King Cricket

March 27, 2009 Regulars / South Africa

The best advert featuring a cricketer EVER

< 1 minute read There isn’t one part of this advert that isn’t amazing. It is the world’s first 100% amazing advert. The slogan’s baffling and surreal and amazing. The picture’s less baffling, but still surreal and amazing. Even the boast ‘SA’s #1 Hand Tool Brand’ is amazing, because just how hotly contested is

March 26, 2009 New Zealand

Jesse Ryder adds weight to New Zealand’s middle order

< 1 minute read The score was 23-3. Jesse Ryder knew what he had to do. He started the gentle rocking motion that would propel him out of his chair and when he had enough momentum, he went for the stand. A shower of crisp crumbs indicated success. He stretched his arms up and

March 26, 2009 County cricket / South Africa

Andre Nel – Surrey not South Africa

< 1 minute read We’re never a fan of international cricketers retiring to seek their fortune in the county game. It seems so backwards. We’re especially displeased when it’s a cricketer like Andre Nel who’s been so important in our life. Andre Nel taught us that, in life, it doesn’t matter how bumbling and

March 25, 2009 India

Mahendra Dhoni harnesses the power of the mind

< 1 minute read Do you control the mind, or does the mind control you? Who’s in charge? Mahendra Dhoni was asked about the fact that India had turned up in Napier just 18 hours before the second Test. Here’s what he said: “Mentally we are right there. When it comes to the mind,

March 25, 2009 Australia / India

Burt Cockley – possible new inexplicable obsession

< 1 minute read It’s well hard to get to play for one of the IPL teams. Look at all the disappointed Englishmen for proof of that. But wait. What’s this? Burt Cockley’s been signed by Kings XI Punjab? Who the hell is Burt Cockley? Burt Cockley’s an Aussie fast bowler. He hasn’t actually

March 25, 2009 India

IPL teams in 2009

2 minute read Bangalore Royal Challengers What’s their ‘thing’? Bought loads of stonewallers, like Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and promptly finished second to last in 2008. New players Wisely added Robin Uthappa, Kevin Pietersen and Jesse Ryder to their obdurate batting roster. Chennai Super Kings What’s their ‘thing’? Second stupidest

March 24, 2009 County cricket / England

Charles Colville is fantastically annoying

< 1 minute read Charles Colville is that nitpicking kind of sports follower who finds fault with everything and believes that minor details decide matches. He’s also a reactionary numbnuts. Colville is Sky’s second string presenter. He gets the highlights shows and the non-England matches. He’s a public schoolboy with a bizarrely creased brow

March 23, 2009 India

Kings XI Punjab get ready for IPL action

< 1 minute read The IPL’s fast approaching. Are you all excited? It won’t be taking place in India, of course. It looks like it’ll be in South Africa at the minute. But while all the fixtures and all the scheduling might be a bit last minute, the teams themselves are primed and ready

March 22, 2009 England

England win the World Cup

< 1 minute read England’s cricketers are so good, it wasn’t even a surprise that they won the World Cup. They’re the best team in the world. They won 17 matches on the bounce before losing to Australia having already qualified for the final. They won the final (as World Cup winners are wont

March 21, 2009 Australia

Bryce McGain’s Australia Test debut

< 1 minute read Bryce McGain’s fairytale has been clubbed over wide long-on for six. But we don’t like to judge players on their debuts; it rarely gives a fair reflection of a player’s worth. Who’s worth 0-149 off 18 overs anyway? Any player would be bricking it making their international debut, but consider

Three cheers for England playing three spinners. You should always play three spinners.

Dammit.

I am now hugely>i< confused Enjoyed Into The Tangled Bank very much, Mr P/fiendishly cunning imposter.

@Lev the imposter (maybe). What we do in private stays private ;-) ...and apologies for taking credit for being the…

@KC. Ahh, bu**er. Yes, confused by the birding reference.

Hats off to Harry Brook’s very particular ‘steamrollered pancake pitch’ set of skills

Let’s pick the All-Time Greatest Middle-Aged XI

Less than the sum of their parts: Six Test batting partnerships that invariably disappointed

Five Graham Thorpe innings that were equal parts silly, brilliant and vital

Show me the money. Inattention and monetisation in Major League Cricket, The Hundred and Test cricket