< 1 minute read Following yesterday’s look at the workload that is being shouldered by fans, it seems a decent time to restate our position that ODIs don’t matter. We were quite surprised to note that the article in question was written almost two and a half years ago and so there may well
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The physiques of batsmen for Twenty20 and Tests
3 minute read Aaron Finch and sixes. That’s the story of the first Twenty20 international between England and Australia. Finch hit the first ball he faced over the ropes and pretty much stuck with that approach, hitting 14 sixes in all. He even managed to push one over point while falling onto his
Continue readingLooking back on looking forward at Australia’s Ashes side
2 minute read Everyone’s reviewing the Ashes. It’s a bit tiresome, so we thought we’d instead review our preview. It amounts to much the same thing, but don’t tell anyone. The subheadings link to the original previews should you wish to do what pretty much no-one does and read more than one page
Continue readingTest standard boos before celebratory booze
< 1 minute read The moment, when it came, was hugely exciting. Connoisseurs of booing had spent quite some time nervously anticipating it. A full series build-up and then a full day’s play where the prospect of a home win grew ever more likely. Just what would it sound like when Megatron finally turned
Continue readingEven the highlights were boring
< 1 minute read Over rates and now run rates. England are in no hurry. Whatever the motivation, it doesn’t make for much of a spectacle. A team batting for a draw can make for riveting entertainment, but it’s tension that makes the cricket so compelling. When a team is batting for a draw
Continue readingWhat do you make of Steve Smith’s batting?
2 minute read We’ve been struggling with this for months and we’ve still not reached any firm conclusions. We asked an Australian friend for his view and he just said: “He’ll be fine,” which didn’t really help clarify things. We’re probably verging towards this: In good conditions in the first innings, Smith’s head’s
Continue readingShane Watson’s muscle and skull
< 1 minute read One of the reasons why it’s been so enjoyable to watch Shane Watson’s hapless summer is because he generally looks like the kind of batsman who can rifle a long series of chanceless fours. Yesterday, he actually did this. His drives were crisper than neglected bacon blackening under the grill
Continue readingAustralia’s batting disorder, Watson’s travels, something about buckets and Lehmann acting like Kevin Keegan
2 minute read It’s the first morning of a Test. It’s time to try and come to terms with yet another new Australian batting line-up. Some batting orders are etched in stone. Australia’s are spelt out in magnetic letters on the door of the fridge. Obviously Mitchell Starc returns, because he plays every
Continue readingThe fifth Test is an Ashes Test
< 1 minute read We don’t really buy into the concept of the dead rubber when it comes to Test matches. In a long one-day series, a situation can arise where bowlers are running in with a figurative cup of tea in one hand and a biscuit in the other (clasped awkwardly between two
Continue readingGooey foundations and a lack of curse words
< 1 minute read Dirk Nannes has written about second XI cricket over at All Out Cricket. He draws attention to Greg Chappell’s decision to limit Australian state second XI teams to just three players over the age of 23 back in 2009. Chappell’s thinking appears to betray a belief that older players who
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