Category Archives: Australia

Reverse: the Curse

It’s now time to talk about reverse swing. No, it’s not the latest dance craze from California. It’s a relatively new phenomenon in cricket that entails the ball doing funky things previous unknown in the laws of physics. Unlike in … Continue reading

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Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy! Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy Anderson

True, it’s not a Schubert Lied, but the above song, which resounds around Test cricket grounds wherever England play these days, contains (almost) as much feeling and conjures up as strong a sensation of wonder and mastery of composition as … Continue reading

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Ian Bell: Ring-a-Ding-Ding at Last

Everybody knows that England’s Ian Bell has the kind of talent and ability that should propel him to greatness. He can play every kind of shot and has excellent and enduring technique. However, some have felt that he gets himself … Continue reading

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Ashton Triumphant

Consider this: it’s September and you’re 19 years old and getting some experience under your belt playing in the Double A leagues. Then you get a call from the Yankees that you’re needed for the pennant battle against the Boston … Continue reading

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Oldtimers’ Day 2013

Following the whole media-and-financial brouhaha between Brian Cashman and Alex Rodriguez, it has taken me (Evander) a few extra days to digest all the doings of the New York Yankees sixty-seventh Oldtimers’ Day. Unofficially, this treasured event has its origins … Continue reading

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Australia’s Ashes Preparation: Fired up, or Just Fired?

Every two years since 1882 (excepting world wars, international crises, and, um, this year), England have taken on Australia in a competition known as “The Ashes.” Australia have beaten England 123 times; England, Australia 100 times; and the rest of … Continue reading

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The Champions League: Damp Squib and Indian Triumph

It’s been a few weeks of silence from the cricket half of this blog as I (Martin) assume American citizenship and put my house in order. Nonetheless, cricket has continued, and thus needs to be reported on. The 2013 Indian … Continue reading

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Clash of the All Too Human

After some last-day heroics from Matt Prior, about whom we’ve already waxed lyrical on these pages, the England cricket team managed to draw their three-Test series with New Zealand, 0-0. It wasn’t meant to be this way: England are currently ranked … Continue reading

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All-Day Games

Time was—say, fifteen or twenty years ago—that you had to wait until Summer to watch a game of cricket. Sure, you might be able to listen on the radio to a crackling broadcast of a game on the other side … Continue reading

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Do Your Homework

The longest and most deeply held rivalry in the history of cricket is that between England and Australia—a contest known as “The Ashes.” Since 1877, these teams have been duking it out: barring two world wars, when the countries were … Continue reading

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