VIEWPOINT – Time to revive the trans-Tasman rivalry

It is quite a shame that Australia and New Zealand have played each other in only 52 Test matches since the inaugural one-off Test at Wellington in 1945-46. Despite their healthy rivalry, Test match fixtures between the two nations have been disappointingly infrequent. That Test in 1945-46 played a part in Australia refusing […]

IN FOCUS – South Africa in Sri Lanka Test series 2014 : Preview

This two-Test series was originally scheduled to be held last year, but was postponed to accommodate more ODIs and irrelevant domestic T20 games. This is South Africa’s first Test series in Sri Lanka since 2006 and hence a much awaited one. A third Test would have been ideal, but yet again three ODIs were […]

IN FOCUS – The Pataudi Trophy (India in England) 2014 : Preview

England and India are set to play a five-Test series for the first time since 1984-85 when they lock horns for the Pataudi Trophy, which is the trophy given to the winner of the series between these two nations played in England. The last time India played a five-Test series in England was in […]

REVIEW – A historic triumph for Sri Lanka

A classic Test match at Headingley culminated in a historic series victory for Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Shaminda Eranga bowled one of the most significant deliveries in the history of Sri Lankan cricket when he dismissed the obdurate James Anderson with a short one off the penultimate ball of the match. It was a […]

IN FOCUS – Winner-takes-all in Barbados, but will the crowds turn up?

New Zealand and the West Indies have traded punches and now the stage is set for the third and final Test, starting later today at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. Thankfully this is not a two-Test series like New Zealand’s last tour to the Caribbean in 2012, and the real benefit of having a […]

SPECIALS – Top performances by Parsis for India

As mentioned in a previous post, a total of thirteen Parsis (eleven men and two women) played international cricket for India. A total of sixteen centuries and four five-wicket hauls in Tests and one ODI half-century (the golden age of Parsi cricket had passed when one-dayers were introduced) have been recorded. Let us look […]

Record Book – The fastest pair in Test history

Pakistan’s first tour of England in 1954 was a momentous one. The visitors, led by Abdul Hafeez Kardar, became the first and only nation to win a Test on their first tour of England. This series-levelling win by 24 runs came in the final Test of the four-match series at the Oval, and […]

SPECIALS – Test hat-trick peculiarities

1) Jimmy Matthews’ unique record Thomas James Matthews created a unique record when he became the first and till date, only player to take two hat-tricks in the same Test, and he took both on the second day. The Australian leg-break bowler achieved the feat against South Africa at Old Trafford during the 1912 […]

IN FOCUS – Black Caps on the way up

The New Zealand Test team is in an unfamiliar situation at the moment. They have climbed to the sixth position in the ICC Test rankings and the squad is having a settled look after a long time. Their 186-run win in the first Test against the West Indies at Kingston is solid proof of […]

IN FOCUS – Sri Lanka in England Test series 2014 : Preview

England will play in whites for the first time since their Ashes disaster last winter when they take on Sri Lanka in a two-Test series. The visitors would no doubt be a buoyed side after triumphing in a closely-fought one-day series. Only two Tests in the schedule is quite a disappointment, considering the Sri […]