3 minute readIt’s amazing to think that this week brought England’s first Test win since 2014 and even more amazing to think they haven’t beaten South Africa since 2003. The amazement then takes on a slightly different hue when you learn that they’ve also preserved their unbeaten record against the same opposition.
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How are Tristan Stubbs and South Africa’s other ‘strapping boys’ getting on against the West Indies then?
3 minute readThis may have passed you by, but South Africa Test coach Shukri Conrad gave a slightly odd explanation for why Tristan Stubbs has become their new number three. It was one of those moments where you wonder whether you’re getting a weird insight into another culture’s values. Speaking to Cricinfo,
Continue readingIs Virat Kohli “due”? Jos Buttler misplaces Bowling Ali, a naughty pitch + more in our T20 World Cup semi-finals round-up
4 minute readIn a colossal miscarriage of justice, England (one win from four versus Test-playing nations) were knocked out of the T20 World Cup by unbeaten India after not playing anywhere near as well as them in the semi-final. India will meet the similarly-unbeaten South Africa, who triumphed over both Afghanistan and
Continue readingUnbeaten South Africa, spectacular deaths, all the hat tricks, Gulbadin gusto + more in our latest T20 World Cup round-up
4 minute readIt feels somewhat bizarre that South Africa have only just made it through to the semi-finals, unbeaten, when England – with two defeats and a no result to their name – had basically already qualified from the same group. The week’s biggest highlight came elsewhere however. Spectacular deaths Jos Buttler
Continue readingThe Quality-Assessment-Pending 8s: Bairstow’s bat, a Salt assault, South Africa finally top a run-a-ball + more in our latest T20 World Cup round-up
3 minute readWhat if the Super 8s aren’t actually that super? Can they get downgraded? The So-So 8s? The Subpar 8s? The Shit 8s? They’re the Solid 8s so far, but it can probably still go either way. Does anyone know why they’re plural, by the way? As far as we can
Continue readingThe 2023 Festivus holding page: The Boxing Day Tests
< 1 minute readIf you don’t know our approach to covering the Boxing Day Tests, it involves listing what matches are taking place, wishing everyone a happy Festivus and then buggering off. In previous years, you, the readership, have boldly stepped into the breach and highlighted all the interesting cricket in the comments
Continue readingButtler, Bavuma and the big pain of big losses to big teams – with or without Ben
3 minute readSometimes it feels like every time you switch on Sky Sports, India are playing a game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. We’ve no idea where this feeling comes from because since 2017 the ground’s only hosted one Test match and two one-day internationals. There’s a big match on the
Continue readingPlaying Australia? Try all things and achieve what you can
< 1 minute read“We know that we’re being hunted,” says Australia’s Beth Mooney. Yeah, in much the same way that Moby Dick was being hunted. The harpoon that can kill this white whale is yet to be forged. After the 2023 T20 World Cup, the seas of cricket are again littered with the
Continue readingThe Sophie Ecclestone displacement factor | a T20 World Cup semi-finals preview
3 minute readA year ago, during the 50-over tournament, we headlined our semi-finals preview piece, Who will lose to Australia in the World Cup final? Even if it’s a different format, it’s tempting to take the same attitude now. But if there’s one thing we’re sure of, it’s that life isn’t an
Continue readingLust and rust | a South Africa v England ODI recap
4 minute readSouth Africa wanted to win this one. England were happy to loosen a few limbs. That’s kind of how it went. In many ways this South Africa v England series was the definitive pointless bilateral: a little island of three one-day internationals dropped right in the middle of another tournament
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