Almanac Cricket: The West Indies and the forlorn hope

After a blink and you’d miss it loss to Australia, Matt Watson looks back at the origins of the West Indies cricket side, their historic highs and steady downturn.

Almanac Book Launch: ‘Born Lucky: The story of Jack Potter, Australia’s finest 12th man’

Get along to the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club for the official book launch and lunch of the autobiography of Jack Potter, one of Australia’s finest cricketers never to play Test cricket.

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 (Cricket) Books: ‘George Giffen – A Biography’ extract

Bernard Whimpress has provided an excerpt from his newest book,’Beorge Giffen: A Biography’

Almanac Cricket: Sir Everton Weekes – a tribute

Bob Utber is one of the lucky few who got to watch the West Indies’ three W’s tour Australia in 1951-52. Although the late Sir Everton Weekes may not have flourished down under, he still left his mark on Aussie crowds.

A day at the MCG – not watching sport but reliving history

Greg Blood reviews his tour of the recently revamped Australian Sports Museum at the MCG, and the MCG itself. [Terrific piece – Ed]

A Perfume Bottle from 1882

Anna Pavlou was awed by a little urn, as many are when they see it for the first time.

Almanac Cricket Comment: Luigi wants to turn history on its head and make cricket a game for footballers in the summer.

Luigi has been taking it easy over the Christmas-New Year period and has had plenty of time to think and chat. He’s hearing lots of ideas about cricket. He’s got a few of his own. This one turns history around. [Creative – Ed]

Almanac Cricket – Basil D’Oliveira: 50 years ago

Glen! takes us back 50 years in cricket history to the lead up to England’s 1968 tour of South Africa and what it meant for South African born Basil D’Oliveira whose cricket career was severely impacted under apartheid.

Ashes entree: 55 years since the English tourists crushed Queensland Country

Pat White is a PhD student up in Townsville where the English play a warm-up match this week. He fills us in on international cricket played Up North.

Snow in Sun: Lord’s in February

The ghosts of willow and leather. A cricket pilgrimage to bygone days. Lords

Cricket returns to Robbo

Craig Dodson on Robbo, a ground that has seen modern Test cricketers parade before its old eyes.