Category Archives: Australia

In the Beginning

Posted on February 20, 2015 by rightoffthebatbook

To affirm that hope springs eternal, as the thermometer dips to 2 degrees F, a New York City/Right off the Bat HQ record for any February 20, teams are assembling to begin Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues training. Yesterday and today! … Continue reading →

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The Cricket World Cup: Day 2

Posted on February 15, 2015 by rightoffthebatbook

Martin here: We’ve now had four games in the World Cup 2015 and the shape of the tournament is already pretty clear (at least in my judgment). Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and India are, barring miracles or meltdowns, going to cruise through … Continue reading →

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A Great Supporting Player: Misbah-ul-haq

Posted on February 9, 2015 by rightoffthebatbook

Sport, unlike anything else we know, provides us with so many heroes and antiheroes. But there are also character actors—actors that never become the A-list, yet have served their roles with the same or generally a better level of equanimity … Continue reading →

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The Cricket World Cup: A Preview, Part 1

Posted on January 29, 2015 by rightoffthebatbook

Every four years, the world’s top cricket teams gather to play a series of one-day internationals (ODIs)—the 50-over form of the game—to determine who is the best. It’s the nearest thing that cricket gets to a competition that the entire … Continue reading →

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Let’s Talk about Kevin

Posted on February 17, 2014 by rightoffthebatbook

One of the many consequences of England’s collapse to the Australians this winter has been the enforced retirement for playing for England of Kevin Pietersen, one of the most successful England batsmen ever. He’s only 33, has three, perhaps four, … Continue reading →

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Mitchell’s Big Mo

Posted on February 17, 2014 by rightoffthebatbook

When Australia’s cricket team thrashed England’s 5–0 in the 2013–14 Ashes series in Australia, most commentators agreed that the essential difference between the teams was one person: Mitchell Johnson. As regular readers of this blog will know, Mitchell Johnson bowls … Continue reading →

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The Urn Returns Down Under

Posted on December 30, 2013 by rightoffthebatbook

It was, perhaps, only a matter of time. In 2013, the England cricket team flattered to deceive: barely holding on to draw the series with New Zealand in New Zealand; beating the Kiwis soundly—but without much conviction—when they came to England; and then … Continue reading →

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Trott Walks

Posted on November 29, 2013 by rightoffthebatbook

When the South African–born batsman Jonathan Trott joined the England cricket team in 2009, commentators noted how in taking his guard at the start of his inning Trott went through a routine of scratching at the pitch that could only … Continue reading →

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Ashes Time Again

Posted on November 19, 2013 by rightoffthebatbook

The Ashes is upon us again. “Wait,” we hear you cry. “Didn’t Australia and England just play a tournament this summer, and isn’t this contest meant to occur in the respective countries once every two years?” The answer is “yes” … Continue reading →

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England Win the Ashes!

Posted on August 14, 2013 by rightoffthebatbook

England has beaten Australia at cricket! In recent years, this formulation—once so rare a sentence that it could be considered a typographical error—has become common, even a commonplace. Australia’s cricket team is simply not as good as England’s, even though … Continue reading →

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