylor to a hundred
< 1 minute readPakistan’s last five overs went for 100, largely thanks to Ross Taylor. Earlier in his innings, Taylor had been given a couple of lives by – who else – Kamran Akmal. Kamran Akmal amazes us. We hope he never goes away. You’d think the ability to catch might be an
Continue readingSpike conspicuously obstructing the view of the cricket
< 1 minute readWill writes: “This was my cat Spike’s response to my entire attention being focused on the cricket last night.” For the sake of clarify, we should point out that ‘last night’ wasn’t the highlights of Canada v Kenya, it was during the Ashes.
Continue readingWhat’s a good World Cup score?
< 1 minute readEngland’s 327 wasn’t enough against Ireland, but 171 was enough against South Africa. It’s not a matter of different opponents, it’s different conditions. This is why between-innings analysis is so often virtually worthless. What constitutes a good score varies because a run doesn’t have a set value – it changes
Continue readingSouth Africa ‘choke’ against England
< 1 minute readEngland could have beaten India and Ireland, but beat neither. They’ve a far better claim to being chokers than South Africa at present. In the last 12 months, Australia have lost a Twenty20 international off the last ball to England; lost a one-dayer by one wicket to Sri Lanka; lost
Continue readingIf Zimbabwe are ‘woeful’ what are Bangladesh?
< 1 minute readCricinfo have a headline describing Zimbabwe as ‘woeful’ after they were bowled out for 162 by New Zealand. However, Bangladesh were bowled out for 58 against West Indies. And they were at home. Cricinfo’s editorial staff really need to get together and establish an adjective hierarchy. Like most people, we
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