Just under three weeks after the one-day series against Australia finishes, England will arrive in the UAE ahead of a three Test match series against Pakistan, followed by four ODIs and three T20s. England were whitewashed 3-0 in 2012 on the last tour of the UAE, even with a settled Test side with an established … More Who’s the third Pommy spinner?
“I was, naturally, nervous – that whole process [of getting to First Class cricket] had taken from when I went to South Melbourne as a 17 year old in 1972, until 1978, and I can still remember – I got hit on the pads first ball. The loudest appeal you’ve ever heard. It was one … More Mick Taylor, an unrebellious rebel
The name Richard Petrie isn’t one that sits amongst the upper echelons of New Zealand cricketing folklore. The bowling all-rounder who first took off with Canterbury, and later became a senior figure at Wellington, played just 12 ODIs – and while his stats weren’t poor, they equally didn’t lend themselves to greatness. For those who … More Richard Petrie; ‘you win some, you lose some’
3-2 sounds unconvincing; but the scoreline deceives. Apart from the day one at Lord’s, England have been at worst solid, and at their peak brilliant. A 405 run defeat was, incongruously, but a blip on the radar: they out-gutsed the Aussies at Cardiff, and then watched self-capitulations at both Edgbaston and Trent Bridge. At the … More Let’s Talk About Adam
“That’s probably the best one.” Ray Illingworth, a 51 year old veteran-to-end-all-veterans, was trundling in to bowl his winding off-spin. Despite having supposedly retired several years earlier, and despite having been a First Class cricketer for over three decades, Illingworth’s performances in 1983 were more than commendable. Leading a Yorkshire side ruptured by internal schisms, … More Geoff Humpage: Unwavering Warwickshire (part 1)
November 16, 2012 Nick Compton sits in the English dressing room, deep in the bowels of Sardar Patel Stadium. Strapping on his pads, preparing his gloves. He is about to realise his dream, though undoubtedly it does not quite match up with the way he envisioned it as a child. With Alastair Cook by his … More The Rise and Fall of Nick Compton: Becoming an Underdog (Part 1)
The image is a compelling one: imagine the scene, Wellington’s Basin Reserve. It’s the final day of the State Championship for 2005-06. The match is, surely, destined for a draw. Not thanks to a banal set of innings culminating in an absolute absence of fruit-bearing, but instead courtesy of the fresh brace of black clouds … More Bevan Griggs: determination and dedication make the Stag
Recently, I wrote a piece entitled ‘The Cowan’, about the opening batsmen since 2010 most capable of facing up to ball after ball. It was simply an account of their ability to face balls, not score runs, and measured Kaushal Silva and Alastair Cook as the numbers one-and-two. Given England’s inability to find a replacement … More The English Cowan
Originally published on theroar.com.au The Ashes has been a disaster for Australia. England are our ultimate rivals and to be skittled for 60 is nothing short of embarrassing. However the time to dwell is passing and it’s onwards and upwards for a team about to experience “change not seen since the South African rebel tour”, … More Australia’s ‘out of the Ashes’ squad
It’s a quote infamous with Australian tourism and the former spouse of Australian captain Michael Clarke. It’s now a quote I pose to the Australian cricket team’s current state of mind, along with their coaching staff. So to that team who dominated England 5-0 in 2013 and comfortably accounted for India 2-0 in 2014, “where the … More So where the bloody hell are you?
Mind The Windows 