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
When Jimmy Neesham was named in the thirteen-man squad for the second Test against India, all the way back in February 2014, it was very much as a utility cricketer. It was his second Test-squad, having been brought in as cover for Corey Anderson in the lead up to the third Test against the West … More Jimmy Neesham, ‘not a cliché-maker’
In a piece published overnight, Dan McGrath waxed lyrical on the potential of the Day/Night Test, to be played later this year, in both a commercial and cricketing context. “No matter what time of day, what colour of ball,” McGrath wrote, “the intensity of Test match cricket will shine through.” I take a very different … More A party? Pah.
The concept of a Pink Test is nothing new for Australia’s cricketers, but never has the title been meant quite so literally.
HEAVY HITTING BLOWS, MATE AGAINST MATE, FIGHTING FOR THEIR PRIDE. Well, no. It’s not a Channel 9 State of Origin promo. I’m Dev, my mate’s Dan, and we both write for Mind the Windows! Surely it was only sensible to combine ideas and resources? Actually no, the idea had to come from Dan’s girlfriend. But that’s … More Dev vs Dan: The #ENGvNZ wicket-keepers
‘Hot NZ arrive to catch England cold’, reads the ESPNCricinfo headline. Following New Zealand’s recent run of form – World Cup runners up, series wins against the West Indies, Sri Lanka, India, a drawn Test series against Pakistan – the team appears to be shaping nicely to push themselves further up the Test rankings. And … More It’s still Lord’s in May
Now that the New Zealand domestic season – the Plunket Shield, the Ford Trophy, the Garishly Promoted Sickly Series – has drawn to a close, and with Test and one-day squads to tour England named, it’s an appropriate time to sit down and reflect on those who are the ‘nearly-theres’. Players who, despite not being … More New Zealand’s Six Who Could: Batsmen
When New Zealand play England in a two-Test series in May, England will head in as firm favourites. Despite New Zealand’s recent performances in the World Cup (contrasted against England’s woes), a May pitch at Lord’s is very different to a flat drop-in at the Caketin. And I’m sure we all remember what happened last … More Leader of the Opposition
Geoff Allott will always be remembered for the 1999 Cricket World Cup. New Zealand made the semi-finals, and it was in no small part thanks to Allott’s 20 wickets. As equal-top wicket-taker for the tournament – alongside Shane Warne – Allott’s performance was one that stayed as a New Zealand record until the recent semi-final … More Geoff Allott; “I live with that moment, constantly.”
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