A year is a long time in cricket: Boxing Day 2012 and the year since

Sean Curtain looks back at the side that was, the sides that have been, and the side coming up. A year’s a long time in cricket.

Andrew Starkie’s Ashes Diary 2013/14 (entry 3)

Andrew Starkie’s got 53 minutes to evaluate the performances of the Poms and Aussies so far, with a quick time-out for nappies and discussing the Holiday Greetings Police.

Perth Test – Day 4: The Return of the Urn

Australians all let us rejoice, the urn is coming back. Some wonderful hitting by Watson and Bailey has Luke Reynolds in a very positive frame of mind.

Unplayable magnificence

The noble yorker – an art form with a past master, Joel Garner. Matt Watson says that injury aside, Johnson’s yorker to Broad is compelling vision: the most unplayable of deliveries, the most beautiful to watch.

The Other Ashes. The WA v England Media Soccer showdown.

Dennis Gedling lines up for WA in the ‘time honoured’ Ashes soccer cup. You’ll be the one laughing today, Dennis.

Third Test – Day 4: What have the Romans ever done for us? (The English team as Life of Brian)

Sean Curtain eavesdrops on the English team meeting. We are as good as the Aussies, apart from……………….

Perth Test – Day 3: Teeing Off

Andrew Else reckons the poms are all talk and no ticker. At least a moonboot will solve Stuart Broad’s perennial shoe lace dramas.

Perth Test – Day 3: Things I Saw Today

What a difference a few months make. Smokie Dawson contrasts England’s arrogant dominance in Manchester with their Day 3 capitulation under relentless Australian bowling and WACA heat.

Perth Test – Day 1: A goodlookin batsman is like a goodlookin horse

The Almanac’s own Don Quixote (e.regnans aka David Wilson) and his faithful Rocinante (aka Clarrie Grimmett) journey through deserts, time and mind-bending heat to bring you this gripping saga of a gripping first day’s play at the WACA.

Perth Test – Day 1: Comeback Kings

Malcolm ‘Rulebook’ Ashwood is sick of Watto and calls for Santa’s return for Boxing Day. Why not make it Christmas every day?

Resurrection

Peter Baulderstone mixes his biblical metaphors to praise our saviour St Mitchell. A poetic tribute to a prodigal son returned. The crooked made straight? The scales lifted from our eyes? Praise be to him.

Their Satanic Majesties Request

Peter Baulderstone heard Kerry OKeefe compliment George Bailey for having ‘Sticky Fingers’. With the Rolling Stones set to tour not long after the Ashes Series, can you suggest a Test lineup based on Stones’ titles? Is “I can’t get no Satisfaction” on high rotation in the England dressing room?

Adelaide Test – Day 4: One For the True Believers

It was the sort of day’s play that a radio commentator would call ‘engrossing’ or ‘riveting’, when, really, to the un-initiated, it must have been quite the opposite. Andrew Else on the vagaries of commentating and bowling, and why he likes Joe Root (not the same reason as Shane Warne).

Adelaide Test – Day 4: One-sided cricket is no fun

Darren ‘Smokie’ Dawson is being referred to the House Committee for UnAustralian Activities. He thinks the cricket is too one-sided to be enjoyable. His son Brendan’s team had a good win, despite batting Watto at four.

Adelaide Test – Day 3: the Rampage

Another display of aggressive, intimidating and bloody fast left arm pace bowling from a white hot Mitchell Johnson has all but destroyed the English psyche and delivered a commanding position in the second Test to the home team. All hail the moustache.

Adelaide Test – Day 3: Answered Prayers

Our man in Shepparton, Peter Schumacher, has prayed to the Lutheran Church, the memory of Nelson Mandela and the Minister for Home Affairs (a higher god). His prayers were answered with a magnificent performance by Mitch Johnson, Davy Warner et al.

Adelaide Test – Day 2: A Dozen Dorothies

Matt O’Connor joins the rest of Australia in worshipping at the Clarke shrine. Not that we ever doubted him.

Adelaide Test – Day 2: The Limits of Grind

Peter Baulderstone’s joy at England’s humiliation in Adelaide, has been matched in recent memory only by the Dockers implosion on Grand Final day. Are there common causes in their joyless approach to the game?

Adelaide Test – Day 1: Free George Davis

Rulebook Ashwood is not happy – with the cold weather; the careless Australian batting and most particularly the slow drop-in pitch. He is happy with the English fielding.

Adelaide Test – Form Guide and Selections

Invers writes for us from his Tahiti base, with a review of Gabba performances and the possible lineup for Adelaide. He is relying on us to keep Australia’s momentum going, and salvage his reputation. Nominations please.