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Peter's obsession with test match cricket is well known amongst his friends, often leading them to avoid him or quickly change the subject when he begins his analysis. Since 1980 the only Boxing Day test he has missed was when South Africa's return from their ban was washed out at the MCG. His daughters regularly accompany him to the test, retreating to the bar when he begins recalling matches he attended as a younger man.
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It was day three and ultimately the final day of the second match between Australia A and India A. The game would be won…
The Sheffield Shield has good players, plenty of quality cricket and interesting narratives - so why can't the competition attract crowds?
It was a few years ago now – before COVID, before grandparenting, before retirement and before blood pressure medication. I'd landed at San Francisco…
Extraordinary. That’s the word I used throughout the passages of play late on the second day as England batted, then again as play progressed…
It's been so long I can’t remember the sound of cricket. That crack of bat on ball. The collective 'ooh!' from the crowd. The…
The cricket starts before I see it. It begins before the welcome to country, the notes of national anthems echoing out of the Southern…
Through cricket seasons I’ve enjoyed the commentary of Jim Maxwell, David Lloyd, Michael Holding and especially Richie Benaud. To that I add the newspaper…
The Boxing Day Test still seems a long way off. But the days are becoming longer and there’s even a teasing glimpse of warmth…
Take a moment to picture yourself playing for the Australian men’s national team. Feel the binding of pads around your shins. How the bat…
George Orwell’s dire predictions for 1984 may have seemed minor compared to what Australian cricket faced that year. At first there seemed hope. Australia…
I was sitting up watching the West Indies playing England. Blanket drawn up to my neck on a freezing Melbourne evening, coffee almost as…
It’s not difficult to enjoy cricket on different levels. The rivalries between bowler and batsman, tactics, the part conditions play, statistics and decisions following…
I’m not one to quote former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. But he once said he had the second most important job in Australia…
It must seem like the ideal job. After all you see a lot of cricket. As a men’s team national selector you travel between…
There’s an old wisdom that some of the biggest events or turning points in life come down to a few seconds. A decision to…
A Test match without a final, fifth day’s play scheduled is hard to contemplate. Imagine arriving at the first day’s play realising if the…
It’s not difficult to find the pictures – a quick Google and the images of the former English captain are laid out. Mostly black and…
We’re often reminded about how cricket has changed. Video umpiring, boundary ropes, drop in pitches and more recently, the changes to shining the ball…
You can imagine what it’s like. You’ve arrived at the ground and begin unpacking your equipment. There’s an intense buzz in the room as…
A food critic once wrote the best waiters are the ones you don’t even realise are there. Perhaps the same could be said for…
Thanks All day for that reply. Frequent tour matches are certainly something else that’s changed. I hope to attend a day of the Australia A match against India A shortly. I don’t think the MCG has hosted a tour match since the 2010 ashes tour when Victoria played England. Going by memory rather than Google however!
Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust...If Lillee don’t get ya, Thommo must: 50 years on from the famous 1974/75 series
Oh wow. Such memories. Australia was so good back then I thought it’d never end. We would dominate England beyond the invention of time travel. And when I watch the footage of Dennis Lillee it occurs to me his motion was the nearest to poetry cricket could produce, this flowing, graceful charge to the crease that threatened a batting collapse or possibly injury. One memory of that tour I have is lugging the esky into the SCG to watch NSW playing the England team. England batted so well in the first innings, at last able to showcase some of their ability and even enjoy themselves without the pressure and fear of the Australian attack. What a time it was.
Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust...If Lillee don’t get ya, Thommo must: 50 years on from the famous 1974/75 series
What the team looks like by the time the England test team next tour will be interesting. Cricket Australia’s promotion of the series against Pakistan tells us ‘ya have to be there’ and this is the team of our generation. But I wonder about that statement. I would have thought the teams captained by Steve Waugh were in that category. Anyway, just as long as some succession planning for emerging players is front of mind for Cricket Australia.
Unifying the belts: Australia could become cricket’s first triple champions ... but Proteas can put the choke on them
Probably hard to resist delivering a small sledge at a press conference. But important to remember sometimes these comments can fire up an opposition. So you might get it back three fold. I recall Ricky Ponting as captain during an ashes series in England as he made some statements about how he expected Australia to win (and how well). It seemed to motivate England who took delight in achieving the opposite result to what the Aussie captain predicted. There’s something to be said for praising your opposition and along the way, almost making them like you and therefore not go as hard when the game is on.
‘It's kind of folklore, isn't it?’ Cummins slips in cheeky choking dig at Proteas as Aussies bank on experience factor in semi
I hate that I love sport. Or cricket in particular. When Carlton lose, it’s over in a few quarters and I can return to the scotch bottle and get on with life. But when Australia are losing a test, it can be three to five days of death by a thousand cuts. There isn’t enough blood pressure medication in all the pharmacies of Australia to get me through a losing test. But I can’t look away, just like driving past a car accident. After the triumphs over South Africa, that crest of a wave that carried me through Melbourne’s excuse for a summer has now dumped me. And I dread that India has put scars on our test team and the stitches are going to break open during the ashes series.
Is it better to have loved sport and lost than to never love sport at all? It's made me a terrible person
Thanks for the article Peter. Some important questions asked and I especially take the point about where are our emerging players. I was surprised at South Africa’s performance, always recognising them as a determined and proud side. Perhaps their domestic competition is not delivering at the moment. When Australia has lost heavily in the past there’s been reviews and investigations. I can’t imagine that South Africa will let this pass without looking into where things went wrong. Apparently we next tour there in 2026 and it’ll be interesting as to where they are at then. By that time Australia may have experienced changes and retirements too.
What is wrong with South African cricket?
Appreciate your comment Sheek. I just can’t imagine life without it. It wasn’t a huge first and second day crowd but hopefully the TV ratings might indicate what you are predicting is some way off
Why soccer isn't the world's only beautiful game
My mistake I’m afraid. Too much rushing at this time of year. Hopefully wasn’t thinking of Stuart Broad. Asked the editor team to change and they obliged
Why soccer isn't the world's only beautiful game
Very much like that idea of poetry in motion
Why soccer isn't the world's only beautiful game
Yes, that’s fair enough. Tough at 32 to be too late. I really like the length he bowls. Such a hard worker and probably deserves a longer career but hard to break through. He is probably destined to be the bowler who will be the guy who fills in.
Cummins only 50-50 chance as WA speed demon gets shock Test squad call-up with Neser
Seems to be a time where there are so many talented fast bowlers available. Even internationally with a number of sides offering strong pace bowlers. Looks like the wait continues for Michael Neser
Cummins only 50-50 chance as WA speed demon gets shock Test squad call-up with Neser
Perhaps the matter can end here. These remarks appear to have a tone of conciliation so it would be good if things are now smoothed over. (And quite possibly they aren’t, the first time Langer makes a critical comment on Channel 7 it could all flare up again). There is however a test match less than a week away so I’d welcome the conversations changing to be about that
'Outstanding human', 'my little brothers' - JL can't stop talking, and his comments get weirder by the day
We really don’t need this going on with the first test against the West Indies only a week away. There’s likely to be some niggle against South Africa in that series given how things went the last time we played them. This debate just adds tension and distraction. Let’s pass out the chamoille teas and focus on the demanding days and contests ahead.
Langer unloads on Cummins: 'What is brutal is I’m hearing it behind my back through the media'
Could boost crowd numbers if he was playing in the Tassie Shield team…or at least by one, I’d enjoy going along and seeing him play.
‘Finish career on his own terms’: Paine making comeback with Tasmania but Test days over
I admit I at times tired of his ‘in my day’ stories. But during his era as a player he certainly helped drive Australia to success after what had been an uninispiring period. This article was spot on and I doubt the man himself would disagree with it.
Chappell least popular of Nine’s fab four but more commentators should adopt his forthright approach
Enjoyed the article Max, thank you. And can only hope the right people are also asking these questions as we progress towards our next series and of course the India tour. Your article also reminds me of how long it seems since both opening positions have been settled. Probably going back to when Cameron Bancroft and Joe Burns had these roles. Now that Khawaja seems first choice, the spotlight falls on Warner. An interesting period between this season’s home series up to the end of next year’s ashes awaits.
What lessons will Australia learn from the tour of Sri Lanka?
It’s quite the turnaround. Can’t remember the last time England looked truly inspired. Maybe when Andrew Strauss was captain. Or Douglas Jardine! Australia may well be facing a different side to the one skittled in the last ashes series here. (In terms of mindset rather than players). Not great for the heart rate when sitting up late watching those test matches next year.
England batting like 'rock stars' as they make 4th innings record chase look easy
I appreciated and enjoyed this article although am in a slightly more forgiving mood that Paul who wrote it. That Smith showed his exasperation was quite human I thought, and something I do when the kids dent the car, don’t help with the washing or don’t put away the dirty dishes (because I’m busy watching the cricket). Whilst Smith was upset, my expectation was that there’d be a quiet word from either Andrew McDonald or Pat Cummins to let him know by all means talk about what happened but no angry exchanges that might put someone off their game. Although I’m sure Smith in his role as former captain and a leader is well aware of this.
Smith’s petulant run-out tantrum tarnishes the hard work he’s done to repair public image
This is an incredibly well researched article. All I can add is that I recall being at the MCG in 1983 watching Yallop absolutely dominate over Pakistan in their tour match against Victoria. (A match where Victoria made a first innings of 555 and lost). Yallop made 220 and appeared at the peak of his powers. I’ve never forgotten his knock and its sheer power.
The hot and cold of Graham Yallop, the anti-David Hookes
This will be interesting. I can’t help but think he may have benefitted from a middle step, such as coaching a county or Shield team. But he’s a positive and articulate person who will grow into the role, with every chance he’ll bring along the team with him. Must be odd for him to take on New Zealand so early in his coaching career but he quite likely knows them well and can utilise that. I note Pat Cummins is one of a number saying international test cricket needs England to do well to build interest and this may be the beginning of rebuilding a team who had a result in the West Indies that suggests they are still suffering from a heavy ashes loss. I hope McCullum does well, without doing too well.
'Buckle up and get ready for the ride': McCullum appointed England Test coach
Great story and had Roy’s name not been mentioned in it, many of us would have guessed it was about him anyway. It fits his humour and big personality.
BRETT GEEVES: The night Roy threw a beer at my head and won my heart forever
Thanks for the article Paul. It seems a long road back for England currently. South Africa must be anticipating a successful series against them in the coming northern summer. Especially following home soil losses by England to New Zealand and in the unfinished series against India. England should go back to their strategies years ago that eventually resulted in a strong side lead by Andrew Strauss. With Strauss in his current role, he’s in the box seat to draw on the ideas from that time.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
Thanks for another insightful article Paul. As you say, that offer of 6 months was no way to handle this. I expect the Pakistan tour will be a baptism of fire for Andrew McDonald. I can only wonder what is Langer’s side to this story. Perhaps we have to wait for the Netflix series.
Should Nick Hockley still have his job?
It’s awful when the scrutiny of the coach reaches this level. It seems to be also happening in the Socceroos currently, and I recall the week by week putting David Teague under the microscope last year when he coached Carlton. You want to feel confident in the strategies, team choices and techniques of the coach of the team you support. I feel there’s a lot of contradicting information coming out about JL, some journalists highlighting poor treatment of him as well as Cricket Australia issuing denials. I just hope for his sake, the players and the success of the coming Pakistan tour, this can all be resolved quickly.
'Please stop yelling': Why time has run out for 'volatile', 'pork chop' Langer
I just had to read an article that used the word ‘gobbing.’ It does however remind me of Ricky Ponting goading (another great word) England in an ashes series in England. It seemed to fire England up to success and made the Aussies look like they couldn’t back up what they were saying. There’s an old wisdom about being positive and polite to your oppositon and they end up liking you to the extent they are less competitive. Who knows. I’m placing bubbles in the fridge if things go well at the GABBA and Nurofen on the table in case they don’t.
Poked the bear: Why Siraj might've shot himself in the foot by gobbing off at Travis Head