Will Pucovski is on the cusp of great things
The 18-year-old Victoria batsman is big on work-life balance. He's also likely to break into the big leagues soon
Quote Unquote
Maybe I need a slips cradle for Christmas.
Australia captain Steven Smith on gift ideas after he dropped a couple of catches during Pakistan's mammoth chase on day four in Brisbane
Some sparks, mostly gloom
2016 in review: Their results showed that there is still talent within Zimbabwe's ranks, but how can cricket flourish while the country grapples with larger problems?
Time for Cook to step down
Ian Chappell: The battle-scarred England captain is not making the best use of his resources
You need to work harder and smarter, Pakistan
Jarrod Kimber: If Pakistan want to be No. 1 again, they need to stop going into series so undercooked
How well does Adam Hollioake know his stats?
The former England allrounder takes our quiz
A letter to my 12-year-old self
Nicholas Hogg gives his younger self a peek into his cricketing future and advice on how to make it better
A gulf between the Associates
2016 in review: Afghanistan and Ireland received support and some success, but the rest were left to fight over meagre scraps this year. By Tim Wigmore
How Essex ruled the '80s
All Out Cricket: From loveable pushovers to strutting county titans, Essex's self-made story through the 1980s chimed perfectly with the times
'Scary, scary times!'
Why is Kevin Pietersen petrified - find out in our Twitter round-up
Like Chris Martin scoring runs?
Andy Zaltzman helps us grasp the epicness of R Ashwin's 15 five-fors in 20 Tests
Can Sri Lanka up their game in South Africa?
Numbers Game: Sri Lanka have generally struggled against the pace and seam of South Africa's pitches, but this young team has the chance to make a fresh start
A Pakistani love for Dhoni
Saad Shafqat on the complications of cheering for MS Dhoni from across the border
'When you have a child with cancer it turns your world upside down'
Brad Haddin talks about his decision to retire when he was told his daughter Mia was diagnosed with neuroblastoma
What is a cameo?
Jon Hotten: We've all seen them: innings of throwaway flair that transport us. But how exactly do you define one?
John Lever comes back to Chennai
When he played in the city in 1977, he was called a cheat. Last week he returned in happier circumstances
The coach who plays guitar
John Wright talks about his other life, as a musician and songwriter, and his first album
Who is India's MVP?
Fans vote between Virat Kohli and R Ashwin. Jonathan Trott and Sourav Ganguly also weigh in
Nice, Garry!
Sam Perry: What has gone into the making of the accidental cult of Nathan Lyon?
Cuppers, Fenner's, winners, dinners
John Drew on the cricket news from Cambridge that may have slipped your radar
How CA and the players' association are drifting antagonistically apart
Daniel Brettig: The board no longer seems to consider ACA a party worth engaging with in contractual negotiations
How about penalising umpires for wrong decisions?
Michael Jeh: Players are only allowed to make two unsuccessful referrals for nearly an entire Test match day. What if we subjected the officials to a similar rule?
Trent Woodhill's brave new, data-driven world
Melbourne Stars' list manager is using facts and stats in trying to build the perfect team, making up the rules as he goes along. By Jarrod Kimber
'We want players to have very good international careers, which we missed out on'
MSK Prasad, India's chairman of selectors, talks about his panel's methods
A horsey delivery, and double-quick doubles
Ask Steven: How many people have been out for 199 in a Test?
'You're a hero. You're a hero'
In a corner of the Gabba, a small band of Pakistan supporters watched their team almost pull off the greatest chase
The best signature move
What cricketing action is seared in your memory? The Viv Richards flick, perhaps?
'There are a lot more tough days than successful days in a fast-bowling career'
Former South Africa bowling coach Vincent Barnes talks about developing fast bowlers, injury prevention, and the extreme pace of Dale Steyn
What's the right sort of body language on the field?
Scott Oliver: Confidence, annoyance, impassiveness - the absence or presence of these emotions doesn't always convey what you're hoping it does
Was Cook too defensive?
Match Day: Jonathan Trott analyses day three of the Chennai Test: England's failure to put pressure on India's batsmen, Adil Rashid's future, and KL Rahul's sixes
The dominator turns accumulator
A fan relives India's record-breaking chase against England in Chennai in 2008
Misbah's aviators edition
Polite Enquiries: How well can Pakistan's batsmen bat against Pakistan's bowlers and fielders? Jarrod and Mel have the answer
My life in cricket writing (and reading)
Ashley Mallett on how he came to fall into the line of work followed by Cardus, Arlott and others of that ilk
Let's hear it for the ump
Pete Langman: A large percentage of umpiring decisions are invariably met with indignation and angst. It shouldn't be that way
The man who wouldn't say 'Mister'
Given a chance to tour England with South Africa, Sid O'Linn got a divorce to ensure his selection. By Luke Alfred
Doosra and the others
How many mainstream cricket terms come from subcontinental languages? By Simon Barnes
'We loved what we did and the people loved what we did'
Clive Lloyd made his Test debut 50 years ago this week. He looks back at his time in international cricket
Bairstow stands tall
England's wicketkeeper-batsman has had a prolific year after developing a method that works for him. By George Dobell
Pakistan's pace problems in Australia
Numbers Game: Pakistan's fast bowlers have traditionally been their biggest weapons, but their numbers in Australia aren't impressive
Double Dizzy
Two Jason Gillespies, one hostage situation, Adelaide Oval. Never a dull moment in a reporter's life
The curious decline of the 400-ish first-innings total
And other stats that'll light up your Cricketsmas in Andy Zaltzman's latest offering
'Being Test captain is almost the first time people take you seriously'
Faf du Plessis speaks to Firdose Moonda about taking over the reins in the format he favours most
What next for Alastair Cook?
Andrew Miller: With a defeat-strewn year coming to an end, and seven months of red-ball inactivity approaching, England need to contemplate their Test captaincy
Why the red-card proposal is important for grass-roots cricket
Sharda Ugra: Players might soon be sent off the field for bad behaviour - though not too much in international cricket
The young and the restless
Test your knowledge of teenage exploits in international cricket
Is Younis Pakistan's greatest batsman?
Mark Nicholas: Special as Hanif, Miandad, Inzamam and Yousuf were, Younis might just be the best of the lot
'Call me an allrounder when I'm not frightened of anything over 70mph'
Mark Wood calls out the worst dancers and sloppiest dressers in the England team
Yasir Shah's Australian burden
Osman Samiuddin: Down under, a spinner needs all the tricks of his trade. Unlike his Pakistani legspin predecessors, Yasir is not quite that tricksy sort of spinner
Pity the loss of the Gabba advantage
Brad Haddin: In years past, Australia were buoyed by opening the home summer in their Brisbane stronghold. Losing that edge will be hard to get used to
Good shout, bad shout
What kinds of bowlers are the most successful appealers? Which teams? Which bowlers are the least successful? Charles Davis breaks the numbers down
Jennings' all-or-nothing debut, Patil's near-miss debut
Steven Lynch answers your stats and trivia questions
The return of Arthur
Five years after his coaching debut with Australia, Mickey Arthur is back at the Gabba. This time as coach of their opponents
How Northants used Moneyball to turn into England's top T20 team
Their stunning rise has been a tale of teamwork, statistics and shrewd signings. By Tim Wigmore
The ball-tampering law is clear but not enforceable
Kartikeya Date: It's time everyone reached an agreement on what objects can be brought on to the field and used on the ball
When the tail went rogue
Six memorable occasions when the fate of a Test match was decided in a heroic rearguard
Sailing with the stars
Novelist Zulfikar Ghose recalls a voyage to England with cricket royalty on board
'Kohli's knock as good as it can get'
Sourav Ganguly and Jonathan Trott break down play from day four of the fourth Test in Mumbai
'Australians said I was a spinner with a fast bowler's attitude'
Abdul Qadir talks about the art of legspin, his frustrating tour of Australia, and how he thrived in an era of fast bowlers
Why Kohli is a better leader than Smith
Ian Chappell: Both have been successful batsman-captains, but where they differ is in the handling of their spinners
Mark Nicholas, cricket romantic
His deep love for the game infuses his autobiography with an enthusiasm that is as irrepressible as it is genuine
Players who said goodbye on a high
An objective analysis of cricketers' farewells. By Anantha Narayanan
Why Pakistan wanted to be Australia
Hassan Cheema: For decades, Australia were held up as an example for Pakistan cricket. Things are a little different now
'Just had a reggae reggae chicken pasty as a desperation snack'
More crazy cricketer doings in our Twitter round-up
Let's play it by ear
Buddy Holly, Mick Jagger, Captain Sensible and Brett Lee - our photo feature is on music and cricket
Fifteen from '16
David Hopps looks at the best cricket books of the year
The unstoppable Ellyse Perry
Numbers Game: Since the start of 2014, the Australian allrounder has made 17 scores of over 50 in 23 ODI innings. No one else has ever had such a run
'Bigger, better WBBL on the cards'
A preview of season two of the Women's Big Bash League, which kicks off this weekend in Sydney
To Bangladesh with love (and tight security)
Shot Selection: Is it worth taking a 19-hour plane journey to cover Test cricket in Chittagong and Dhaka? Duh
The importance of being Sabbir Rahman
The young Bangladesh batsman's ability to extend his T20 approach to other forms is setting a template for his peers to follow
Here's to Test cricket conferences, not tiers
Rob Steen: Why a conference-based Test championship might be a viable way forward
What makes a good ghost?
Jon Hotten reveals the behind-the-scenes work that goes into producing a cricket autobiography
The joys of (not) watching cricket
Liam Cromar: Few other games lend themselves to taking your eyes off the action as much as ours does
Shaun Udal's last-chance saloon
The former England offspinner relives the Mumbai Test of 2006, which turned out to be his last - and most memorable
The Mumbai hand behind Hameed's rise
Vidyadhar Paradkar knew Haseeb Hameed would go far since their first meeting - and he has played no small part in that
Pakistan's Hamilton crash, and ageing Misbah's runs
Ask Steven also reveals the highest Test total that could not forestall defeat
'I didn't see a pathway for me in the game'
Preston Mommsen talks about his decision to quit Scotland cricket at 29
Root's 130-ball lull, and Parthiv's place in the record books
Andy Zaltzman presents the stats you really need to know
Keaton Jennings emerges from his father's mould
The newest member of the England squad takes after his father, Ray Jennings, a man he got used to calling coach, not dad, early. By Luke Alfred
Ambiguity in death
When exactly is a ball dead? Five recent instances that show the laws are unclear and the umpires indecisive
Cricket needs more specialist coaches
The players are specialising more than ever. Why aren't the coaches? By Tim Wigmore
'I had to choose between cricket and tennis. Think I made the right one'
On the Road: Melinda Farrell meets Chris Rogers in Perth, where he spent his formative cricketing years
It's not true till it's in the papers tomorrow
Inbox: The joys of reading about a game the next day in print
'WSC was the greatest thing that ever happened to cricket'
Jeff Hammond reminisces about the game in the '70s, and Australia's tour of the West Indies in 1973
Six Pakistani collapses, one story
Poor shots, run-outs, making ordinary bowling look terrifying - Ahmer Naqvi looks at the team's meltdowns this year
The pains of Pidge
Did Glenn McGrath ever have bad days? He did - at least five
The greatest debut innings of all time
Nicholas Hogg: What do you expect a Swede to do in his first time playing beach cricket in Sri Lanka?
The Ashwin, Jadeja, Yadav stat you'll love
And six other delightful numbers by Andy Zaltzman
The year of the wicketkeeper-batsman
Numbers Game: Led by Jonny Bairstow and Quinton de Kock, wicketkeepers have averaged 40.79 in Tests in 2016, the highest in a calendar year since 1900
The everlasting airport SIM-card machine blues
Diary: Andrew Fidel Fernando struggles with technology in New Zealand, and heaps disdain on Hamilton
Chennai super king
All about R Ashwin - how he transformed into the world's No. 1 bowler
Why you need to master defence to score runs
Jon Hotten: Technique is a servant, not a master. Take the example of Jonny Bairstow, and his successful comeback to the England Test side
Just how bad are Pakistan overseas?
Ahmer Naqvi: Their numbers largely suffer in comparison to their Asian neighbours
Is this the world's most unbeatable XI?
On the 50th anniversary of Barbados' independence, we pick a Bajan side that would conquer everything in its path
Hampshire's six seasons in the sun
Freddie Wilde on the rise and fall of the English club's T20 dynasty
Matt Renshaw's excellent adventure
Mark Nicholas: You only needed to watch Australia's youngest debutant in Adelaide to know that playing cricket brings joy
'England's left-handers struggled against India's offspinners'
Sourav Ganguly and Nick Compton on England's defeat on good batting pitches
First-day declarations, and Parthiv's long wait
Ask Steven: Which Indian player waited 12 years between Test appearances?
Spit happens
Diary: Firdose Moonda loses her beauty sleep covering the ball-tampering saga but squeezes in a Melbourne walk and a Hobart museum
A new team, a familiar template
Australia's revamped side demonstrated in Adelaide that they can win the same way many of their predecessors have done in the past: with grit and flair
The hinge between South Africa's old and new
Courageous, selfless and cautious, Trevor Goddard was the link between notable eras for his team. By Luke Alfred
Should Australia play only day-night Tests?
Polite Enquiries answers this and other urgent and vital questions from the series down under
JWHT Douglas, WPUJC Vaas, LRPL Taylor
John Harms on the joy of many-barrelled cricketer names
Surviving the good net: revenge of the bowler
Sam Perry: Annoying a fast bowler during net practice is never a good idea. Neither is slogging the spinner
Champagne moments
Wisden Almanack: The evolution of celebrations in cricket - from handshakes to delirious running
Allow players to use one method to aid swing
Ian Chappell: It will be easier to police tampering if bowlers are given an incentive to obey the law
The full Mitch
Review: Johnson's autobiography is exhaustive in its chronicling of how a boy from Townsville came to be Australian cricketing royalty
A five-day cricket affair
Adultery and cricket cross paths in Jennie Walker's novel 24 for 3
How the pink ball is made
Melinda Farrell visits the Kookaburra factory in Melbourne to see how the star of the day-night Test is born
'If I could change my game, I'd take away the hook'
Ramnaresh Sarwan talks to Nagraj Gollapudi about chasing 418, learning from Lara, and getting bogged down in the last few years of his career
'What day is it? Where am I?'
Disorientation, coffee consumption, airline travel, bespoke cakes - it can only be a Twitter round-up
Does South African spit cause the ball to reverse?
The Polite Enquiries girls tackle one of the burning questions of our times
Is Hashim Amla past his best?
Numbers Game: A batting average of 34.81 in his last 15 Tests means his career average is in danger of dipping below 50 for the first time since the Adelaide Test of 2012
In praise of two batsmen who chose to be dour
Chetan Chauhan and Yashpal Sharma had shots in their repertoire but put them away to play it safe for the sake of the team. By Sankaran Krishna
Is it time to change the Bodyline Law?
Permitting just two fielders behind square on leg is generally harsher against fingerspinners than other kinds of bowlers. By Scott Oliver
Roger that
Australia (and county cricket) veteran Chris Rogers takes a quiz
This is Steve Smith's team
Brad Haddin: The three newcomers and Matthew Wade will inject freshness and fight into the Australian side looking to save face in Adelaide
'Wahab becomes weapon No. 1 in Australia'
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur speaks about the selection decisions facing Pakistan ahead of the Hamilton Test, and looks ahead to the tour of Australia
England have this series in the bag. The stats say so
And as we all know, you can try to argue with stats but you can't win. Says Andy Zaltzman
Is Pakistan's streak about to end?
They've gone seven series without a loss for only the third time in their history, but this just might be as far as it goes this time. By Hassan Cheema
Which was a better Test: Hobart or Rajkot?
The first produced a series win, the second a draw. Only one kept both seamers and spinners in play. By Michael Jeh
Eight lefties and eight tons
Ask Steven: Who's the fastest to 100 outfield catches in Tests?
Which are the best dismissals in Test history?
Ananth Narayanan finds a way to measure the value of wickets that completely transformed a match and the series
The two big mistakes that led to Durham's demise
All Out Cricket: How the county turned from a feel-good story into a failed experiment
'My autobiography won't be boring, because I'm not boring'
Alan Mullally tells it like it is about why England were rubbish in his time, and talks about playing the Australians
Should we judge a player by his gear?
Pete Langman: Whether you have a bat that cost more than your house or one that's older than that house, the important thing is that you enjoy playing with it
The chaotic contrasts of two captains
The dead rubber in Adelaide takes on great significance as South Africa and Faf du Plessis contest a ball-tampering charge and Steven Smith deals with systemic failure
Can you imagine a world without gully cricket?
Football is slowly taking over India's parks and streets. What does that mean for our beloved game? By Supriya Nair
The story of an offspinner and a batsman
Why Test cricket is at its most interesting when not much seems to be happening. By Kartikeya Date
Which are the greatest bowling performances of them all?
Alan Gardner on a new book that presents a scientific ranking (backed with delectable writing)
South Africa face sweet victory's bitter aftertaste
Firdose Moonda:The team might feel like it is being unfairly targeted, but merely arguing that it is the victim of a media war is not going to work
A blind love for cricket
Visually impaired commentator Dean du Plessis talks about how he fell for the game, and life behind the microphone
Carl's mighty promise
BC Pires on feeling awe and anger when watching Hooper bat
Kenya seek to rise from the ashes
Tim Wigmore: Attempts have been made to develop youth cricket in the country, but corruption remains a huge challenge
How the failure of Warner-Burns and Smith-Voges has hurt Australia
Numbers Game: The two prolific partnerships have had steep falls this year
Left-arm's the charm
If you're an England selector looking to pick a spinner for India, history shows you're probably better off with a leftie
How far can Surrey's Currans go?
Right-arm quick Tom and skillful young allrounder Sam have what it takes to get to the highest level
South Africa embrace culture of communication
Firdose Moonda: They rediscovered their way of doing things by embracing openness and relationship-building
Why the Rajkot draw was a win for numbers
And why the Australians may soon turn into world-beaters. Andy Zaltzman can prove anything with stats
Chappell recall prompts further puzzlement
Daniel Brettig: The appointment of Greg Chappell to an interim position on Australia's selection panel is curious, given his history with the domestic game
Why geography is increasingly ceasing to matter in Test cricket
Jon Hotten: A Test tour is no longer challenging for the main reason it used to be: unfamiliarity
The pretty boy who turned hatchet man
Neil Wagner has cast himself in the role of a relentless slugger of a fast bowler, and it has paid off. By Sidharth Monga
When in Prague
How a bunch of expats are bringing kriket to central Europe. By Nishant Joshi
Australia can find a way out of the darkness
Mark Nicholas: The key is for them to see an opportunity in the chaos that engulfs them
Who could get the sack in Australia?
Daniel Brettig looks at the men under most pressure after Australia's series defeat to South Africa in Hobart
How India learnt to stop worrying and (sort of) love the DRS
Anil Kumble had something to do with it. By Sharda Ugra
Australia's worst starts, and old man Ranga
Ask Steven: How many players have been stranded on 99 at the end of a day?
Across the pond the long way
Firdose Moonda journeys across the Indian Ocean to follow her team, who start the series down under with a bang
Happy 25th, South Africa
It's a quarter-century since their return to big cricket this month, and for all the magic they've produced, they've also displayed an ability to confound. By Luke Alfred
Rahane sees the future
Once the last man India would play, he is now the first name on the team sheet. By Sidharth Monga
'You've got to go in thinking you're going to get a duck every innings'
Chris Rogers on being picked for his first Ashes, and the advice he received before the tour
Got to hand it to ya
The photo blog is all about gloves this month
Australia's system is broken
Ian Chappell: Injured fast bowlers, a dearth of good young batsmen, and a captain impeded by the management - all this while the team faces three big series
Belly laughs and sadness
Review: A play about the life and untimely death of Colin Milburn conveys the highs and the lows of a unique cricketer
Veni, vidi, vamoose
Andy Bichel and other fleeting triers in great teams
Which players received the most support from their teams?
Anantha Narayanan creates a Total Support Index
Pitfalls of Australia's natural batting game
Daniel Brettig: The increasingly homogenised method of Australian batting across all formats is a growing concern
Time for Smith and Warner to step up
Brad Haddin: The true test of where the Australians are at as a cricket team will be how they respond at Bellerive Oval this week
'I am watching so better make it worthwhile'
Virat Kohli turns stalker in our Twitter round-up
Ashwin v Herath v Yasir v Lyon
Who's the best spinner of them all? S Rajesh looks at the numbers
How to survive the good net
Sam Perry deals with the challenge of facing his team's young, muscular quick
Immigration laws are affecting cricket's ability to build bridges
David Hopps: The value of cultural exchange through sport is huge, but we live in difficult times
The myth of Pakistan's weak pace attack
Hassan Cheema: The fast bowling unit picked for the New Zealand tour is second-string, but it has delivered in the past
Fuzz feed
In the month of Movember, we celebrate beards and moustaches in cricket
Do you watch sport for drama or excellence?
The Perth and Mirpur Tests brought the old question to the fore once more for Rob Steen
How do you prepare new teams for Test cricket?
It's important that Ireland and Afghanistan make a smoother transition to the format than Bangladesh did. By Tim Wigmore
How the percentage of bowled and lbw dismissals is on the rise for spinners
Sidharth Monga looks at how India's and Sri Lanka's slow men are enjoying success at home, using accuracy and natural variation
Australia's WACA defence, and three 110s
Ask Steven: Has anyone other than South Africa won in Perth three times?
Do you have an issue?
Simon Barnes on the modern method of discussing players' problems
The loneliness of an ignored player
V Ramnarayan: It can be hard to keep your spirits up when you're in the squad but never make it to the XI
'I doubt anyone will take care of me like Mashrafe bhai'
As Mashrafe Mortaza completes 15 years in international cricket, his team-mates and friends recall their favourite stories about him
Is it worth dropping the toss in Test cricket?
Liam Cromar: The move has succeeded to some extent in the County Championship but extending it to the five-day game might not be the best idea
'If we try and blast India's spinners, we can get undone'
Owais Shah discusses the challenge for England's batsmen in India, and his new role coaching UAE
'In my job as a referee, I watch the match as a player'
Ranjan Madugalle on his playing days in Sri Lanka, and his years as an ICC official
Raw and raging
Review: Brendon McCullum's book has the story of his career but also far too much bile and score-settling
Thomas tumble gives legs to disability drive
A moment of fielding brilliance from England cricketer Liam Thomas has given disability cricket a huge opportunity to prove its worth to the world
Take our Australia-South Africa quiz
Shane Warne took 12 for 128 in Sydney in 1994, but another bowler won the Man-of-the-Match award. Who was it?
Selection at the lower levels is complicated
Michael Jeh: Making it into first-class cricket isn't always about the runs you score
The heroic beauty of the last-wicket stand
Nine down and battling? Now, that's romance. By Nicholas Hogg
Should Dhoni be batting at No. 4 in ODIs?
And what is Ajinkya Rahane's role in the team? Sanjay Manjrekar reviews the India-New Zealand one-day series
The everlasting wiles of Mohammad Asif
Is he still as good as he was before his exile? Ahmer Naqvi takes a trip to Sialkot to find out
The trials of Tsolekile
Once the next black African success story, Thami Tsolekile is now one of cricket's cautionary tales. By Firdose Moonda
Can West Indies build on the Sharjah win?
Garth Wattley: Their performance against Pakistan was almost miraculous. But what does the future hold?
The rise of home advantage
Numbers Game: This decade's win-loss ratio for home teams has been the highest since the 1870s
'I haven't been as open as I could have been'
Michael Clarke opens up to Daniel Brettig about keeping it all in, and making tough calls that lost him friends
'The wrist is a forgotten area of spin bowling'
Former England offspinner Pat Pocock recalls his career: escaping rioters in Guyana, and being mentored by Jim Laker
Bangladesh's amazing 16 years in Test cricket
Jarrod Kimber: You could say they have underperformed, but considering where they started, and how long it takes to grow in cricket, their achievement is spectacular
'For me, it's about spending time at the crease'
New Zealand opener Tom Latham talks about batting in India, and how he changed his one-day game around
Tests in 2020
What will the five-day game look like four years from now? A 360-degree preview of the near future. By Tim Wigmore
Games within a game?
Farcical bowling, the helmet fielder, chess interruptions, batting for pints - ten matches that weren't quite cricket
Where are the women on England cricket's power list?
Raf Nicholson: A magazine's recent ranking of the game's influential figures reveals just how much women's cricket has lost
Foreign-born XIs, and six ducks in an innings
Ask Steven: Has any team won a Test without losing any wickets?
'The players are learning not to be afraid'
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha reflects on his players' growth, and the teatime talk he gave them during the Dhaka Test
Is a catch still a catch if grass grazes the ball?
Cricket has plenty of grey areas that can't be addressed by technology or clarified by the laws. By Scott Oliver
What does the umpire's call rule say about the role of the officials?
It is another milestone towards the end of the umpire's expertise. By Kartikeya Date
A match stopped by a murder
An India-Pakistan ODI in Sialkot 32 years ago was expected to be a contest that lived long in the memory. It did, for all the wrong reasons
We are Bangladesh
As Bangladesh savour their landmark Test win over England, take a moment to look back on their journey
Every picture tells a story
Review: Gideon Haigh's work on George Beldam's iconic image of Victor Trumper is a contender for the cricket book of the year
When will we see uniform application of the DRS everywhere?
Ian Chappell: Administrators have their work cut out in fixing cricket's technology and fixtures problems
'T20s come naturally to us'
Kieron Pollard talks about his franchise career, data in the game, and the prospect of the death of West Indies cricket
Cricket: the meaning of home
Saad Sayeed on how he rekindled his love for the game
'I've been dropped for my 59-year-old dad again!'
Selection hijinks, franchise movies, air travel, and coffee fixes in our Twitter round-up
How Dolly changed the colour of our sport
Mark Nicholas: To better appreciate the value of quotas in sport, take a look again at Basil D'Oliveira's story
Know yourself to know your game
Pete Langman: If there's a gap between what you think you can do and what you can actually do on the field, you won't be a match-winner
Stu will get you
Numbers Game: Only two England players have won more Man-of-the-Match awards than Stuart Broad, whose next Test will be his 100th
Are we living through a new era of spin?
Jon Hotten: Warne and Murali's big turn has given way to something more subtle
Keshav Maharaj lives his father's dream
This son of an apartheid-era wicketkeeper is the sort of spinner South Africa have been looking for for a long time
Can you ace our ODI batting quiz?
Who is the only player to have been given out both handled the ball and obstructing the field in ODIs?
'I thought of myself as someone to take the fight to the bowler'
Gordon Greenidge talks about opening the batting, and limping between the wickets
The aura we never thought would shatter
In the early 2000s, South African fans couldn't imagine a world where Australia didn't pummel their side. But they live in it today. By Luke Alfred
How do batsmen cope with the intensity of their lonely skill?
Digging the pitch, talking to themselves, superstitious behaviour - the ways they deal with the pressure of their profession
Hey ho, let's go!
Warm-ups, push-ups, stretches, boot camps - our photo feature this month is on cricketers doing fitness stuff
Mehedi's teenage five-for, and Batty's time gap
Ask Steven: Also, most DRS reviews, and keeper tons
How to be a vice-captain
Brad Haddin: The low-profile role needs you to be advisor, mentor, morale-booster, minder, and unambitious about the top job
Rilee Rossouw comes in from the cold
A thoughtless remark nearly derailed his career before it began. Now he has an Australian summer to look forward to
Will Cook break all of Tendulkar's Test records?
At 31, he holds all the major England batting records. The insurmountable peak now looks scaleable. By Kartikeya Date
Bouncer-safety starts with watching the ball
Ashley Mallett talks to Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell and Bob Simpson about proper technique while facing short balls
A sleepless night in Chittagong
George Dobell: Whether Bangladesh win or England, this Test will be one for the ages
The greatest cricketer who never lived
Our new series on cricket in fiction. First up, Shehan Karunatilaka's Chinaman
Test or T20?
Daniel Brettig: Two Australian teams will play a T20 and a Test each in two separate continents within a day next February. Is this how itineraries will be drawn up in the future?
'You can't control how the ball bounces, but you can control athleticism'
Chris Donaldson, New Zealand's strength and conditioning coach, talks about his Olympic career and working in cricket
The obscure cricketer imprinted on my mind
Sankaran Krishna remembers the exciting Tamil Nadu batsman R Prabhakar and his Buchi Babu exploits
A cricket story run out by indifference
Review: Aravind Adiga's new novel is centred around the game but isn't really in love with it
Go pro
Simon Barnes on the word "professional"
American football's in the UK. Where's cricket in the USA?
NFL has taken a long-term approach to expanding its base. Cricket's globalisation plans are still to click
Can Bangladesh replicate ODI success in Tests?
Numbers Game: They have won seven out of 93 Tests. Can Shakib and Co redress that?
Why declaration bowling isn't always a mad thing
Liam Cromar: The mutually agreed target in the Middlesex-Yorkshire Championship game didn't feel unsporting because the captains wanted a contest
When I bowled my son out
Former Essex fast bowler Don Topley on playing against his son and England international Reece
Let's focus on bouncers
Jarrod Kimber: What we needed from the Phillip Hughes inquest was a discussion on how to make our game, where 90mph bowlers are now the norm, safer
We need a bust of Brezzie
David Hopps hears a compelling case for immortalising Tim Bresnan at Headingley
Can you play cricket in Peru?
Yes, you can. Learn how from this tale of a Trinidadian mother and daughter in Lima
What Amir needs to learn from Junaid
To succeed in the UAE, Amir needs to look to the likes of Junaid and Ajmal and learn the art of bowling dry. By Ahmer Naqvi
Azhar's 302 and 2, and the cheapest eight-for
Steven Lynch answers your stats and trivia questions
When Lee was invincible
Former South Africa batsman Lee Irvine remembers his Essex days, batting against John Gleeson, drinking with Arlott, and watching a football game with Kanhai
How important is hostility?
Australian cricket jealously protects the right to intimidate. It's who we are, we've always been this way, and we're proud of it. By Sam Perry
What do ships have to do with cricket?
A fair bit, if this post from our photo blog is anything to go by
The Faf advantage
Firdose Moonda on why du Plessis is better placed to captain South Africa than AB de Villiers
What new stat does cricket need?
Andy Zaltzman, S Rajesh, Phil Oliver and Kartikeya Date propose one each
An Ashwin nightmare awaits Australia
They have traditionally struggled against good offspin bowling, and the Indian spinner can now be included among the best of his kind. By Ian Chappell
How three small words unravelled the Hughes inquest
The players involved in the match in which Phillip Hughes was struck had their "nature of play" questioned. By Daniel Brettig
New Zealand were in at the deep end
Iain O'Brien: Their schooling against spin is far from adequate, so they need to learn on the job, at the highest level
The price of cricket
If you want to play it properly, the game is likely to burn a hole in your pocket. By Nicholas Hogg
'Reading some horror stories about social media'
But it's all rosy on our Twitter round-up
A short history of cricket in Bollywood
From Love Marriage to Dhoni, film critic Baradwaj Rangan charts the course of the game in Hindi cinema
Durham must be saved and rebuilt
Mark Nicholas: It is difficult to be sure that the punishment of relegation fit Durham's crime, but the points penalty is too harsh on the players and supporters
Just how good is R Ashwin?
Numbers Game: If you go by the stats, he's right up there with the best of them all. By S Rajesh
New Zealand had the tactics but not the technique
Sanjay Manjrekar: Their batsmen haven't quite been reading the length well, or reacting to make late adjustments when needed
Could white-ball contracts save West Indies?
West Indies need to consider them seriously if they are not to be deprived of their best players
How do dropped catches impact a Test?
Charles Davis looks at the numbers behind drops and missed stumpings
What's the worst that can happen, BCCI?
We are being told that implementing the Lodha recommendations will mark the downfall of Indian cricket. How true is that, asks Sharda Ugra
Hayley Matthews leads WI's girl-power revolution
The teenage sensation of West Indies' world-beating women's team is relishing the chance to make a career of the sport she loves
'You'd have trouble finding a place to sit in a dressing room today'
Former Australia batsman Alan Turner talks about the 1975 Ashes, and rejecting World Series Cricket
How can Australia promote inclusivity at the grass roots?
Michael Jeh: Though progress has been made in getting more migrants to play cricket, certain barriers -Â largely to do with cultural differences -Â persist
When Pakistan KO-ed Richards and Co
Thirty years ago this month, Wasim Akram, Imran Khan and Abdul Qadir brought down the mighty West Indies in Faisalabad
The fly in the ointment
Love him, hate him or feel something in between? When it comes to Ravi Shastri, all three results are possible. By Prem Panicker
Captains' double-tons, and a squad of beards
Ask Steven: How many players in the Indian team are sporting facial fuzz?
To hold on to the past, seize the future
Jon Hotten has a suggestion for those who don't want to see the first-class game consumed whole by T20 leagues
Why Pakistan cricket is stagnating
Hassan Cheema: Looking at their "home" record brings to light a number of reasons why their one-day game, particularly, is leagues behind that of other teams
Cho's mystery
Former Australian spinner John Gleeson was unreadable on and off the field. Ashley Mallett remembers his team-mate
The unmaking of Jonathan Trott
Review: The former England No. 3's autobiography is a compelling, raw account of a modern sportsman's life
The skinny on Zulu
How well does Lance Klusener remember his stats? We asked him
When Lawry went long
I Played a Great: How the Phantom's unbeaten 282 in a Melbourne club final made a mockery of the opposition's declaration
How to keep champagne off your camera
Philip Brown was around and shooting at the climax of the County Championship 2016
Batsmen who played lone hands (and those who didn't)
A look at the support received by batsmen through their Test careers, using a new measure - the Batsman Support Index. By Anantha Narayanan
One afternoon at the Cricket Writers' Club
Rob Steen finds food for thought about where the game is going at the organisation's 70th annual lunch
Calling all passengers for day-night Tests in England
Andrew Miller: Whether you accept or abhor the direction of travel, this particular gravy train is just pulling out, and there seems little option but to get on board
How did South Africa become an ODI batting paradise?
Numbers Game: Since the start of 2012, the average run rate in ODIs in the country is 5.66, which is next only to the rate in India
What is beauty in cricket?
We all appreciate it, but how do we define it? By Nicholas Hogg
T20 or ODI: which one's more conducive to upsets?
The shorter the game, the greater the chances? Perhaps not. By Scott Oliver
'I don't think Bangladesh play enough cricket'
Former England batsman Mal Loye recalls his time coaching in Dhaka, and looks at Bangladesh's recent form
Australia have an identity problem
Daniel Brettig: Playing the "Australian way", both verbally and tactically, has yielded mixed results for Steven Smith's men
Guest starring: cricket
Brydon Coverdale picks five notable movies where cricket stole the scene... or didn't
When is cricket like a marriage?
Pete Langman: Your relationship with your club might be more like a romance than you thought
Hit and run
Crispin Andrews traces the evolution of running between the wickets
What if Roberto Baggio had played cricket?
Book extract: Did you know that AC Milan and Juventus first set out to be cricket clubs? By Tim Brooks
The charming antiquity of Willowmoore Park
The Benoni ground has hosted the likes of Denis Compton, footballers, and other athletes over the years. What lies ahead? By Luke Alfred
How often have two debutants opened the bowling in an ODI?
Your stats and trivia questions answered by Steven Lynch
Left-arm lovable
Andrew Fidel Fernando tells the Rangana Herath story
Dhoni's dream
The new biopic, shaped around the World Cup win of 2011, works best when it depicts one youngster following his calling. By Jai Arjun Singh
Wearing a watermelon against Dilley
I Played a Great: Luke Alfred remembers batting against county and Test pros and living to tell the tale
Life lessons from a career ended by chucking
Former Hyderabad fast bowler L Vasan quit the game after he was called for throwing. He didn't let the experience break him. By V Ramnarayan
Vic, Che and the art of dominating a spinner
Ian Chappell: Good footwork is much more than just stepping forward or swivelling on the back foot
New MCC president eyes younger fans
Matthew Fleming looks to bring his adventurous playing style to his administrative role at the historic club
Spinners stir after change to toss rules
Changes to the toss in England's county game were intended to encourage spin back into Championship cricket. But have they been successful?
A forklift driver with a Test cap
Fast bowler Indika Gallage went wicketless in his only Test for Sri Lanka, in 1999, but he remains active as a club cricketer in Melbourne
Reifer calls it
The world's youngest international umpire, from a cricket family of some renown in Barbados, is looking to make his mark on the Elite Panel
'Virat proves that sound technique can bring success in all formats'
Delivering the Dilip Sardesai memorial lecture, VVS Laxman talks about day-night Tests, and India's rise under Virat Kohli
'Selfies might be the new opium'
Or you could get addicted to our Twitter round-up
Outmatched and out-tossed
Numbers Game: Over the last 12 months, overseas teams have lost 11 out of 13 Tests - and 13 out of 13 tosses - in Asia
Here's to England
Mark Nicholas: The summer just past, including the thrilling finale of the County Championship, have provided much reason for fans to celebrate
My mate Tangles
Ashley Mallett looks back at the wit and bowling of Max Walker
In Gaddafi's shadow
Danyal Rasool visits the Lahore Gymkhana ground, one of the oldest in the subcontinent
'No regrets about the decision to retire'
When Jonathan Trott walked off the field in Barbados, both he and the crowd knew it would be for the final time
Big Max: ever the showman
Max Walker put people at ease with his cheerful disposition, self-deprecating humour, and generosity. By Brydon Coverdale
Make that sale
Our photo blog looks at businesses around cricket
Runs in the family
What it's like playing and watching cricket with your kids? By Peter English
The obstructing jinx, and Rogers' double farewell
Ask Steven: Who is the fastest bowler to 200 Test wickets?
Born in Ireland, toughened in Aussie
Niall O'Brien on his experiences of playing grade cricket down under, and making friends called Burto, Pidgey and Bakes
The discreet charm of the County Championship
Jon Hotten: The competition retains a certain purity precisely because it is unfashionable and anachronistic, and is not loaded down by the requirements of television and sponsors
We need to reinterpret the wide down leg side
Liam Cromar: Why are bowlers in limited-overs cricket expected to perform the contradictory actions of preventing run-scoring and enabling it?
Heroes and mobs: my first live match
Sankaran Krishna: A nine-year-old's initiation into big-time cricket, featuring Prasanna, Lawry, Gleeson and a boisterous Bangalore crowd
Hello Hameed, goodbye Napier
Apart from the teen and the vet, who else make it to our County Championship XI?
England's zombie World Cup history
Review: What turned them from the bright-eyed World Cup finalists of 1992 to the dead men stumbling about in 2015? A new book attempts to find answers
Five cricket arguments yet to be solved
Debates that will get you aggravated and typing furious comments. By Jon Hotten
What's the difference between 19 and 38 years old in Test cricket?
Regardless of your age, you can have a presence on the field. By Nicholas Hogg
'I had opportunities to leave but I didn't want Zimbabwe to go downhill'
Dave Houghton talks about playing alongside Fletcher and Hick, upsetting big teams, and the team's early Test days
Nepal's hurdles
Their first CEO, Bhawana Ghimire, was seen as a pioneer, but lofty plans have come to naught in the face of a shambolic cricket board
Why Ross Taylor needs to step up
Numbers Game: Since the start of 2012, Taylor has a Test average of 55.26, but most of his big scores have come against weaker attacks
'If there were no rules on ball-tampering, Tests would be interesting'
Jimmy Neesham talks Twitter, and the most annoying thing about Brendon McCullum
Whatever happened to single-wicket cricket?
Jon Hotten relives a format that was once a rage in 19th century England, at historic Broadhalfpenny Down in Hambledon
Saeed Ajmal won't stop fighting
Jarrod Kimber: He's no longer the dangerous bowler he was at the height of his powers, but he hasn't given up just yet
Gold from a Madras furnace
On the last day of the tied Test 30 years ago today, it all came to a boil. The umpires, and others who were there, look back. By Alagappan Muthu
Imran's team or Misbah's: which was greater?
Rob Smyth: Each had to overcome very different hurdles from the other to become a top Test side
500 shades of Test cricket
Sambit Bal: It's fitting that India's 500th Test marks the start of its biggest home Test season
The Lara nightmare
What it was like to be an Australian fan watching Lara repeatedly grind your team to dust. By Ben Pobjie
Butt has the runs but not the strike rate
Ahmer Naqvi: If he comes back into the ODI side it won't be the right decision - moral implications aside
Essex's great entertainer signs off on top
Graham Napier hobbled out of his last match at Chelmsford knowing he had given his all in two decades as a one-club pro
A century of matches at one venue, and Viv's only stumping
Ask Steven: How many Australians have made one-day hundreds in Sri Lanka?
The two-tier proposal would have shrunk cricket
Kartikeya Date: T20s are already squeezing out the other two formats. A split Test league favouring the top teams would have been disastrous
My 5600-mile golden duck
Scott Oliver travels to Connecticut to play a club game - alongside Adam Sanford and against a motley expat crew
Trott's story emerging with happy ending
Jonathan Trott will leave the game with many good memories. From the position he was in not so long ago, that is something to be cherished
The sleepy girl who woke up a generation
One of the greatest batsmen of the modern era, Mithali Raj opens up about her life in cricket
A Chateau Lafite cricketer in a wine-box world
Lancashire batsman Haseeb Hameed has a style that's both simple and cultivated. What stands out, though, is his calmness
'You weak Victorian'
Archive: Dean Jones, Ravi Shastri, Greg Matthews and Bob Simpson look back on the tied Test of 1986
My evening with the Ox and Doolittle
Ian Chappell on meeting former South Australia players Gavin Stevens and Ron Haddrick
Going one up on Fanie
I Played a Great: What does Fanie de Villiers do when a 19-year-old club batsman hits him for a four?
The Finnish touch
Cricket in Finland? It's over 150 years old and it's multicultural. By Tom Jeffreys
Look who's back
Take a shot at our comebacks quiz: which player made a comeback to captain his country's Test side after the age of 40?
City-based T20? Give it a shot
Mark Nicholas: If a league modelled on the IPL and the BBL comes about in England, as it looks likely to, it could shake up the domestic game for the better
'I don't think I will be so aggressive as a coach'
Titans' new coach Mark Boucher on how his coaching style will differ from his playing style
'Getting a little frustrated just imagining owning an iPhone 7'
Life isn't easy for cricketers. And they tell us all about it in our Twitter round-up
Underwhelming in Tests, but superb in ODIs
Numbers Game: Ramnaresh Sarwan finished with a higher career average in ODIs than in Tests, but West Indies didn't didn't get the full value of his capabilities
WICB needs to fix the cricket, not the coach
Sacking Phil Simmons for not toeing the line was a bad move by an administration that needs to fix itself first
'I got more wickets with swing than pace'
Mike Procter, who has turned 70, talks about WSC, and dealing with controversies as a match referee
Hat-tricks and hit-wickets
How well does Javagal Srinath know his personal stats? We find out
Who calls the shots in English cricket?
The ten most influential people in English cricket? David Hopps draws up a list
'IPL 2016 made me realise I could play all formats'
India opener KL Rahul talks about the methods that have brought him success, and learning from Virat Kohli
'I am not going to tolerate players turning up unfit'
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur talks about the attacking brand of cricket he wants his team to embrace
Obstructing the field, and serial hat-trick victims
Ask Steven: Also, the mystery of a Sobers duck
'I've been the toughest I've ever been in my coaching career with Pakistan'
Mickey Arthur talks about the success stories in the Test series in England, and dealing with unfit players
Trumper, in light and shade
Gideon Haigh on the iconic photograph of Victor Trumper by George Beldam
The Zimbabwe lesson
How the country's attempts to increase the representation of black players in cricket raised questions of the sort that South Africa are struggling with now
'Stay low, watch the ball and get your head over your gloves'
The secrets of wicketkeeping revealed - by Ian Healy
If not now, when?
Wisden Almanack: Timing a retirement is tricky because the desire to keep going and finish fittingly is often at odds with the realities of professional sport
A bowler to bank on
Who you gonna call? Rangana
'Will take time for the players to put an arm on my shoulder'
Anil Kumble talks about his first series as India's coach, and not letting his stature affect the way players approach him
Curtly a foreigner in no land
Anantha Narayanan: A look at the bowlers who excelled in away Tests and series
It's about TV rights, stupid
Sharda Ugra: The latest stand-off between the BCCI and the other major boards is to do with a shift in how broadcast deals could be made in the future
'The art of commentary isn't telling people what they are seeing'
Ian Chappell talks about jingoism in the box, technology in coverage, the underarm incident and Lillee's run-in with Miandad
Why you may want to reverse your bat grip
Playing with your dominant hand as your top hand just might be the way to go
Is a Test playoff on the cards?
A quick explainer on the new proposals that could shake up bilateral series
Pakistan haven't kept pace with batting changes
Kamran Abbasi: The problem lies in the way their batsmen come up through the system
Why Australia are No. 1 and Pakistan are No. 9
Numbers Game: The difference between their bowling attacks is a big reason as to why the two teams are on opposite ends of the ODI rankings table
