Specials – Indian princes and Ashes hundreds

In what is one of the many interesting coincidences in the history of Test cricket, there have been three Indian princes who had the distinction of representing England in Test matches against Australia, and each of them scored a century on their Ashes debut. Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji of Kathiawar, Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji of […]

Specials – The Greatest Ashes Tests, Part 3

In this third and concluding part, we look back at three modern-day cliffhangers that further enhanced the Anglo-Australian rivalry: 4th Test, Melbourne, 1982-83 Following the disappointment of 1981, Australia made amends the next time by winning the 1982-83 home series 2-1. However, it could well have been 3-0 had England not won a […]

Specials – The Greatest Ashes Tests, Part 1

It is next to impossible to whittle down a rich abundance of great Ashes Test matches to a few number. But after a bit of deliberation and taking into account the closeness of and the context surrounding a contest, eight matches were finalised. In this first of a three-part series featuring some of […]

Specials – Unsung Ashes heroes, Part 2

Continuing from Part 1, we look at four more memorable Ashes performances from unsung cricketers in this second and concluding post:- Albert Trott All-rounder Trott was one of the rare few to have played for both Australia and England. His entire Test career consisted of five Tests – three for Australia in the […]

Specials – Unsung Ashes heroes, Part 1

Over the years, the Ashes battles have introduced to us men who were destined to make a great impact on the game. From Frederick Spofforth to Glenn McGrath, legions of legends have displayed their artistry on the canvas that is an Ashes series. There can hardly be a bigger occasion for either an […]

Famous Test Matches – England v Australia, The Oval, 1997

In this post, we go back to the sixth and final Test of the 1997 Ashes series. Despite England showing early promise with a resounding win in the opening Test at Edgbaston, Australia came back in familiar fashion to win three of the next four Tests to retain the urn and win their fifth […]

Famous Test Matches – England v Australia, The Oval, 1953

With the Ashes around the corner, let us go down the years to 1953, the year of probably England’s most significant Ashes victory. England were going through an Ashes drought of nearly 20 years, having last won the urn in the Bodyline series of 1932-33. Moreover, in the three post-war Ashes series of […]

SPECIALS – Best of Australia v India Test matches

The rivalry between Australia and India has been the most keenly-contested in Test cricket over the last two decades or so, and has produced some of the most memorable matches ever seen. As yet another Test series between the two teams gets underway today, let us go down memory lane to pick the […]

Specials – Best of Boxing Day Tests

Yet another Boxing Day is upon us, and yet another traditional Boxing Day Test match is underway at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. An MCG Test which included 26th December as one of the days was first played in the 1950-51 Ashes, but it was only in 1980 that it became an annual […]

Famous Test Matches – Australia v West Indies, Melbourne, 1951-52

Australia had a 2-1 lead in the five-Test series against the West Indies coming into this Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the fourth of the series. The hosts had taken the first two matches at Brisbane and Sydney before West Indies pulled one back in the third Test at Adelaide. The match began on New Year’s Eve, 1951. […]