< 1 minute read Sometimes you bat for your team-mates. Let’s imagine there’s only one threatening bowler in the opposition attack. If you can put some mileage into his legs, you make it easier for the batsmen who follow you. To some extent, it doesn’t really matter how many runs you score. You are
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Cheteshwar Pujara brings a future of runs
2 minute read The Wall is gone! Long live this broad, robust replacement structure made out of bricks and mortar! The retirement of great cricketers often leaves less of a hole than people imagine. Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman recently left the game and many wondered how they could ever be replaced. The
Continue readingDon’t even think about complaining about flat pitches
3 minute read Because you can’t fully assess a five-day pitch on day one. Besides, Gautam Gambhir was dismissed by one that kept low. Virender Sehwag was bowled by one that spun. This looks like a result wicket. A win for India then? Well, yeah, probably. They’re favourites anyway and batting first hasn’t
Continue readingEngland are in a spin
2 minute read Terrible headline. Terrible, terrible headline. You’ll see it again at some point in the next few weeks and minus a billion points for the guilty publication. Don’t worry though. We’ve got an angle on ‘England are in a spin’ and so we’re going to salvage our pride in the final
Continue readingWhat’s happening in England’s warm-up?
< 1 minute read The fast bowler’s injured, the new opening batsman made a duck and the returning genius reminded us precisely what we were missing by being dismissed by a left-arm spinner. But actually, things are okay. When they play well, England’s biggest strength is that you can happily avoid watching their first
Continue readingVidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur for the fourth Test between India and England
< 1 minute read Nagpur 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
Continue readingWhere do you stand on Gautam Gambhir?
2 minute read Cricinfo 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 read We 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 read It’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 read Right 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
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