Day three at the MCG leaves Bob Utber revelling in the joy of watching Test batting at its finest. Kohli’s Nureyev to Rahane’s Helpmann, followed by Harris’ fightback with the ball as the shadows lengthen, is Test cricket at its finest.
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day Three: Nureyev and Helpmann in Cricket Whites
December 28, 2014 by 3 Comments
MCG Test, Australia v India-Day Two: Passing the Baton to new generations
December 28, 2014 by 7 Comments
Luke Reynolds tells how Stephen Smith won the hearts and mind of his young sons on their first day of Test Cricket.
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day Two: The Bradman-esque Compiler of Runs
December 28, 2014 by 3 Comments
Bob Utber ponders why Victorian cricket has fallen off the pace while watching Steve Smith, Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris wrest control of the third Test from out of India’s grasp
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day Two: Sinking Popeye
December 28, 2014 by 39 Comments
Rulebook’s take on day three; some exquisite stroke play from Steve Smith, while MS Dhoni’s captaincy leaves everyone scratching their heads.
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day Two: Tweetlotto
December 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Despite being handicapped with a failing phone battery, Mick Jeffrey tweeted his way through Day 2 at the MCG. His Twitter trail stands as a record of the day (“Call that leg bye, ump…”).
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day One: Sisters Day Out
December 27, 2014 by 3 Comments
An Yvette Wroby special as she attends her first day of Test Cricket for 34 years, and muses on the similarities between cricket and art. The occasion transcended the match, as it often does for Yvette.
A Christmas Miracle? A Yuletide Greeting from John Harms
December 27, 2014 by 14 Comments
A Christmas greeting from JTH and the Almanac. [He witnessed a Christmas miracle – Ed]
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day One: Should I Have Stayed in Bed?
December 27, 2014 by 4 Comments
Tom Martin, who knows a fair bit about the bat and ball, and his wife fly to Melbourne for their first Boxing Day at the MCG. Here’s how the Martins’ day panned out. And how the Australians’ and Indians’ days did as well.
[Tom has one of the forewords in this year’s Footy Almanac. A reflection on the idea of the cult hero as personified by Matt Spangher. Ed]
Timor-Leste Footy May Rise Again – All it needs is…YOU!
December 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Wesley Hull profiles the struggles of Australian rules die-hards in Timor Leste to resurrect the local competition and its national team
A Christmas Footy Story
December 27, 2014 by 2 Comments
Wesley Hull’s heartwarming tale of dream that came true one Christmas…
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day One: Captain’s Knocks Both Sides Of The Tasman
December 27, 2014 by 5 Comments
After a Christmas Day of travelling for lunch then back home for some hard fought cricket on my hand-crafted pitch at home before a late dinner, I was looking forward to a day on the couch watching some quality Test cricket from the Aussie and Indian teams. While Boxing Day was indeed spent on the [Read more]
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day One: Ode to an enigma
December 27, 2014 by 3 Comments
Andy Frame finds his inner bass-baritone voice with this Johnny Cash Boxing Day tribute to SR Watson.
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day One: A balance of inconsistencies
December 27, 2014 by 9 Comments
John Butler tells of contests within contests, moments within movements on Boxing Day. “Test cricket can often be decided as much by the accumulation of small details as any great acts of brilliance.”
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day One: By The Numbers
December 26, 2014 by 4 Comments
Stat geeks; rejoice! Mick Jeffrey presents a beautiful set of numbers to add to Boxing Day Test history.
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day One: Batsmen, Not ‘Batters’
December 26, 2014 by 3 Comments
Bob Utber’s summer of cricket continues as he settles in at the Temple Down the Road for day one of the traditional Boxing Day Test.
MCG Test, Australia v India – Day One: Scores from Snowy Sapporo
December 26, 2014 by 4 Comments
Yoshi Imagawa, our man for all sports and all seasons, reports on the snatches of the Boxing Day test he caught up with in Sapporo.
Dr Dangerlove or: how I learned to stop worrying and love Geelong
December 25, 2014 by 1 Comment
According to Dave Brown the AFL silly season (October – February) is reaching its height of Christmas madness with Dr Strangelove-like hysteria driving footy media and trade speculation.
Fast (and slow) times at Wattle Park
December 25, 2014 by 3 Comments
Some great summer holiday reading from Jeff Dowsing: Jeff recalls his time ‘safeguarding’ the pro-Shop at ‘Royal and Ancient’ Wattle Park. Caddy shack, meets Crackerjack, meets Clerks. Contains a well-placed Elle McPherson trip down memory lane
Crio’s Racing: Something for Santa?
December 24, 2014 by 21 Comments
Crio finds little inspiration in the Boxing Day race fields (or the madhouse shopping centres). But there are plenty of picturesque country meetings over the next week for a speculative flutter and conviviality.
Calling the Callers: Hawks Christmas revue.
As a Christmas treat to Almanackers, Paul Campbell undertakes to review the various broadcasts of the 2014 AFL Grand Final…in songs and vignettes!