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Category Archives: Cricket
Five Things I Learned about Baseball from Ken Burns’s Baseball
I (Martin) just spent 18.5 hours watching Ken Burns’s epic 1994 PBS documentary Baseball—and then I watched the 2010 two-episode sequel. I was delighted to see that Evander and I got the basic information correct in Right Off the Bat. … Continue reading
Virender’s Back
Amid all of the hoopla surrounding Sachin Tendulkar‘s impending century of international centuries, one of his teammates, Virender Sehwag, has been uncharacteristically silent. He’s not performed well with the bat and has been injured. But you can’t keep a swashbuckler … Continue reading
December 1, 2011, Is Valentine’s Day
Former major-league player (whose potentially brilliant career was cut short by injury), manager of the Texas Rangers and New York Mets, Japanese-championship manager (and speaker of that difficult language to a considerable extent), restaurateur, as well as, most recently at … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Cricket, Right Off the Bat Book
Tagged Bobby Valentine, Boston Red Sox, Japanese baseball, Literature, New York Mets, Texas Rangers
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The West Indies Return: West Indies v. India—Part III
After almost two decades in the doldrums, the West Indies team is giving signs of coming back to life. The side still has to cope with the Achilles-like sulk of former captain Chris Gayle—waiting until he’s paid enough money and … Continue reading
The Incredible Draw: West Indies v. India—Part II
One of the curiosities of Test cricket (at least to fans of baseball) is the fact that a game of cricket can go on for five days and still end in a situation where no team is declared a winner: … Continue reading
The Little Master Almost Makes It: West Indies v. India—Part I
This time he reached 94 before he edged a lifting delivery to second slip and was compelled to walk in near total silence back to the pavilion. For the length of his innings, it seemed as though, finally, Sachin Tendulkar, … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Baseball, Cricket, India, Test Cricket
Tagged Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh
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The Series that Never Was
After losing an astonishing game in Cape Town, the Australian cricket team pulled off an improbable victory in Johannesburg in another closely fought Test match with South Africa, to tie the series 1-1, with . . . wait, it’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Cricket, South Africa, Test Cricket
Tagged Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Vernon Philander
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Mike “King” Kelly, Nineteenth-century Baseball Star, Makes the News
He was one of the early superstars, sold to the Boston Beaneaters for a whopping ten grand. Before there were songs about Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays, there was one about the exploits of “King” Kelly. An autographed … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Cricket
Tagged Boston Beaneaters, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Mike "King" Kelly, Willie Mays
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Basil D’Oliveira (1931–2011)
The South African–born England cricketer Basil D’Oliveira has died, having battled Parkinson’s disease for several years. Aside from his capable batsmanship and usefulness as a bowler, D’Oliveira will always be known as the man who encapsulated the racism within cricket … Continue reading
What the Hell Just Happened in Cape Town?
Just when you think the world of cricket couldn’t get any weirder or upside down, a Test match comes along that defies all expectations. Such an event occurred yesterday. The Australian cricket team is visiting South Africa for two Test … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Cricket, South Africa, Test Cricket
Tagged Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Literature, Michael Clarke
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Right Off the Bat 