Category Archives: Cricket

International cricket is divided into three forms of the game, which are becoming more distinct with each passing year. The shortest, and newest form, is Twenty-20 (or T20), which is less than a decade old, lasts about three hours, and consists of 120 balls for each team. The next form is One-Day cricket, which has been in existence for nearly forty years and lasts about eight hours, consists of 300 balls for each team. The third, and oldest form of the game, is First-Class or (when played between nations) Test cricket, and can last up to five days. This site divides its blogs into these three categories, and then sub-divides the categories between the rules of each form of the game and news and thoughts about each form.

From the Finland Station

I (Martin) am in Helsinki at the moment—a place not noted for great interest in either cricket or baseball—but I’m nonetheless well aware that faithful readers will be expecting thoughtful comments on England’s trouncing of India in the Second Test … Continue reading

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England Go One Up

Open the Door, and Let ’em In England have gone one-up in the Test series against India after a comprehensive victory at Lord’s cricket ground last Monday. There’s lots to say about the match itself, and you can read reports … Continue reading

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Fire in Babylon

An article in the New York Times today reports on the opening of Fire in Babylon, a 2010 documentary about the all-conquering West Indies cricket team of the mid-1970s and 1980s. The story of that team and the back-story of … Continue reading

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Let the Contest Begin

That sound you hear of hands rubbing together in glee, accompanied with a twinkle in the eye, from cricket fans worldwide is one of anticipation at the series of matches between England and India that start this Thursday at Lord’s Cricket … Continue reading

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All Things Must Pass

We signed books in Kingston at Half Moon Books as well as Inquiring Minds in New Paltz yesterday, helping (in our small way) to support traditional, fine independent book shops while, at the same time, selling our first Kindle edition … Continue reading

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Claire Taylor Retires

As the website espncricinfo.org shows, women’s cricket shadows the men’s game in every particular—in the types of cricket games played, the level of competition, and the skills exhibited. The only difference is that women’s matches get less media attention and … Continue reading

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The Body Politic

Our book, Right Off the Bat, spends quite a bit of time exploring the less salubrious sides of cricket and baseball, including the corruption that has accompanied the games almost from their beginnings. Although one might wish that double-dealing and … Continue reading

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When It Rains It Bores

In the recently concluded Test series between England and Sri Lanka, which the host country won 1–0, all but two of the fifteen days scheduled saw no rain. As one wag noted, it was amazing that cricket was invented in … Continue reading

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Veterans Administration

Rahul Dravid, known as “The Wall” for the solidity and imperviousness of his defensive technique, has just scored his thirty-second century for India in his 152nd Test match. He is thirty-eight years old. This summer, Sachin Tendulkar, also thirty-eight, will … Continue reading

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Right Off the Bat Is Available from Amazon in Three Days

Amazon will (finally) begin filling orders for Right Off the Bat on June 26! (Who said “Never on Sunday”?) We thank all readers of this blog and our other fans for your support. Soon, you will see what all the … Continue reading

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