‘Keith Sherwill……Country Cricket Legend……’ by KB Hill

KB Hill recalls the lengthy and varied career of Benalla cricket legend Keith Sherwill.

Almanac Cricket – Time to rewind: A recent history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia

To whet the appetite for tomorrow’s First Test, Sean Mortell looks back at the last decade of Australia v India contests in Australia.

Almanac Baseball: Mannymania

Brian The Ruminator is very, very excited that a Red Sox legend will be playing in this season’s Australian Baseball League.

Almanac Cricket: Blue sky cricket thinking

Bernard Whimpress isn’t a big fan of some of the ‘blue sky thinking’ that surrounds the Australian test squad.

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.

Almanac Rewind – Mike Sexton in India: Finding Cricket and Space in Delhi

With the test series against India beginning tomorrow, let’s revisit this piece from Mike Sexton, published late last year. A taste of modern Dehli, and an insight into modern Indian cricket. (If you didn’t get a copy of Border’s Battlers at the time, it’s well worth it – Ed).

Almanac Cricket – Australia v India, First Test: Call for reporters

Citrus Bob Utber invites writers to report on the First Test.

Almanac Footy: Ron Reeves – I’ll do it my way

Ron Reeves was born and bred Collingwood. Matt Watson takes a look at the life and times of the 1958 Collingwood premiership player.

Almanac Life: Reclaiming my Stolen Football Youth

Mark Hodgetts details his love, loss and reacquaintance with football and how it has long played a significant role in his life, even when he left the fold of footy entirely.

Almanac Cricket: Vale Eric ‘Fritz’ Freeman, a man for all seasons

Fritz Freeman, as South Australian as his moniker, played cricket for Australia and footy for Port Adelaide. His love of the two games has never dimmed, as Mike Sexton writes in this beautiful tribute. Eric Freeman passed away last night.

Almanac Music: The New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers

‘The New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers’ Vol. 1 is a great blues based album finally released twelve years after it was recorded.

Almanac Poetry: Ghost Train

This week’s poem from Kevin Densley is set in the Geelong Show’s sideshow alley when he was a kid. The Ghost Train horror ride existed there among other attractions such as Jimmy Sharman’s Boxing Tent, the Bearded Lady and Vanessa the Undresser.

Maradona and the bird

Rob Spurr shares a story of Diego Maradona’s extraordinary ability to change the atmosphere of a stadium and influence a grand slam winner in his prime, punctuated by dishing out “the bird” to an Australian fan on a fevered whim. [Stupendous but not entirely surprising – Ed.]

Almanac Teams: Three cheers (1980-)

They’re always open for discussion, but this week’s team of the best Number 3s by Rodney Boyd has a controversial selection plonked on the pine.

Almanac Food and Horseracing: The Bung Fritz Appreciation Society Handicap

Mickey Randall explains the origins of The Bung Fritz Appreciation Society and their involvement in horseracing.

Almanac Soccer: Remembering Paolo Rossi’s Moment in the Spanish Sun.

Soccer great Paolo Rossi passed away on Wednesday at the age of 64 after a long illness. Dennis Gedling recalls the exploits of Rossi during the 1982 World Cup in article he wrote as part of series for the Footy Almanac in 2014.

Almanac Book Review: ‘On the Premiership Trail – More Travels in Victorian Country Football’ by Paul Daffey

Rod Gillett reviews Paul Daffey’s latest book, ‘On the Premiership Trail: More Travels in Victorian Country Football’ which will be launched tonight at the Nathalia Football Club.

Almanac (Test) Cricket: Two significant Test cricket anniversaries

This weekend marks two great anniversaries in the history of Australian Test cricket – the Brisbane Tied Test from the 1960/61 series against the West Indies and Greg Chappell’s 1970 Test debut in Perth. The Almanac looks back fondly.

Almanac Food: KD’s Kitchen – Worcestershire Sauce – My Favourite Condiment (What’s Yours?)

In this instalment of KD’s Kitchen, he extols the virtues of Worcestershire Sauce and invites Almanackers to respond with their own favourite condiment.

Almanac Cricket: My Australian XI for the First Test

Sean Mortell picks his Australian line-up for next week’s First Test against India in Adelaide. He has a surprise or two for you to consider.