< 1 minute readWe really hope that England weren’t tampering with the ball last week, because if they were, they’re rubbish at it. Our stance on ball tampering is that players should do whatever they can get away with. To us, that’s the divide: if you’re caught, you’ve crossed the line. There’s a
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.
Why Test cricket can never die
2 minute readIf you watched the final overs of England’s feat of escapology against South Africa, you already know why Test cricket can never die. We’ve said it before and we’ll happily say it again. Test cricket can offer something that no other sport can. It offers more than any other form
Continue readingIan Ronald Bell is an actual hero
< 1 minute readIn the words of Alan Partridge: “Jurassic Park!” How can we explain what has happened today? Ignore the dismissal near the end, Ian Bell did the job. This was not expected by anyone. Imagine you’ve got a wooden spoon. This wooden spoon can somehow create dazzling pyrotechnic displays that light
Continue readingEngland’s close Test matches in the last 12 months
< 1 minute readSt John’s, Antigua – West Indies finish nine wickets down Port of Spain – West Indies finish eight wickets down Cardiff – England finish nine wickets down against Australia Centurion – England finish nine wickets down against South Africa Cape Town – England finish nine wickets down against South Africa
Continue readingSamit Patel looks to Darren Lehmann for help
< 1 minute readEveryone needs a role model and with Samit Patel’s weight issues, who better to turn to than Mark Cosgrove‘s mentor. Samit Patel is heading to Darren Lehmann’s cricket academy in a bid to get in shape for next season. Other places Samit considered suitable: Bed The settee A bakery
Continue readingMike Hussey is a man you can’t give a fourth chance to
< 1 minute readWhen the best players are given a chance, they take it. For example, Mike Hussey didn’t need to be given a fifth chance when compiling 134 not out in Australia’s stunning win against Pakistan. Dropped by Kamran Akmal off Danesh Kaneria on 23, Hussey merely narrowed his eyes and said:
Continue readingAlastair Cook – treat us to an innings of rare beauty
2 minute readIt’s hard to pay attention on days like yesterday. You drift off, but every time you look up, you think: ‘Jesus, how did that happen?’ Look on the bright side though. It’s only very occasionally that a match situation calls for one of cricket’s finest sights: the innings of no
Continue readingIs it funny that Shane Watson keeps getting out in the nineties?
< 1 minute readOf course it is. Just take a look at his teary-eyed, albino automaton face when he’s been dismissed. Shane Watson’s 120 not out (dropped on 99) really ballses up a cracking record that’s seen him hit 96, 89, 93 and 97 in his last eight innings. Even if he doesn’t
Continue readingIan Bell’s ball-hitfulness
< 1 minute readWe’re not interested in how Ian Bell’s faring in Test cricket any more. All we’re hoping is that the soap opera continues. The Ian Bell situation has gone way beyond cricket now. We’re interested for sociological and psychological reasons. Will it finish with a lynch mob? Will it ever finish
Continue readingJacques Kallis went big
< 1 minute readFor once, this isn’t about that period when Jacques Kallis lost sight of his genitals for a few months. It’s about him hitting a hundred. Once upon a time, hitting a hundred was an achievement. Nowadays you hit 170 and the man of the match award goes to someone who
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