India's proudest possession
Tendulkar has gone two decades being a blend of the sublime and the precise, incapable of ugliness or of being dull; and those are among the least of his achievements
Peter Roebuck
Why Ireland should be a Test nation
Cricket needs to move beyond its cosy cartel of countries, bring in more teams, and have two or more divisions
Peter Roebuck
Long live the Champions League
The tenacity of the South Africans, the efficiency of the Australians, and the flair of the Caribbean players have made the event an unqualified success
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Leave it to Dan
Bowler, batsman, fielder, captain - none of Vettori's roles fails to lift a side that badly needs inspiration ... more
Cricket needs its grand occasions
Our sport hardly has the concept of majors. It can start by making the Champions Trophy a destination, not a journey ... more
There's life in the ODI yet
No version of the game that has produced so many outstanding feats ought lightly to be tossed away in favour of a format that does not offer the possibility of greatness ... more
No time for back-slapping
England have displayed fortitude, pride, skill and unity, but they need to confront some hard truths still ... more
The Flintoff factor
England's totemic allrounder has been more about competence, stout-hearted service and some irresistible performances, rather than out-and-out greatness ... more
Johnson, Hughes and the ordeal of cricket
Often the game becomes a curse, as two Australians struggling in the Ashes can testify... more
The lure of Lord's
HQ still has an atmosphere no cricket ground can equal. The idea of it may irritate, but the actuality placates and uplifts, never disappoints... more
Ashes ahoy
The characters may lack in stature as compared to some of their predecessors, but the script promises to be tight... more
The short format's big role
The purists may sneer at it, but Twenty20's most vital role will be in making cricket popular in places where it isn't... more
Why Twenty20 deserves its success
The 20-over version has caught the popular imagination, and the quality of the game hasn't been bad either. It reminds us that cricket is meant to be fun - and that that is an important quality for a sport... more
Australia pick pragmatically
Symonds' omission apart, the selectors have merely named their best players and left the rest to be sorted out on tour... more
No auto-pilot in Twenty20
The difference Warne and Dhoni have made to their sides proves that captains are paramount, even in the shortest format... more
Old and beautiful
Men written off, men supposedly past their primes, have proved that the IPL, and the world, belong not to youth or any other category... more
South Africa's hour
The offer to host the IPL is an impressive statement of confidence by a nation prepared to accept challenges... more
Full speed ahead
Mitchell Johnson has moved from newbie to pace-bowling spearhead cum hard-hitting No. 8 double quick, and the best part is, he's not nearly done developing yet... more
What now for cricket?
Cricket has been more vulnerable to discord and conflict than many sports, and the latest crisis may be the most serious yet... more
Time to put the boot in
The win in Australia was an expression of hope; the potential needs to be taken to the next level now... more
The road out of hell
The signs are that Australia may have put the worst behind them... more
The unbreakable South African
Humble, resilient, modest and unflappable, Hashim Amla has overcome plenty and emerged the better for it ... more
The man beneath the muscle
Hayden was typecast as a batting bully, but he was subtler than that, and the same divergence showed in his character as well... more
A triumph beyond sport
The significance of South Africa's historic series win transcends cricket... more
Win-win situation
Every now and then a Test match comes along that transcends the moment and lifts the spirit. Chennai was one such... more
The enemy within
New Zealand cricket has been reduced to its present low state chiefly by a lack of cohesion... more
Dhoni plays it straight
India's captain brings an uncomplicated, honest approach to cricket... more
The many sides of Sourav
Sometimes a rebel, often a creative force, always in the thick of it, Ganguly has been a many-layered character, and his career an astonishing one... more
Twelve years after
A dasher, a spinner, a grafter, a keeper: a look back to 1996, when India and Australia last met in a Test in Delhi... more
A tale of two captains
Dhoni thought clearly and led from the front; Ponting was powerless and unsure of both himself and his players... more
Regular service
Bangalore provided good cricket but not much to take the breath away. Will Mohali be different?... more
It takes two
A couple of men, both of whom have been at their peak in India-Australia contests, are going to be vital again... more
Pup's a brand new dog
Over his four years in Test cricket Michael Clarke has reined in his youthful exuberance, sought understanding and refined his game... more
Dressing room, not boat
It has taken Andrew Symonds a lot of time and effort to become the feared opponent he is. Soon he will realise, once again, where he belongs... more
Upwards, kicking and screaming
Kevin Pietersen has always pursued greatness; England have been reluctant to. Now the two must rise together... more
Stumps for Sourav
For the Indian middle order, it has become a matter of survival, and Ganguly is the most vulnerable... more
The man who played his part
Vaughan was a tough, intuitive captain who was given the task of charting a path forwards, which he did admirably... more
The making of Mahela
Jayawardene has overcome prejudice and perception to bind his team together impressively... more
Older, wiser, leader
Graeme Smith has come a long way but the road ahead of him is steep still... more
What is wrong with the English?
At no point in the last 50 years has the country that invented the game stood at the top of the rankings. They have only themselves to blame... more
Made in Guyana
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is a self-made man and player, shaped by circumstances and will, his technique not so much odd as original... more
Twenty20 is cricket too
The IPL has shown that the shortest version provides as many insights, dramas and stories as any other form of the game... more
Four thumbs up
The IPL has showcased a high standard of cricket, emphasised sportsmanship, fostered camaraderie, and treated spectators right. More power to it.... more
The darkest hour
The mishandling of the Zimbabwe crisis is perhaps the most shameful chapter in the ICC's history... more
Service with a smile
Not the least of Brett Lee's achievements this summer has been how he has managed to keep his temper and dignity while all about him were losing theirs... more
India in the lights
Their tour of Australia showed that India's time has come, both on the field and off it... more
Stuck in the middle
Batsmen in what should be their most prolific years are more prone to falling prey to the weight of expectations, and thereby being brought face to face with their limitations... more
Cricketers open up
It is a mark of maturity that the likes of Shaun Tait, Lou Vincent and Marcus Trescothick have made public their turmoil ... more
Come together
India needs to stop acting like an aggrieved outsider and take up the responsibility that comes with power. Australia needs to understand that its teams are supposed to set an example. For the good of the game, the two have to find a common language... more
What price justice?
If this is the way the Indian board intends to conduct its affairs hereafter, then God help cricket... more
Craftsman and cavalier
Every significant passing produces a hundred memories. Adam Gilchrist's also brings forth a hundred smiles... more
Hayden's hundred an act of will
Matthew Hayden's hundred at the Adelaide Oval was an act of will. From the moment he walked to the crease he steeled himself to construct a massive score... more
Did you break the code?
Cricket, unlike other sports, lacks a code that - although not mentioned in any rule book - is universally accepted and lends the sport a commonness of purpose... more
Raise your sights, India
The world's most fanatical cricket nation must get serious about long-term success in the game and doing whatever that takes... more
The Aussie way
Australian cricket is fierce, attacking and spirited. In many ways it reflects the country's origins and history... more
Decline and fall
Self-indulgence and self-interest are to blame for West Indies' present condition. ... more
Learning by degrees
Over the years cricket has not handled throwing well. Thankfully that seems to be changing, if slowly... more
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