Recently, I was fortunate enough to sit down with Wellington’s new coach, Bruce Edgar at the Wellington Firebirds’ training set-up at Westpac Stadium. Most of what we discussed will be coming shortly, in a feature piece discussing his career – from his playing days as a stoic opening bat, to coaching, being New Zealand selector, … More Bruce Edgar: Wellington coach
England embark on a three Test series against Pakistan starting Tuesday. The odds are very much stacked against England and it will take something special; a collective team performance if England are to be victorious. England warmed up for this series with two, two-day warm-up games against Pakistan A, who fielded a decent side. The … More Pakistan vs England Test series: A preview from an English perspective
It’s spring in Australia. The AFL and NRL Grand Finals have passed, Bathurst is coming up. The men in their baggy greens are on a low-key overseas tour (or perhaps one that is cancelled). But around Sydney, a new sporting competition is starting up. There’s no glitz and glamour as the best domestic cricketers from … More Understanding the Matador
Read part 1 here *** “I enjoyed the environment, I really did. In the late ‘90s, there’d been a real change in the culture of the Blackcaps. They no longer thought they were shit-hot, and were useless, they actually started realising they had a lot of work to do. “They’d really brought guys like Cairns … More Mark Richardson: ‘determination is the biggest thing’ (part 2)
When, in late 2004, Mark Richardson announced that he was hanging up his boots, it invoked an immediate expression: surprise. He was 33 years of age, and only a few months earlier was the Hero of Lord’s. Surely, the masses believed, he was retiring too early? Chairman of Selectors, Richard Hadlee, intimated as much – … More Mark Richardson: ‘determination is the biggest thing’ (part 1)
Eric Heiden, in the shadow of the USA’s boycott of the Moscow Olympics in 1980, was quoted as saying, “sports and politics don’t mix.” It’s a truism that was used long before Heiden, and has been deployed infinite times since, and is one that – undoubtedly – will last long beyond the lifetime of anyone … More Sure as the dust that floats high in June
“At close of play, Mike Smith, the MCC captain, congratulated me on my batting and asked if I had thought of coming to England to make a career out of cricket. My father thought that there was no harm in Mr. Smith putting my name forward when he returned to London – probably nothing would … More Thomas Odoyo: making a difference
August 29, 2012 Andrew Strauss sits at home. England have just lost to South Africa, 2-0. Hashim Amla made 311 at The Oval. Kevin Pietersen’s text messages stole all the headlines. And for Strauss, bat in hand, the runs have dried up. 100 Tests, 50 as England captain. 15 years a professional. Over 7000 Test … More The Rise and Fall of Nick Compton: The England Years (Part 2)
[Read part one here] “You can’t win singlehandedly…” St John’s Wood, postcode NW8. Once part of a Royal Forest, now the most expensive rental area in London. In the 692 years since ownership of the woodland passed to the Knights Hospitaller, it has gone from forest fragment to the fifth highest house prices in London. … More Geoff Humpage: Unwavering Warwickshire (part 2)
Australia haven’t tasted Ashes success in England since 2001, a series remembered for Steve Waugh’s century on one leg, Adam Gilchrist’s terrifying hitting, Mark Butcher’s 173* to win the unwinnable for England, and the forging of the Hayden-Langer opening partnership that would dominate Test cricket for the next 5 years. Throw in some bizarre English … More From ‘women’s cricket’ to ‘cricket’
Mind The Windows 