Boycott is not happy with the pitches and Rahul’s whining

Boycott is not happy with the pitches and Rahul’s whining

England have just had a fabulous summer. They won 6 out of the 7 tests with the sole loss coming against South Africa. They decimated both New Zealand and South Africa and annihilated India in a mammoth chase. Yet, the former English captain and one of the greatest commentator this game has ever seen is …

An excellent summer for England

An excellent summer for England

6 wins in 7 Tests. This is England’s record over the summer. An incredible summer by any means. More so because when compared to last year, 1 win in 6 Tests, this is a turnaround. Certainly after the debacle in Australia and defeated for the umpteenth time in West Indies. The New Zealand pair of …

The ICC FTP cycle between 2023-2027

The ICC FTP cycle between 2023-2027

777 games. It simply is mindboggling. This is the total number of games that the ICC expects all the nations to play between 2023 – 2027. It is about 1 game every third day. At a time when players are close to revolting because of the sheer volume of games, the ICC has gone ahead …

The not so much anticipated series

The not so much anticipated series

England vs South Africa has always been a series that is much anticipated. The games were contested keenly with both the teams emerging triumphant in the opponent’s country quite regularly. However, this series, by the looks of it, may not be that much close. It probably is not the much anticipated series. South Africa are …

Stokes’s retirement starts to have repercussions

Stokes’s retirement starts to have repercussions

Ben Stokes’s retirement from ODIs is beginning to have an impact. It is now just a tickle but with the right kind of push, it can become a deluge. As things stand, more and more top quality players may be forced to choose between the different formats and leave the game prematurely. Ben Stokes took …

Some random happenings around the world

Some random happenings around the world

I would just like to write about some random happenings around the world. I will start with Ashwin’s views about the reverse or switch hit, move onto the Aussies slamming Smith for a poor review and Sri Lanka’s win. Switch hit or reverse sweep This bit of batting is an exciting innovation. There were calls …

A thorough and marvellous English performance

A thorough and marvellous English performance

England has just blanked New Zealand 3-0. It is not the win itself that merits attention but the manner of those wins that demands our attention. New Zealand is the current World Test Champions. They are a very good side if not a spectacular one. England on the otherhand, has struggled over the last one …

Has England redefined how Test cricket must be played?

Has England redefined how Test cricket must be played?

The brutal assault on the New Zealand bowlers on the last day of the Trent Bridge test has left the ones watching bewildered. This is the England team that we are talking about. The same England team that just about a year ago, refused to chase a similar target against the same opponents. They have …

Brendan McCullum and England coaching

Brendan McCullum and England coaching

Brendan McCullum, the former New Zealand captain has been appointed as the new England coach. It was a rather unexpected decision because his name was never mentioned as being in the reckoning. Everyone was talking about Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene and there was even news going rounds that Ravi Shastri would be interested …