Maxwell could be Australia's X-factor
His all-round talents, especially bowling spin and batting against it, will be desperately needed in India
View ArticleA dark horse in the fast lane
The Ashes will be decided by the better pace-bowling attack, and Australia have plenty in that department, including the young sensation Chadd Sayers
View ArticleThe Tiger and the Fox
Bill O'Reilly and Clarrie Grimmett were the greatest spin-bowling partnership of their age, and arguably the best in Test history
View ArticleThe ghosts of 1956
Australia have been tentative against Swann's offspin. At Old Trafford, where history's greatest spin performance was delivered, they must watch out for him
View ArticleThe Oval: my spiritual home
Ashley Mallett looks back at his three Tests at the final venue for this year's Ashes
View ArticleA modern-day Benaud?
Steven Smith has the talent to become a Test-standard bowling allrounder, the best of his type since Richie Benaud
View ArticleThe other side of Ian Chappell
The former Australia captain, known for his tough and aggressive approach, turns 70 today
View ArticleMadiba and the godfather
With the help of Nelson Mandela, Ali Bacher took cricket into the black townships of South Africa in the 1980s
View ArticleEngland's best since Laker
When in full flight Graeme Swann was a brilliant offspinner - third on the all-time list after Prasanna and Laker
View ArticleThe best Test ground in Australasia
The honour belongs to the iconic and charming Basin Reserve in Wellington
View ArticleOf Scarlet, Fitteran, Cho, and others
Cricket nicknames have been a part of Australian cricket for centuries, and they don't look like they are going away anytime soon
View ArticleWhen Bedser bowled the Don for a duck
After receiving a pasting at the hands of the Australians during the first post-war Ashes tour, Bedser decided he had to think up a new delivery: the legcutter
View ArticlePenalty runs the best punishment for slow over rates
Fines and suspensions have had no effect. Awarding the opposition runs for every over a team falls short in a Test innings will definitely bite harder
View ArticleBrendon McCullum, honorary Aussie
The New Zealand captain's attitude and approach have rubbed off on his team-mates, and they are now firm favourites for the title
View ArticleHow Australia can up their game against spin
Their batsmen should look to rotate the strike and use their feet more. Else, a 3-0 whitewash looms
View ArticleBouncer-safety starts with watching the ball
Proper technique is a must. And there are lessons to be learnt from how batsmen of the pre-helmet era negotiated short balls
View ArticleMy life in cricket writing (and reading)
A player tells of how he came to fall into the line of work followed by Cardus, Arlott and others of that ilk
View ArticleWhen Australia beat Panikstan at the G
Pakistan were close to winning their first Test down under, but Tangles and Book Book had other ideas
View ArticleHow I learnt to (nearly) bowl the doosra
An offie can't really bowl the legbreak without throwing, but that doesn't mean variations aren't possible
View ArticleHow a spinner can break the rhythm of the batsman
By learning how to subtly change the pace of his deliveries
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