Third Test – Day 1: I won’t talk about it here

January 4, 2013 by 18 Comments

Smokie Dawson does not want to be mean-spirited, so he will not talk about the hubris affecting the Australian National Selection Panel, leading them to select an unbalanced line-up for this Test.

T20: Strike that in the diary

December 29, 2012 by 4 Comments

Home for Christmas, Lachlan Waterman couldn’t get through the Clarrie Grimmett Gates quick enough. Adelaide v Melbourne, Strikers v Stars, Tait v Hodge, good v evil.

Second Test – Day 3: What a day!

December 29, 2012 by 2 Comments

Max Wiggins heads to the cricket with his dad and can’t believe what he sees.

Second Test – Day 2: Real Time Cricket

December 28, 2012 by 6 Comments

Andrew Else was at the G, watching Clarke and Watto doing their Arjuna Ranatunga impersonation – smashing fours or walking singles. Then he was distracted by a curious bit of by-play in the ABC commentary box.

Second Test – Day 2: Times change, but the Boxing Day Test still hard to beat

December 28, 2012 by 2 Comments

It’s a pity that Sri Lanka play their first Boxing Day Test in 17 years at the end of their greatest era, says Luke Reynolds.

Second Test – Day1: Sri Lanka…what the?

December 27, 2012 by 2 Comments

Colin Ritchie was stunned at how easily some batsmen gave up their wickets, especially on a pitch and in conditions so perfectly suited for batting and for making runs.

Second Test – Day 1: Number Crunching Boxing Day style

December 27, 2012 by 4 Comments

Mick Jeffrey crunches the numbers from the Boxing Day Test. (Guess how many brain cells Tillakaratne Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera used in their shot selections leading to their demise.)

The Ghosts of Boxing Day past according to M. Jeffrey

December 26, 2012 by 1 Comment

Mick Jeffrey remembers the days of Boxing Day Test cricket he’s attended.

Second Test: I suppose it is still the Boxing Day Test and we fans are definitely not being rotated.

December 26, 2012 by 2 Comments

Sal Ciardulli isn’t rotating himself. He’s off to the cricket no matter who is playing. And you are welcome to join him for a beer.

Boxing Day infographic

December 23, 2012 by 3 Comments

It’s almost like the Grand Final for tests. It can have a great influence on the series outcome. But have recent Boxing Day Tests been all that impressive from an individual perspective? Here is an infographic from Jake “Cobba” Stevens to help you decide.

England win a timely reminder for Australia

December 20, 2012 by 2 Comments

England’s 2-1 series win over India last Monday was one of its best achievements in years and a timely reminder for Australia heading towards next year’s Ashes contests, says Brendan McArdle.

Watson as Captain? Give me a break, we have jumped the shark

December 19, 2012 by 36 Comments

Sean Curtain is begging you. Don’t give the rumours that Watson could captain Australia in Clarke’s absence any air lest they actually come true. (And what more does Hussey have to do?)

BBL: How does your team rate?

December 18, 2012 by 4 Comments

Even though he considers himself something of a purist, last year Jake “Cobba” Stevens decided to embrace the city-based Big Bash League.

First Test – Day 4: Marvin Vaas dons the white shorts

December 18, 2012 by 6 Comments

Marvin Vaas has travelled to Tasmania where he is bemused and befuddled by Watto who was either stumped or run out by 20 yards on a day when Australia maintained control.

Testing cricket – just a thought

December 18, 2012 by 2 Comments

Peter Baulderstone struggles to take the Australian Cricket Board at its word when it declares (with hand on heart) that test cricket is the pinnacle of the modern game.

Middle-aged Icarus

December 17, 2012 by 12 Comments

Phil Dimitriadis wonders whether it was wise to play competitive cricket again after 16 years.

Cricket the social climber

December 16, 2012 by 13 Comments

You know what cricket reminds Peter Zitterschlager of these days: a school kid that’s desperately trying to make itself popular.

First Test – Day 2: Lie back and think of England

December 16, 2012 by 18 Comments

With the second day’s play as interesting as a Saturday arvo in Lismore, Andrew Starkie’s thoughts have turned to England. With two Ashes campaigns scheduled for 2013, uncertainty hangs over the line-up of the Australian team.

First Test – Day 2: A record breaking day of a day of records being broken, all day

December 16, 2012 by 4 Comments

Day 1 had produced so many vital statistics and records that Sean Curtain was sure that Day 2 would be a day for not only breaking the amount of records that were either broken or set on Day 1, but also being a red letter day for records of all sorts.

First Test – Day 1: Cricket for the sleep deprived and office bound

December 16, 2012 by 4 Comments

Paperwork, you want it when? Hang on, I’ll just check the cricket score first. Another day in the office for Ben Footner.