< 1 minute readNagpur is a pretty new Test venue. It has hosted three Tests, the first in 2008. India have won two and South Africa won the other by an innings. South Africa’s win was built on an unbeaten double hundred from Hashim Amla and 7-51 from Dale Steyn. Not sure what
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Where do you stand on Gautam Gambhir?
2 minute readCricinfo have published a story with the slightly mischievous headline: “‘We still average 53 as an opening pair’ – Gambhir”. It’s not much of a statement, but by making it a headline Cricinfo have made it seem like a rather desperate plea. Gautam Gambhir is under pressure and he’s resorting
Continue readingEden Gardens in Kolkata for the third Test between India and England
2 minute readWe are delighted that England are playing at Eden Gardens. They will almost certainly lose here, but that’s not the point. It’s simply one of the great sports grounds and to have the opportunity to play here is something in itself. Recent Tests at Eden Gardens in Kolkata If you’re
Continue readingWankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the second Test between India and England
2 minute readIt’s a common misconception that the Wankhede Stadium was named after Matthew Hayden. It actually takes its name from SK Wankhede, who was secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association in the Seventies. Recent Tests at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai India last won a Test at Wankhede Stadium in 2004. This
Continue readingSardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad for the first Test between India and England
2 minute readRight now, the cricket world is concerned with the Champions’ League and whether or not Stuart Broad really would deign to drink one single beer with Kevin Pietersen, so we thought we’d move ahead to something that actually interests us. We thought we might do some half-arsed previews ahead of
Continue readingYuvraj Singh is a good Twenty20 bowler
< 1 minute readMuch has been made of the fact that MS Dhoni wants seven batsmen and four bowlers in his Twenty20 side, even though you have to use at least five bowlers. ‘Sacrilege’, people cry. Not really. Batsman number seven might not contribute much, but the value of a specialist bowler isn’t
Continue readingCheteshwar Pujara shows India aren’t short of batsmen
< 1 minute readIt’s both sad and joyous that life moves on. Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman are gone, never to return, but that’s because they’re now middle-aged. Their best cricket is behind them and who wants to look forward to ever-lower high points. Far better to step into the unknown. Cheteshwar Pujara
Continue readingCricket’s schadenfreude production line
2 minute readCongratulations, South Africa. Prepare for people to delight in your fall. In recent years, the Test rankings have been a kind of schadenfreude production line. One nation gets to the top and promptly celebrates and then everyone else celebrates even more heartily when the team in question drops down again.
Continue readingYuvraj Singh’s back
< 1 minute readAs in ‘returned’. He hasn’t got ankylosing spondylitis or anything. But he did have cancer. His return is great news. We can’t imagine how it must feel to have gone from being told you have cancer to then being clear and regaining your place in the India team. It’s only
Continue readingBCCI rejects calls for speed limits in residential areas
< 1 minute readSpeaking about the decision review system, Sanjay Jagdale, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, indicated that his organisation was still unwilling to see it used in all Test matches. “The BCCI continues to believe that the system is not foolproof.” Jagdale may or may not
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