Tag Archives: Alastair Cook

The Thousandth Test

Posted on August 7, 2018 by rightoffthebatbook

On March 15 1877, Charles Bannerman and Nat Thomson strode out to open the batting for Australia at Melbourne against an England team, in what is generally acknowledged to be the first “Test” match—a cricket game of two innings each … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cricket, England, India, One-Day Cricket, Stadiums, T20 Cricket, Test Cricket | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Singed Phoenix

Posted on August 28, 2015 by rightoffthebatbook

To England fans of many years (such as Martin), the team’s 3–2 victory over the Australians in the 2015 Ashes bears all the hallmarks of a very English success story—partial, inconsistent, worryingly incomplete: the eggiest of curate’s eggs. All the narratives proclaiming a resurgence … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cricket, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Test Cricket, West Indies | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Broad Identity

Posted on July 12, 2015 by rightoffthebatbook

Among the plaudits being offered following the England cricket team’s trouncing of Australia in the first Test match of the Ashes series, one man, in the humble opinion of this blog, is not getting his due. We agree that it is … Continue reading →

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Move Along, Nothing to See Here. . . .

Posted on March 9, 2015 by rightoffthebatbook

In 1882, following the England cricket team’s ignominious defeat to a group of plucky upstarts from Australia, an English newspaper, The Sporting Times, published an “obituary” in which it lamented the death of English cricket, and reported that its body … Continue reading →

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The Cricket World Cup: A Preview, Part 2

Posted on January 29, 2015 by rightoffthebatbook

Hot on the heels of the The Cricket World Cup: A Preview, Part 1, here comes the second installment, featuring the four other top teams. South Africa It’s fair to say the biggest hurdle that South Africa has to overcome is … Continue reading →

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What the Hell Happened to India?

Posted on August 19, 2014 by rightoffthebatbook

Reader: Consider two cricket teams—India and England—both alike in dignity. Both sides are in transition: even though their star players may have departed to the skyboxes and commentary positions, both teams are blessed with plenty of youthful talent—to wit, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya … Continue reading →

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Farewell King Kallis

Posted on December 30, 2013 by rightoffthebatbook

First there was Rahul Dravid (in 2012); then there was Ricky Ponting (2012); and then Sachin Tendulkar (2013). Now Jacques Kallis—the greatest all-rounder of his generation—has retired from Test cricket. Tendulkar (15921), Ponting (13378), Kallis (13289), and Dravid (13288)—giants of … Continue reading →

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Clash of the All Too Human

Posted on March 29, 2013 by rightoffthebatbook

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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Matt Prior—Unsung Hero

Posted on March 15, 2013 by rightoffthebatbook

Like his teammate Jonathan Trott, England’s Matt Prior is not a sexy cricketer—not least because their stocky, balding frames makes them character-actors rather than leading-man material on the cricketing stage. True, Prior’s not as dour and workmanlike as Trott; but … Continue reading →

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Do Your Homework

Posted on March 15, 2013 by rightoffthebatbook

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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