There was a time when the BCCI distrusted the DRS. I’m no longer in lock-step with the BCCI on this because I still don’t have much faith in the DRS. It struggles to achieve at least two of the ICC’s prime objectives: arriving at the correct decision and eradicating the howler. So long as there […]
The racism I have seen in cricket
As racism is playing a prominent role in the current turbulent times, it’s worth reflecting on my experience of prejudice in and around cricket. As a youngster growing up in a family where there was no notable prejudice, despite being in the era of the White Australia Policy, I wasn’t really aware of racism. I […]
Change the ball-tampering and lbw laws
There will be some noticeable changes to the game when cricket resumes from its Covid-19 hiatus with one of the major differences being the way the ball is polished. It’s critical administrators produce the right response to the health challenges as swing bowling, along with wristspin, is a crucial part of attacking cricket. Both skills […]
India’s Laxman and Australian Walters’ innings — The best I’ve watched against spin
Cricket reacted quickly and responsibly in shutting down the game to try to minimise the crushing effects of the coronavirus. The absence of any cricket gives me an opportunity to reflect on an aspect of the game I enjoy: watching a batsman utilise good footwork to combat top-class spin bowling. Two innings stand out: one […]
Cricket in a time of crisis: we’ve been here before
With sporting events dropping like flies it was only a matter of time before cricket joined the list of those seriously affected by the spread of the coronavirus. When the Premier League in England, football in Italy, and baseball and basketball in America suspend their playing schedules you know that sport is not the prime […]
Which ODI pair is greater: Tendulkar and Ganguly or Kohli and Sharma?
Rohit Sharma scores a blistering hundred against West Indies while Virat Kohli suffers the ignominy of a golden duck. That’s the game of cricket: two of India’s best one-day batsmen experiencing opposite fates. In fact, an argument could be mounted that Kohli and Sharma are India’s best ever one-day batsmen. The obvious challengers would be […]
It’s down to bowling attacks
In an era where big bats and big scores, with the occasional monumental battering, have proliferated in ODIs, there are still some seriously good bowling attacks gearing up for the 2019 World Cup. Wicket-taking is going to play a crucial role in deciding this World Cup. Despite the modern gung-ho batting style, this is not […]
Does players’ satisfaction matter as the game gets shorter and shorter?
If money speaks all languages, then in recent times it has become fluent in cricket chat. The lure of lucre is influencing most decisions in the game; the administrators are infatuated with the bottom line, and many of the players – underpaid by their countries – seek the ample riches of the T20 circuit. The […]
The time is ripe for a World Test Championship
Test cricket is experiencing a period of unpredictability that was missing from the game for many years. For more than two decades, first West Indies and then Australia dominated the Test rankings. Now it’s anyone’s guess who will be on top from one week to the next. At one point during the concurrent England v […]