< 1 minute readA balls. They have made a balls of their first Test innings in South Africa. 136-9 is a rubbish score for a side that relies so heavily on its batting, whatever the conditions. Is ‘Steyn and Morkel’ a thing yet, like ‘Wasim and Waqar’ or ‘Lillee and Thomson’? It’s probably
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The average one-day series
< 1 minute readSome players injured, some players rested, ‘trying out options’ ahead of the World Cup, introducing younger players. The reasons are varied, the teams are shit. Take a look at the Australia team from their last one-day international and then take Mike Hussey out as well, because he’s going back to
Continue readingTaking Sachin Tendulkar for granted
< 1 minute readIt is so easy to take Sachin Tendulkar for granted. He’s 191 not out against Australia. You see that and you think: “Of course he’s 191 not out against Australia. Why wouldn’t he be?” The statistics are everywhere. Picking some pretty much at random, this was his eighth hundred in
Continue readingKings and Royals shunted from their IPL thrones
< 1 minute readThere is only one acceptable way to get a royal title: by going along with what everyone’s calling you because you can no longer be arsed explaining that Brian Lara’s the king, not you. Royalty through exasperated resignation. Any other route to a title is flat-out wrong. If you self-apply
Continue readingWhy a run chase needs context and another reason why Tests are best
< 1 minute readRun chases are exciting. Why? Some people think that run chases are exciting because there are fours and sixes, a target and an eventual victor. These people brought us one-day cricket in all its forms. These people just don’t get it. Run chases are exciting because we care what happens.
Continue readingIndia v Australia Tests still clearly a big deal
< 1 minute readA warm-up for the Ashes in the eyes of some of the Australians. A dying form of the game in the eyes of a few Twenty20 fans who think they see an inevitability about the spread of that format, despite it being ridiculously early days. India v Australia Tests still
Continue readingIshant Sharma benefits from Care in the Community
< 1 minute readIndia are right to persevere with spindly, lank-haired Rubik’s Cube swallower, Ishant Sharma, but of late it’s seemed a bit like a Care in the Community obligation rather than a forward-looking show of faith. There comes a point where you’re not encouraging a player, you’re just putting him on a
Continue readingYuvraj Singh is a role model
< 1 minute readThere’s a good interview with Yuvraj Singh at Cricinfo. He’s always struck us as a man who thinks life is largely about wearing sunglasses, but that’s not the way he comes across here. He talks quite thoughtfully about the challenges for young players and how he can offer them advice,
Continue readingIs this pitch spongy, Dhoni?
< 1 minute readMS Dhoni said that New Zealand beat India by 200 runs in a one-day game because the pitch was a bit spongy. We presume he meant it was like the sponge above, rather than being like those jelly creatures that race along the sea floor at speeds of up to
Continue readingAttributes required for a Test batsman
< 1 minute readTest batsmen need to have a number of attributes. Depending on the conditions and the opposition, there will be different requirements. Some are always necessary: A good eye A half-decent technique Good shot selection Concentration In matches like Sri Lanka v India at Colombo, other attributes are also required: Stamina
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