Today, Steve Connor has an idea that would breathe new life into the Championship and maybe, just maybe, provide an international alternative to the IPL. I’m writing this in a short lull between various T20 leagues ending and the Big One, the IPL, starting. This comes a week after learning that something called Major League Cricket will be starting in the US in the summer and attracting a surprising number of big names. If you’re a fan of short T20 tournaments you are being very well served at...
The County Championship: 11 Players To Follow
It’s lighter outside, the clocks have moved forward, but it’s still bitterly cold and frosty. This can mean only one thing: the county championship is back. Oh yes! To get you in the mood, Rob has come up with an XI of county stalwarts that he’ll be keeping an eye on this summer. It’s a personal XI (based purely on players that he enjoys watching) who seem unlikely to play international cricket this summer. Enjoy. 1. Alastair Cook: No real explanation needed to select...
How To Win In India
Test cricket is becoming a competition between just three teams. That seems almost beyond doubt at this point. I can’t figure out how it’s good for the future of the game but the English, Indian and Australian cricket boards appear to disagree. Their actions have been promoting this outcome for years now, and the ICC future tours programme – the Test series schedule – for 2023 to 2027 certainly backs it up. In this four year window, every scheduled Test series of three or more...
How to pick an underdog in a cricket match
Cricket, like any sport, has its fair share of underdog stories – those thrilling moments when the unexpected team rises to the occasion and topples the giants. Picking an underdog in a cricket match can be an exhilarating experience, filled with excitement and anticipation. But how do you go about selecting the dark horse that will defy the odds and emerge victorious? This is a great question, and it’s one that we are going to take a look at in this article. Let’s dive right into it and...
Return Of The King: Is Kohli Back To His Best?
He’s back. This month, over 1,200 days after his 27th test century, Virat Kohli scored his 28th against Australia at Ahmedabad. A comeback long awaited, Virat looked every bit the player that, for so long, had world cricket at his feet as he strolled to 186 off 364 balls. By no means a flashy knock, Virat’s marathon innings was mostly devoid of the crisp drives and powerful pulls that, for so long, were his calling card. Instead, he churned out the singles and ignored any good balls. An...
AB de Villiers – A Batsman Like No Other
There’s not a lot happening at the moment as we wait for the start of the county season. In the meantime, we’re going to bring you a couple of pieces discussing the big names in the game. Today, Sulaiman talks about one of his favourite players, AB de Villiers. And tomorrow, Will has something for you on Virat Kohli and his long-overdue return to form. With the Indian Premier League due to commence in the near future, I thought it fit to write about one of the finest cricketers we...