< 1 minute read We said that Darren Lehmann’s final match would be worth watching. Earlier this week, in his final one-day game, Lehmann played the lead role in a record run-chase in Australian domestic one-day cricket. He hit 126 not out off 104 balls as South Australia overhauled Western Australia’s 305. We could
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A run-making monster and…
< 1 minute read Suave thinks he’s spotted something: Thoughts?
Continue readingDarren Lehmann retires
2 minute read Darren Lehmann was twice the batsman Mike Hussey is. That’s not a fat joke, nor is it meant as a put-down for Hussey, who we rate very highly – it’s just that Darren Lehmann was magic. Some players have a really good season where they stand head and shoulders above
Continue readingAustralia uncharacteristically fail to drive home their advantage
2 minute read Sri Lanka have got two really top drawer batsmen, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, and both have scored hundreds in this second Test. That’s more top-drawer batsmen than most teams have, but unfortunately Australia aren’t most teams. Andrew Symonds is making up the numbers a bit, but they’re otherwise pretty
Continue readingAustralia opt not to deviate from the template
< 1 minute read Australia bat first and all but remove any chance of a Sri Lankan win by the end of the first day. On the second day they drive home their advantage before declaring at about 550 allowing them a few overs at the Sri Lankan openers. That was the first Test
Continue readingMike Hussey: statistically aberrant and statistically abhorrent
< 1 minute read What? You didn’t think we’d come up with something like that and only use it the once. No way. Statistically aberrant and statistically abhorrent – it’s got a rhythm to it AND it makes sense. At least it does so far. When you’ve read it for the 500th time, all
Continue readingMichael Vandort irritates Australia for a short while
< 1 minute read The BBC called it ‘an easy win’ for Australia, but since when has beating Sri Lanka by an innings been easy? It’s not easy getting Michael Vandort out, certainly. Michael Vandort – or Michael Graydon Vandort as we might start calling him from now on (because that’s his name) –
Continue readingMike Hussey and Michael Clarke do that Australian thing
< 1 minute read Yes, they stand on the beach, hurling a boomerang round a bemused kangaroo with Men At Work blaring out in the background, all the while continually telling you how rubbish everything is in England. No, it’s the other thing, grinding cricket opponents into miserable submission. 242-3 overnight becomes 551-4 declared
Continue readingPhil Jaques surprises no-one
< 1 minute read There was one other Australian retirement last year, Justin Langer’s. There was no real worry about replacing him, however. That’s not to dismiss Langer, who was as tough as biltong at the top of the order, it’s just that great Australian batsmen seemingly DO grow on trees. So Australia called
Continue readingAustralia’s new era lurches into view, wild-eyed and frightened
2 minute read This Australia v Sri Lanka series might only be two Tests long, but it’s one of the most intriguing series in ages. That’s largely because there haven’t been any series in ages, but it’s more because Australia have lost the handiest half of their bowling attack. Glenn McGrath and Shane
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