Almanac Rewind: Villain? Virat Kohli and the Hadlee effect

As this will be Virat Kohli’s last appearance of the Australian summer, it’s worth reprising Dave Brown’s piece from several years ago, when he tried to figure out the nature of, and the reason for, the Australian public’s response to Virat Kohli. An interesting read given the water that has flowed under the bridge since then for several of the characters mentioned.

Blindsided: a conversation overheard in a socially-distanced Adelaide meeting room

Dave Brown must have been hiding behind a strategically place pot plant (read that however you want to) when this conversation was held earlier today.

And your enemies closer

What are the most local rivalries in world sport? Dave Brown starts on the Mersey in search of an answer

Almanac Cricket – The all-time Australian men’s MCG XI: dodging the snorefest

It’s one thing to get the runs on the board on a flat deck, quite another when the game is in the balance. Dave Brown looks at the best men’s performances at the MCG over the years

Almanac Cricket – (The) Adelaide Oval Test XI: a backhand for (the) Don

Dave Brown continues his excellent series with the ‘Best Australian XI at Adelaide Oval’, both all-time and then solely against Pakistan. For balance, he also includes Pakistan’s best at the same venue.

Almanac Cricket – Gabba Test XI: the greatest performance in the greatest match

Dave Brown kicks off the Test season by selecting his best XIs for both Australia and Pakistan, based on performances at the ‘Gabba.

The ‘Esk Bradman’: who was Jack Badcock?

Some are never favoured by timing or luck. Dave Brown takes a fascinating look at the career highs and lows of Jack Badcock, the ‘Esk Bradman’.

AFL post-season: Who is ready for a superdraft?

Waiting for something to happen in trade period? Still don’t understand how the draft rates the comparative worth of players? Prior to last year’s draft, Dave Brown tried to make sense of how it all works.

The Ashes 2019 – Fifth Test: Oval-teamie, The Oval Australian Test XI

Dave Brown has selected an Australian Test X1 based upon their performances playing at The Oval.

The Ashes 2019 – Fourth Test: Australia’s United Old Trafford Test XI

Dave Brown selects his XI of all-time Australian performers at Old Trafford. A repetition of some of these efforts would be most welcome.

The Ashes 2019 – Third Test: The (SA) Great Australian Headingley XI

With Australia confronting selection problems for Headingley, Dave Brown has the answer – go South Australian! He selects an eleven of historically great Leeds performers. Absolutely no state bias was involved in the process.

The Ashes 2019 – Second Test: an Australian Lord’s XI

Dave Brown searches the records to compile an Australian Test team made up of our best performers at Lord’s. You’ll find one or two surprises here.

Getting some dirt off your boots

Following on from his earlier piece about on-field bullying, Dave Brown finds consolation in the return fixture

Knowing your drop kick from your screw punt: Wally Miller’s ‘Coaching the art of kicking’

South Australia’s quintessential 1963 kicking manual has been unearthed. What secrets does it hold?

Getting some dirt on your boots

How do you teach junior footballers to deal with on-field bullying? Dave Brown’s not so sure you can.

AFLW Preliminary Final – Adelaide v Geelong: Finding appropriate words

After watching the junior footy it’s off to the Adelaide Oval for Dave Brown and family to watch the AFLW Preliminary Final, and Adelaide’s complete demolition of a hapless Geelong.

The ‘Mankad’: conduct unbecoming?

What a lousy way to be dismissed! Ravi Ashwin “Mankads” Jos Buttler in IPL overshadowing Steve Smith’s return to international cricket. What do you think of Ashwin’s actions? [This new discussion is followed by Dave Brown’s piece on the issue from 2016 – Ed)

Footy Park: farewell or good riddance?

As the final grandstands are demolished at Football Park, Dave Brown remembers the good and bad times, the SANFL Grand Finals, Modra, McLeod, chicken salt and the tarps at West Lakes. What are your memories of Football Park?

Almanac Cricket – Lillee v Cummins: the competition no one needs to have

Dave Brown crunches the numbers on a question there’s no need to ask but gets asked anyway

Almanac Cricket – Australia v India Test series: Thank god we met Kohli!

After a day of escalating inter-team on-field antics, things could be, and were, worse