It is commendable that England are considering their players’ wellbeing, both mental and physical during this arduous year of international cricket. Covid restrictions have been greatly difficult for all of us but particularly for those who are virtually confined to hotel rooms for months on end. Allowing players to rotate home, almost like the military, is an excellent idea. However, as they tend to do, the England management have taken a good scheme and somehow turned it upside down. ...
The Thanks For Coming Award – 2nd Test Edition
Michel Wood is here to celebrate the unsung heroes of Chennai. Who really didn’t catch the eye? Amongst all the hokey cokey selection narratives bandied about after second Test, there is one aspect of the match that has been criminally neglected. Whilst players, commentators and pundits ignore it, any club cricketer must surely be asking the same burning question: who deserved the coveted ‘thanks for coming’ award? The second Test’s contenders must include Dom Sibley’s return of 19 runs...
On India’s Win And Pitch Politics
India have won the second Test in Chennai, and it is 1-1 going into the pink ball Test at the colossal new stadium in Ahmedabad in ten days’ time. The outcome of the Test must make Indian fans happy (me included), as it sets up the series beautifully and gives Team India a chance to extend their dominance at home, where they have not lost a series since 2012. However, the nature of the wicket on which it was achieved, coupled with the debates about its quality, somewhat take the gloss of it...
The 5 Stages Of Coping With A Subcontinental Loss
The subcontinental honeymoon is over. After being on top of the world with five consecutive Test wins in Asia, Joe Root’s men were poised to threaten the invincible Indians at home. The skipper had pushed back his average above 50. His spinners were slowly gaining a foothold over conditions which didn’t treat them as an afterthought to the game of cricket. And his best all-rounder, Sir Ben Stokes, was back too – surely, he would be bowling a lot in this second Test? Driving home the advantage...
Ashwin Walks The Talk With His Cathartic Century
Abhijato returns with a look at Ravi Ashwin’s performance on day 3 at Chennai. England are predictably in the mire. And they’ve been put there largely thanks to a man who bats almost as well as he bowls sometimes … The greatest advantage Ravichandran Ashwin the batsman had on a decaying Chennai pitch was that he did not have to face himself as a bowler from the other end. When he walked out as the Indian number eight in the second innings, his team’s total stood at 106. The...
An Open Letter To The New Fans Of English Cricket
Hello there, jubilant, formally reintroduced via Channel Four, cricket-watching Briton! Glad to see you’ve joined us again. Right off the bat, you’re forgiven for assuming the sport has always been this good while you were away. Or that its results will always be this delightful when England’s visiting the subcontinent. As a matter of fact, you’ll often wonder what’s the point of waking up at odd hours and copping it from your spouse or your dogs for turning on the telly at four in the morning...
