The Ashes – Fifth Test, Day 3: The Brothers Marsh

January 7, 2018 by 4 Comments

It was hot in Melbourne yesterday – perfect for taking it easy in front of the TV, which is what Jack Banister did while sipping cool drinks and reading Gideon Haigh’s The Cricket War. It was a lot tougher for the English bowlers as the runs flowed for the Australian batsmen, some of whom were intent on booking their passage to South Africa.

The Ashes – Fourth Test, Day 4: Sod It 

December 29, 2017 by 3 Comments

In the bowels of the ‘G, people mill about, wearing confused expressions. What is a man or woman to do when his or her day at the cricket is ruined by the glory of Melbourne summer rain? Jack ponders this question as the rain begins to play a part in determining the outcome of the fourth Test.

Almanac Cricket: Picking Australia’s Best Ashes XI

November 16, 2017 by 9 Comments

Daniel Saunders selects his Australian XI for the 1st Test. Do you agree with him?
Add your team in the comments.

Bangladesh v Australia – 1st Test, Day 1: More Subcontinental Blues For Warner

August 28, 2017 by 6 Comments

Luke Reynolds reports on an engrossing first day of the Bangladesh v Australia Test in Mirpur.

Almanac Cricket – Test Team of the Year: Did the ICC get it right?

December 30, 2016 by 6 Comments

Twitter is angry but Dave Brown examines the numbers for the ICC Test Team of the Year

Australia v Pakistan – Gabba, Day 3: Pakistan hang in there

December 18, 2016 by 4 Comments

Citrus Bob Utber is impressed with the fight of the Pakistani batsmen as they hold Australia out, reasonably well, under the lights at the Gabba.

A Dinki-Di, Multicultural, Aussie Side

December 17, 2016 by 11 Comments

With Usman Khawaja facing the country of his birth up at the Gabba, Glen comes up with a dinki-di, true blue Australian multicultural XII.

Australia v South Africa – Adelaide Test, Day 4: Phoenix or dead cat?

November 28, 2016 by 15 Comments

With a favorable result, Day 4 restored some pride to Australian Cricket while John Butler can now look towards the series against Pakistan with more expectation than a week ago.

Australia v South Africa – Adelaide Test, Day 3: Debuts

November 27, 2016 by 3 Comments

Day 3 of an intriguing Adelaide Test and Dave Brown is thankful for Faf du Plessis… and electronic devices

Australia v South Africa – Adelaide Test, Day 3: Not bad, this Test cricket

November 26, 2016 by 1 Comment

Citrus Bob Utber describes yet another day when Test cricket has shown itself to be the king of cricket.

Australia v South Africa – Adelaide Test, Day 2: Good, tight Test cricket as Ussie holds it together

November 25, 2016 by 2 Comments

Citrus Bob Utber is loving the Adelaide Oval precinct, and the cricket. The Australians, with Ussie the sheet anchor, take the lead in a hard-fought Test. While Citrus picks his side of best players not to have played in a Test match.

And don’t forget Saturday brunch.

Australia v South Africa – Hobart Test, Day 3: De Kock ton, Hazlewood’s sixfa, and Khawaja’s steel, as the Australians survive

November 14, 2016 by 4 Comments

Citrus Bob Utber is happy to record something of an Australian fightback thanks to Josh Hazlewood and Usman Khawaja. But our correspondent is already focusing on Australian selection for Adelaide.

Australia v South Africa – Hobart Test, Day 2: A great day for Australia as the heavens open at Blundstone Arena

November 13, 2016 by 2 Comments

Plenty to ruminate over as the rain forces the cricketers and the spectators inside. Much pontification. Citrus Bob Utber has been chatting to all and sundry in and around Blundstone Arena.

The Ten Commandments of BBL cricket

January 25, 2016 by 12 Comments

Dave Brown leads the BBL05 tabernacle choir as he summarises the season in 10 lessons

Australia v West Indies – MCG Test, Day 1: The new boys consolidate

December 26, 2015 by 4 Comments

Citrus Bob Utber looks for interesting asides in enlivening his report of the first day’s play at the MCG. He discusses Windies Tests of long ago, the MCC carpet and failed punting exploits, while describing two consolidating centuries from Joe Burns and Ussie Khawaja.

Australia v New Zealand – Gabba Test, Day 1: Davey Warner and Dodgy WiFi

November 6, 2015 by 7 Comments

Paddy Grindlay battles to follow Day 1; his best-laid plans are frequently thwarted. Am mp3 player is no match for Melbourne rain.

Australia v New Zealand – Gabba Test, Day 1: Flaming tar barrels

November 5, 2015 by 14 Comments

First Test, Day 1: David Wilson on ritual and memory, humility and kindness; on how the flaming tar barrels of Ottery St. Mary relate today to DA Warner and UT Khawaja.

Almanac Cricket – Australia A: Who’s knocking on the selectors’ doors?

September 10, 2015 by 17 Comments

With the Ashes behind us, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson on their test careers, Crio ponders what the next generation Australian Test side could look like, after the recent Australian A tour to India

Middle Australia Selects the Australian Cricket Team

December 7, 2012 by 1 Comment

Some clear-cricket-thinking from Middle Australia.

Day 4: what’s not to like about Test cricket

November 21, 2011 by 31 Comments

I was in the car when play resumed on the morning of the fourth day at The Wanderers, my mind strongly of the view that the Australians would struggle to contain the South African batting line-up, and certainly were unlikely to dismiss them unless they attacked early. It has been an unusual Test wicket in [Read more]