Almanac Cricket: Ashes 2017/18 – A Holiday Cricket Report by Hugo Birrell

Hugo Birrell has compiled a comprehensive review of each triumphant Ashes test this summer.

Raving Rulebook No 12

Rulebook is not happy – he’s never happy. He’s disappointed that England have too many B-Graders, that the umpiring was ordinary and that nieth captain wanted to win the Adelaide Test.

The Ashes – Adelaide Test: Aussies one hand on the urn

Rulebook hands out the brickbats and bouquets from the Adelaide Oval test. Does anyone do social test cricket better than Adelaide?

The Ashes – Adelaide, Day 1: A brisk lunchtime in the Cathedral Hotel

Micky Randall prepared for the Adelaide Test at the famous Cathedral Hotel, just across the road from the Adelaide Oval. The throng were in good pre-match from, with cricket stories being fired from all quarters.

The Ashes – Adelaide Test: Patience, precipitation and port

Daryl Schramm makes his Almanac debut with this neat summary of the (and his) Adelaide Test. A port at the cricket!

The Ashes – Second Test, Day 5: Injudicious

Citrus Bob Utber gets what Adelaideans call an “early minute” (or two) after the visitors folded meekly on Day 5. [Put your feet up Citrus, you deserve it – Ed.]

Tribute From an English Sports Fan to His Friend

Peter Crossing provides this touching vignette from Day 2 of the Adelaide Test.

The Ashes – Second Test, Day 4: Heritage Overlay

Citrus Bob Utber took in some of North Adelaide’s architectural heritage en route to Adelaide Oval (how long did he spend at the Queen’s Head?). Here’s his Day 4 summary (the ink is still drying).

The Ashes – Second Test, Day 3: Nothing ever happens in Adelaide on a Monday

Dave Brown hails the return of Jimmy Anderson and the Ashes contest on an anything but typical Adelaide Monday night

The Ashes – Second Test, Day 3: On attitude, application and a swinging ball

Citrus Bob reports on an absorbing Day 3 – with England well behind on first innings, yet enjoying the night-time swinging scene of Adelaide.

The Ashes – Second Test, Day 2: Shaun’s Big Day Out

England may be trying to huff and puff but the Australian house has not blown down – in fact it remains rock solid thanks to the patient innings of Shaun Marsh and support of the middle to lower order. John Butler makes some astute observations about conditions and attitudes.

The Ashes – Second Test, Day 2: The Home of Cricket?

After putting the Adelaide Oval bandwagon in its place, Citrus Bob Utber promptly files his Day 2 report, filled with accuracy and wisdom.

The Ashes – Second Test, Day 1: Lined Up

Citrus Bob Utber’s Day 1 report from Adelaide is out in time for the visitors to read before their curfew is up.

Almanac Pics: Mitchell Starc, by Peter Argent

Mitchell Starc is likely to be a major factor in the Adelaide Test. Peter Argent photgraphed him in a recent pink ball Sheffield Shield match at the Adelaide Oval.

The Ashes: Forget England; Australian cricket culture is rubbish (Come gather ‘round people)

David Wilson with his thoughtful take on Australian cricket “culture”.