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Category Archives: Australia
February Frolics
While I (Martin) may have been quiet the last few months on Right Off the Bat, the world of cricket continues to make some noise. Currently going on in India is the Women’s World Cup, which is being televised by … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Baseball, Cricket, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa
Tagged Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Curt Flood, Dale Steyn, Kerry Packer, Tony Greig
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The Wit & Wisdom of Cricket
Much recommended by the Right Off the Bat Project is The Wit and Wisdom of Cricket, 2012, anonymously compiled, and published by Prion/Carlton: A collection of some of the best quotes from players, pundits and avid followers past and present. … Continue reading
Punter’s Last Pull
Former Australian captain and all-time great Ricky Ponting, a.k.a. “Punter,” has announced his retirement from international cricket, having amassed nearly 27,500 runs and 71 centuries at a very, very healthy average. Ponting was a hard man to warm to: he … Continue reading
Pup Becomes the Big Dog
One of the reasons why Australia is back in contention as the best Test cricket team in the world is because of their captain, Michael Clarke, who in the match just completed achieved what no other batsmen—even the great Sir … Continue reading
The Delights of the Draw
One of the main complaints cricket lovers receive about their game is how it can go on for five days and yet no-one wins. What’s the point? is the cry. Evander and I talk about this in our book, Right … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Cricket, South Africa
Tagged Faf du Plessis, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis
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Semanus Mirabilis in Cricket
It’s been a remarkable week for cricket—one so full of improbable stories, unlikely heroes, and record-breaking achievements that I (Martin) can’t contain them in just one blog. One of the more astonishing facets of the last few days is that, … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Bangladesh, Cricket, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe
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Hot Stove Cricket
The Major League Baseball season has come to an end. For all those fans of the pastime who dread a desolate few months without the sound of bat hitting ball, may we direct your attention to a winter of fascinating … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Baseball, Cricket, England, India, South Africa
Tagged Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Major League Baseball, Ricky Ponting, Vernon Philander
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Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding
Frank Loesser said it best. “Ask me how do I feel,” chimes the ostentatiously virtuous Sarah Brown (rhetorically) to the covertly virtuous Sky Masterson in Loesser’s musical-without-equal Guys and Dolls, “Well sir, all I can say, is if I were … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Cricket, England, One-Day Cricket
Tagged Frank Loesser, Guys and Dolls, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, Steven Finn
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Just What Is Wrong with Mitchell Johnson?
When Mitchell Johnson, the Australian left-arm fast bowler, is good, he is very, very good. Unplayably good. Fiersomely, multiple-wicket-takingly good. He can also hit clean and hard and score runs very quickly. When he is bad, though, which is (to … Continue reading
The Contest before the Contest Is a Contest
The Australian cricket team begins a series of five one-day internationals against England. It’s an anomalous series in many ways, since it doesn’t come on the back of a Test match series between the old rivals (called the Ashes), and it’s … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Cricket, England, One-Day Cricket, South Africa
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