Another summer’s day.
Two captains and two old prime ministers
January 5, 2012 by 1 Comment
India 191 Australia 4/482 This was one of Test Cricket’s memorable days. A resurgent Australian XI againt a fading Indian XI. Australia were in real trouble when Ricky Ponting came to the wicket at 8/2 late yesterday. They were no further advanced when Ed Cowan got a poor umpiring decision shortly thereafter ( 2 out [Read more]
Shaking the tree
January 4, 2012 by 6 Comments
AUSTRALIA v INDIA Second Test – SCG Day 1 – 3 January 2012 Matt O’Connor To borrow an expression from a West Indian cricket radio report of a few years ago, wickets have been falling like ripe mangoes from de trees this summer. And today the thudding continued as batsmen once again failed to [Read more]
Sydney Test blog – Of movies and hundreds
January 3, 2012 by 49 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz The 100th Test at the SCG is about to get underway. Will we see Tendulkar get his 100th 100 in Sydney’s 100th Test? And while on the topic of Tendulkar, his name was one of many that has appeared on Twitter over the past 48 hours. Not in relation to his [Read more]
The Revolution Begins
January 2, 2012 by 13 Comments
Following Philip Hughes’ bad trot with the bat he had a meeting withAustralia’s batting coach, Justin Langer. “So Langers, why do I keep getting out?” “Not sure Hughsey” said the coach scratching his head. “Maybe you could try keeping your bat straight?” Phil Hughes walked away looking puzzled. No one had ever [Read more]
Resumption of Play
December 31, 2011 by 9 Comments
Rahul Dravid and Gautum Gambhir are in the tunnel, waiting for the resumption after Lunch, Day 4, Boxing Day Test. They’re early and await the umpires to emerge from another tunnel further along the boundary. India is 1/24, chasing 292 for victory. Opener, Gambhir is on 6 runs; Dravid, 5. Both men are [Read more]
Australia v. India, First Test of four, MCG, Day 4 (29 December 2011)
December 30, 2011 by 19 Comments
Australia (333 & 240) defeated India (282 and 169) by 122 runs My co-founder of Royal Park Reds CC, Dave Nadel and I took our seats in the MCG stand named for the first of only two Australians to score a double-century in his last Test. (Know the other one?) Assuming that most [Read more]
An afternoon at The Albert
December 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment
It’s the weekend before Christmas. Saturday December 17 to be precise. My wife has kindly volunteered to do the gift shopping this year. With all obligations, both at work and home, met I find myself with a free afternoon. I’ll spend my spare time watching some local cricket. I’ve taken a short tram ride down [Read more]
Collapse, followed by Collapse
December 29, 2011 by 1 Comment
Boxing Day Test Match. Australia v India. Day 3, December 28, 2011. At 9-30 sharp, I am outside the Stag’s Head Hotel waiting for Holty and Elliott, two of our club’s Pommy cricketers who are over for the summer. I have decided to drive in today: I’ll get home more rapidly and I’ll be sober. [Read more]
Vics to the rescue
December 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Australia v India; 1st Test; Day 2; 27 December 2011 by Ben Jensen My brother joined me today on the train trip up from Geelong, the train only about half full with cricket fans, about same as day 1 but we wonder if the Aussies were in better form would it have been full, [Read more]
A different rhythm
December 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
There is a different rhythm watching test cricket in WA. It isn’t because of the weather or the people or even magnetic anomalies caused by large hunks of underground iron – it’s because it starts at 7.30 in the morning. I grew up here, so there is a familiarity to the experience. I can’t say [Read more]
Born again cricketer
December 26, 2011 by 1 Comment
Footy in winter, cricket in summer. Quintessential. Time honoured. The way it should be. Like most Victorian kids growing up in the 90s/00s I would spend the cold months living and breathing football and then when the place would finally warm up it was backyard and club cricket. And then like many other youngsters, I [Read more]
Long Day’s Journey to the ‘G
December 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment
This would have to be the most eventful first day I have encountered for a Boxing Day test match. I arrived at the Mildura airport on Christmas Day en route to Melbourne via plane for the big game. Total travelling time of 1 hour and five minutes. I kiss the ground at Tullamarine seven and [Read more]
Boxing Day Blog
December 26, 2011 by 12 Comments
Play is under way at the ‘G. Gloomy skies but no substantial rain. Will Australia’s questionable batsmen get the better of an Indian attack with several question marks of their own hovering? Fire away sports fans. Almanac Admin
Cricket: the post-Christmas lunch form of the game.
December 25, 2011 by 10 Comments
It is heading towards midnight here in Brisbane. The kids have carefully laid out Santa’s smoko in front of the fireplace; it seems Santa prefers mince pies and water served in a Dora the Explorer cup. We have been to the Christmas Eve service at St Andrews on Wickham St in the city where we [Read more]
I AM PEEVED
December 23, 2011 by 6 Comments
I am a forgiving and tolerant man. I forgive easily, turn the other cheek and all that other rubbish. However, as much as I am a stickler for tradition and the 5 day white outfit form of our summer game, I am also one who appreciates good manners. Sean Curtain“He was born with a [Read more]
The 2011 Boxing Day scoreboard quiz
December 23, 2011 by 5 Comments
Photos by Les Everett The classic old manual scoreboard at the city end of the MCG stood for many a year. It told the story of a cricket match from beginning to end, and was probably photographed by many a footy fan just after the Grand Final siren. It has also been immortalised in a [Read more]
Premier Cricket – Round 10 review
December 19, 2011 by 2 Comments
Saturday’s one day fixture was the final round of Premier Cricket for 2011. The results included the second tied match of the season, a huge upset and a severe beating. At Toorak Park Darren Groves ran through the top half of Prahran’s much vaunted batting line up, his four early wickets leaving the Two Blues [Read more]
The (almost) Best XI
December 17, 2011 by 11 Comments
With so many press columnists, Almanackers and media commentators picking their best 11 for Boxing Day, it got me thinking about other celebrated best elevens. Not the best 11 with red hair, or left handers, or all starting with B. I was thinking about players who have represented Australia at Test level, but on just [Read more]
Premier Cricket Preview: Round 10
December 16, 2011 by 2 Comments
The last round of Premier Cricket prior to the Christmas/New Year break is a one day fixture this Saturday, December 17. Here’s a preview of Round 10. MATCH OF THE ROUND Prahran (5th) 25pts v Frankston Peninsula (4th) 26pts @ Toorak Park, Toorak 2011/12 P’ran TWWWWLDWD FP WWLWLWDWD Last time they met: Round 15 [Read more]
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