Confused? Fair enough! It went like this:

“Hi Nick, Pete and I are with the neighbours at Das Bierhaus having a bit of a discussion. Wondering why the cricket box is called the box, without looking like a box. Happy for you to call in and set us straight, or send a message?”

I did neither after being too engaged in the Geelong vs Western Bulldogs game. My bad. It did get me thinking, though, and armed with fresh intel, I would get back to Anne later.

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So, I’m led to believe the term ‘box’ is almost certainly a late-Victorian euphemism. Its origins are likely rooted—no pun intended—in the practical, albeit cautious, naming conventions of that era. Paradoxically, it was thought that the word “box” would allow mixed-company conversations to remain polite. We can leave that there! I sense that overarm bowling—introduced in the latter part of the 19th century—would have initiated the need for a testicular guard.

Comedians have also profited from this confusing phraseology. Fittingly, it was a female comic who coined this gag.

“‘The first cricket testicular guard (Box) was used in 1874, and the first cricket helmet was used in 1974.” So?

“It took 100 years for men to realise that the brain is also important, too.”

A quick modern-day counter to this train of thought is that it shortens the phrase “tackle box”—take note: we are in a country of prolific name-shortening. I think there is some merit to this opinion.

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Other notable possibilities are:

• The Tower of London - where the crown jewels are kept.

• Female Canadians call it the “Jills”—you might link the male version as “Jack’s”—and then extend to “Jack in the Box.”

• Boxes have not been widely adopted in Australian Rules Football; in hindsight, they might have been handy protection against the ghastly “squirrel grip.”

• We have a Tasmanian hockey entry that lists it as a “Frog”—no explanation given.

• My first interpretation was a “pink litesome” housed in the “litesome jockstrap”—so “jock” could also be a contender.

Anyway, enough of the preamble.

Friend of SpeakingCricket, David “Bumble” Lloyd, gave the humble box more exposure than any person in human history. Anyone who’s played the game knows that deathly feeling when the ball nips back, misses the inside edge, and cannons into the abdomen. “Nurse!” Then the laughter, and the finisher, “Don’t rub ‘em, lad, count ‘em.”

It was 1975, and England were touring Australia. David “Bumble’ Lloyd is the protagonist here, but every story needs a villain, and that was a youthful tearaway quick, Jeff Thomson. Thomson was operating over the wicket with a wide release point. Bumble, left-handed, likely had a blind spot to such bowling, not uncommon to southpaws. Set in his normal side-on position, Lloyd shuffled across the crease to an unspectacular angled delivery that, on pitching, nipped back, missed the inside edge, and the rest is history.

Bumble’s protection was a pink litesome box, “It had holes in it!” he said. “Completely useless for the job it was supposed to do—you can use them now in bathrooms as an accessory, you can put your soap in there, that’s about as much use as they are!” He recalled, with characteristic diplomacy, “Everything that should have been inside this useless pink box had found its way outside through the aforementioned holes.” Ouch.

Thomson remembered it differently. “There were bits and pieces everywhere. It was a delicate operation to salvage the bits on the outside.” Less candour, same image.

And then the kicker — when Bumble finally made it to the rooms and the doctor, his Accrington humour didn’t fail him. “Doc, can you do something about the pain, but leave the swelling?”

Every February, Bumble Lloyd suffers a temporary loss of voice, all due to a blind spot, a useless pink box, and a friend called, Jeff Thomson.

I wish I had a tenner every time I’ve heard this story. Gold.

And what of the cup? We suspect American cultural imperialism is at work here, although I don’t know for sure. Baseballers are protected by the cup; a 100mph fastball could no doubt inflict similar carnage.

My son played four years of college lacrosse and refused to wear a cup—anyone who’s held a lacrosse ball knows this is madness. He grew up in Australia and was influenced heavily by the term, box, to the point he refused protection on principle. Thankfully, he survived with pride in place—still no grandchildren, though.

Anne, I hope this helps.

Australia’s premature exit is forgotten, for now. It would have been incomprehensible to have neither them nor India in the last four. That said, the two teams that progressed to the Super Eights at Australia’s expense failed to win a game, accentuating Australia’s abject performance. An Ashes summer that stretched to 18 playing days clearly fatigued the green and gold machine—oh, and the injuries.

Before this World Cup, it’s worth noting how little credence the Australian hierarchy gave to their T20 domestic competition (BBL15). Eight Australians were in the BBL team of the tournament. Sam Harper (Stars) shared the most votes with Matt Renshaw (Heat) —selected. Marcus Stoinis polled six —selected. No other selected player featured. Of the other five, Aaron Hardie had the strongest case. Steve Smith, with limited starts, was the competition’s standout batter, but wasn’t initially selected, then was, and for the reasons he wasn’t there in the first place, he was left out again. We can revisit this story later.

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In retrospect, one wonders what recovery measures would have been taken if India hadn’t chased down the 196 to secure a semi-final place against England in Mumbai. Both teams will know in the previous two tournaments the team who wins this game has gone on to lift the trophy.Fortunately, there’s no need for speculation, India won, and credit where it’s due.

Sanju Samson emerged as India’s unlikely hero after piloting the hosts to a squeaky five-wicket victory. His 97 red from 50 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes proved the difference. The next highest score was West Indies Roston Chase’s 40 batting in the same position as Samson.

Of course, India’s coach, Gautam Gambhir, disagreed on the ‘unlikely’ reference. He said, “He always knew the wicketkeeper-batter would come good at the right time.” Gambhir is eyeing a political career after his current position expires (could be imminent).

Samson lost his place before the tournament but was recalled after India’s deflating Super 8s loss to a dangerous South Africa. Then, he did what many batters do in T20, found his touch again. The 31-year-old batted through the innings and duly hit the winning runs with four balls remaining.

Earlier, Chase charged the start of the West Indies innings, opening for the first time in T20 internationals. He added 68 from 53 with an overly watchful Shai Hope, and then 34 from 16 with Shimron Hetmyer, who made up for Hope’s sluggish effort. Jason Holder and Rovman Powell rallied late adding 76 from the last six overs. The West Indies 195 might have been enough if it wasn’t for their poor out-cricket—a recurring theme under pressure. Three catches went down and there were numerous fielding errors that undermined their bowling innings. Again, it’s worth saying here that the West Indies ascent in this format looks to be on a faster trajectory than Australia’s.

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England, who sit on the third line of betting, finished their Super 8s games Friday and remained in Colombo awaiting confirmation on their game’s location—due to potentially Pakistan being in the last four, they travel to Mumbai to play India, Thursday.

On Wednesday, the first semi-final will see New Zealand (2nd in England’s group) play South Africa (top of India’s group with three wins and a commanding NRR) in Delhi. South Africa beat New Zealand in the qualifying stage and have a 100% win/loss against the Black Caps. But, as the angular British comedian John Cleese said in the now banned Fawlty Towers episode, “The Germans,” “Don’t mention the War” Or in this case, don’t mention South Africa’s “Semi-final curse.”

In my Geelong cricket circle, South Africa are keeping me afloat—we stood out India and England. So Wednesday night will be sink or swim for the two remaining, this time I plan to set a double alarm!

It’s good to be back, and I truly appreciate your patience, as always, thank you for being here.

English commentators—in particular, Michael Vaughan—are bullish on Root’s chances of overhauling the ‘Little Master.’ It will be some achievement; Sheffield and Mumbai are very different places.

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Vaughan, also a product of the Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club, has watched Root’s journey since his early days of the young Root pilfering through the ‘big boys’ kit bags. Their career paths are eerily similar: Sheffield Collegiate to Yorkshire, to England, and then national captaincy. Both prefer the role of technical engineers over the flashy designers. I watched Vaughan play one of his first, first-class innings against Lancashire (as in, I was playing). Wasim Akram removed David Byas early; the Old Trafford pitch was quick and bouncy, so it was no easy assignment for the young Vaughan. He also had the England U19 captaincy tag and general all-time next big thing on his head. Wasim honed in on that same target without success, alternating between over and round, full and short, often a sign of frustration from ‘The Sultan of Swing’. Vaughan made around 60; it felt like it deserved more from the bleachers. He was on his way. You shouldn’t need reminding, Wasim was a genius with ball-in-hand.

Root now finds himself tied third with Ricky Ponting. I always marvelled at Ponting’s 50-to-100 conversion rate (in Test Cricket), mainly because of my own inadequate efforts at the level, or levels below. I recall him close to parity at one point; it might have been 18 to 20—I was more of a 1 to 4 ratio, the lure of a fresh ‘Benny’ was often too much, not so for ‘Punter’.

Joe Root, in converting his day one fifty to his second century of the series, meant he was zero and five in his last attempts, so moving you to believe that 10 more hundreds is very doable for the likeable Yorkshireman—yes, Root’s recent numbers augment Vaughan’s connected optimism.

And back to Mr Root. It takes but one shot to define brilliance.

Joe Root presented his signature shot early in the afternoon session on day one. Scott Boland was being Boland: persistent, stoic, annoying, metronomic. I’m sure Boland wasn’t frustrated by Root’s lockdown defence, with his front pad perfectly inside the line and a late delivery of the blade resulting in perfect defence, or a surgical deflection to third man. No, Scott Boland brings sterner stuff.

It was more of one wearing down the other first. Boland’s length was fuller than usual, four to five metres, and the line was wide, maybe sixth stump. To leave or stroke? Root chose the latter. Forget the slips, gulley, and catching cover. Once Root closed off, realigning his shoulder direction to extra cover, and the bat swing looped in from outside his hands, the result was as inevitable as death and taxes. For the technical folk, this bat path adjustment is pivotal to Root’s sublime offside play. Once his hands return to his body and then extend out to the line of the ball, it’s all but over. The only spoiler can be the timing of his footwork. His step to the cover-drive ball is grooved and dependable; the transfer of weight and timing of his foot landing and ball contact are critical to the purity of strike. He didn’t let anyone down. Nobody moved, the strike was pure, he’s a flusher in golf speak. The Kookaburra flashed to the cover-boundary, the moment was devoid of manipulation and improvisation, just the basics, the shot for that ball, without the fluff, and dare I say - no, I’m not saying that, this was a sacrilegious moment, one never to forget. I could watch it on repeat throughout a Melbourne COVID-19 lockdown. Thank you, Joe Root.

I watched Mike Atherton play some decent cover drives—he was better than his numbers say, a dicky back restricted his ease of stroke play. Vaughan was also an elegant offside player. He played his cover drive from close to the ground, but his signature shot for me, though, was his back-foot cover drive. He stood tall and played on top of the bounce; he was a beautiful square driver.

That said, nothing compares with a Joe Root cover drive. I’m sure it’s standard transmission for him; what he might not know is the joy one can derive from watching him match his footwork, bat swing, then contact. It’s just a thing of pure beauty. And I’m a Lancastrian! That says it all.

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Australia resume this morning at two for 166 with Travis Head (91*) galloping to another Ashes century. Earlier, Joe Root assumed centre stage with a flawless 160. If some of his peers had chosen to stick around longer, England would have extended their first innings total beyond 384 and would have been in a much stronger position.

But, rules are rules, so here are my favourite SpeakingCricket snippets of 2025 in no particular order. Please share this post with any cricket-minded friends.

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1. South Africa Didn’t Fluke This

South Africa’s qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) final was greeted in some quarters with scepticism, most notably from Michael Vaughan, who claimed they qualified by beating “pretty much nobody.” Vaughan’s view is not widely shared.

The WTC is an uneven, confusing competition—poorly scheduled, commercially compromised, and challenging to explain to anyone—the ICC do a great job of confusing the obvious. But the flaws apply to every team, not just South Africa. The Proteas played their hand, and played it better than the rest.

They won away in the West Indies, secured their first series win in Asia in a decade, and swept Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home. Their record stands up against teams that beat England and, in some cases, Australia. Temba Bavuma has eight wins from his first nine Tests as captain; his side has produced more centuries than England or Australia, and their bowling attack is top-drawer.

The format may be broken. South Africa wasn’t. They are WTC champions.

Read the full post here.

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2. The twilight of Virat Kohli: cricket’s last classical batter in a T20 world

I paywalled this post, which says a lot about my appreciation of Virat Kohli. If you peel back the layers of self-abuse and the reluctance to take my cricket thinking seriously, Kohli stands out as a beacon of pure technical genius.

Virat Kohli is no longer the batter he once was. But his decline is less a personal failing than a signal that cricket itself is moving in a direction, particularly the art of batsmanship. (There’s no other way of saying that.)

At his peak, Kohli dominated all formats simultaneously, combining classical technique with relentless run-scoring across conditions and continents. By the end of 2019, his numbers placed him on a trajectory that seemed destined to eclipse every modern benchmark. More importantly, he redefined chasing down totals, turning pressure into routine and improbability into habit.

Since 2020, the erosion has been gradual but unmistakable. The margins are thinner, the slips fuller, and the certainty that once surrounded King Kohli has faded. His recent struggles in Australia were a reminder that even the greatest are not immune to time—or to a game now shaped by T20 priorities.

Kohli may be cricket’s last classical batter in an increasingly impatient world. If so, his twilight marks the end of an era, not the diminishment of a legacy.

I don’t love easily anymore, but I do love watching King Kohli wield the willow.

Read the full post here.

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3. Part 1: The Gambler, Kenny Rogers, and the Melbourne Cricket Club, an unlikely trinity

A very good friend, and subscriber (Paid), said a while back, “Coach, don’t promise the world and deliver an Atlas.” I listened, digested, and subconsciously disregarded his measured advice—or should we have received it more as encouragement? Doemer wasn’t telling me what to do, but just guiding. Oh, he has S Tendulkar on his Test match mantlepiece!

So this is the first chapter in the story of the Melbourne Cricket Club’s 2009-10 premiership year. The second is here, and the third, and the fourth. And, I hope there’s more to come

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4. Finally, Pat Donnelly turns up.

This post is my favourite non-cricket effort. Forgive me the pleasure, those who bark when I dare to wander!

A barroom exchange with the legendary “Slim” Pat Donnelly becomes a way to interrogate what still makes March Madness matter. Beneath the profanity and nostalgia sits a straightforward argument: college basketball remains one of the last places in American sport where effort, urgency, and consequence still dominate.

The NCAA tournament works because it is unforgiving. Single-elimination games demand defensive pressure, emotional commitment, and collective purpose—qualities increasingly absent from the NBA’s long, managed regular season. While college basketball is now openly commercial and functions as a de facto feeder system, its chaos still allows underdogs to win and meaning to emerge.

The danger is not money or modernisation, but imitation. As NIL deals, transfer portals, and one-and-done careers accelerate, the tournament risks drifting toward a professional showcase rather than a cultural event. Preserve the structure, slow the conveyor belt to the NBA, and protect the stakes.

March Madness endures because it still feels like something matters, according to Pat Donnelly, and who would argue!

Read the full post here.

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5. The Fab 4 and a Martin Crowe story.

Statistically, “The Fab 4 and a Martin Crowe story” was the popular post of 2025. I enjoyed writing this, as it took me right back to the start of my professional journey—haha, some of my New Zealand friends might challenge the ‘professional’ side of my time there! Three winters in Napier taught me so much about life, cultures, and the game. And to spend time with the likes of Martin Crowe at such an early age was everything I could have dreamed of growing up in South Manchester.

Read the full post here.

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6. Bazlife and the Beautiful game.

A review wouldn’t be that without mention of Bazball. The genesis of what it is still haunts cricket’s corridors. I have sided with the sceptics and hope, for the sake of England’s younger talent, that they are allowed to learn the intricacies and nuances of Test cricket in a more normal environment. Whether this happens is still unclear. Anyway, like many, I was drawn into the broader debate and here’s one of my takes.

Read the full post here

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7. Australia ripe for the picking.

To be clear, this isn’t just about self-promotion! I get things wrong, all the time—and not just on paper, everywhere, believe me!

I genuinely believed Australia were vulnerable coming into this Ashes series. They had injury concerns for their bowlers, the batting looked like a 16-hand in Blackjack—stick or hold —and the experience/leadership seemed less combative than previously. England missed opportunities, and Australia rallied when needed, as they inherently do. It’s 3-1, and the Ashes are safe, but there are holes to fill and talent to bring along if Australia want to extend their hold on Test cricket.

Read the full post here.

OK, that might do it. And for 2026?

Simply, I wish that I am pulling together ‘a year in review’ for 2026, enjoying looking back over a great year in cricket and life, and that I am looking forward to 2027 with the same enthusiasm that I feel now.

Sorry, I have to say this. If you are a subscriber, great, it is so good to have you here. If you are still considering taking up a paid subscription and might be in a position to do so, I can’t tell you here how much that will help me keep SpeakingCricket moving forward. All I can promise back—not an Atlas—is that I will continue to look for the stories within stories and bring them to you the best I can.

Best Regards,

Nick

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Today feels marginally better than yesterday afternoon, when I felt both anger and a complete sense of muddiness while watching Australia gift wickets to England, then England to come out and play like they were in a Christmas Day backyard slogathon.

Oh, sorry —just for context, I started writing this post on Sunday. It’s now Tuesday, day five of the Boxing Day Test, and no one can remember what happened, me included!

And to make things considerably worse, today, Sunday, December 28, the weather is set perfectly fair in Melbourne, after a chilly-billy beginning on Thursday.

Melbourne’s a city expectant of a Test match playing along nicely in the background while it goes about its post-Christmas business. After all, this Test match, over all the others, functions on time-honoured rituals. Seriously, boys, we cut the damn grass to 7mm - not five, eight, or in this case, fucking 10mm. It’s 7mm. Assuming the MCG pays the curator’s wages, I wonder if they reneged on their 2025 bonus! And Matt Page and his crew said, “Fark you!”

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Are you confused? So am I!

So today, now Tuesday, an improbable day five, the anger is less, but the confusion and apathy linger.

Metaphorically, I’ve switched from place to place, still to land on a compatible parable—is there one? “Likely not. Actually, I do have one, I’ll drop it in later.

So, in the absence of what seemed like a reasonable analogy, I tried to transplant myself back to how Test cricket was, when I played—not Test cricket, before you check, but the level below, I think it’s still called First-class cricket, the feeder pool that this England team left behind three years ago.

That said, Test cricket had Lara, Tendulkar, and Ponting with the bat, and McGrath, Warne and co with the ball. Teams won the toss and batted, and batted, and some, often into the shadows of day two - yes, it wasn’t inconceivable that one innings then, would live as long as four innings now - I hear you, how boring, but reassuring! And the wicket-taking mirrored a 60-minute documentary, now we have TikTok and Snapchat set-ups—I know, get with it, you say; you fucking Luddite!

See, even this doesn’t work.

Just start with the reporting—why not? Everyone else does. Read a few reports and form your own analysis—joking. I watched close to every ball—all 140 overs!

And what to report? Try this:

One team got sent in and got out before they were really in, and the other team that sent the first team in did the same. Then the first team decided on more of the same, while the last one, who went back in after they got the first team out again, swung like a rusty gate, and danced like Bruno Mars—that counters your Luddite claim—and before they could fuck it up, they needed 20 to win, and they did it. They, England, outlasted the other team, Australia, just. How good? Except patrons were still queuing for their beer, and it was all over!

So, it must be said in all seriousness: England won a Test match in Australia. It was their first Test victory in Australia for fifteen years.

And the analogy I landed on was a “Double knockout.” Two boxers out on their feet with one last left-hook in them, they swing simultaneously, connect, both go down, with England making the 10-count on nine—that’s the best I can do.

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Of course, there had to be serious commentary; these people are paid for their opinions. We must listen, digest, and try to believe. Remember, these said people, in the main, only have one agenda, and it’s not for your betterment. Has self-promotion in the media ever been stronger? There are exceptions.

So why did 36 wickets fall in 140 overs—I’ll leave the match to you. But that’s a combined strike-rate of 23 (a wicket every 23 balls)

The harsh but manufactured truth—being offered by the bowling-centric media—is that there were many dismissals over the two days where the pitch was silently blameless.

Yes, true without context. With context, not so.

In any given wicket ball, the pitch may have been innocent, but it is always culpable by association. Indifferent bounce, lateral seam movement, and variable post-bounce ball-speeds will always be an aiding and abetting accomplice to a traitorous surface. I recall Australian golfer Steve Elkington, after winning his PGA championship, saying of the bumpy and uneven greens, “I used the bumps as target lines, it helped me get my start lines, and the imperfections took away any overplayed expectations. In short, Elkington bluffed himself into thinking there was nothing unsavoury in the Riviera greens. Unfortunately for the day-three ticket holders, no batter on either side was able to play the internal bluff game.

This was a stupid game of Russian Roulette. It wasn’t a case of who blinked first; both teams did this. It was who blinked last.

Both teams are in a state of flux; I believed England had more to fix than Australia, but now I am not so sure. England’s victory only served to highlight the opportunities missed in Perth and Brisbane, less so Adelaide.

Is this closure for Bazball? No, because it doesn’t exist.

England’s biggest gaffe in this era was telling the world what they planned to do while transforming English and World cricket. Internal IP is gold, to be hidden in a London vault, not let loose on the world and the adoring media. Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes are victims of their own enthusiasm. And, there’s nothing really wrong with that at a fundamental level.

England owes it to their emerging players to bury whatever Bazball is and retreat to a middle ground where Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, and others can learn the intricacies of the purest of all formats in peace, without opening and closing their eyes.

Ps. I’ll get back to you on Australia. They retained the Ashes and are streets ahead in the World Test Championship.

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It felt more like baseball than cricket; batter up, batter out; innings out, innings up. You could say we’re at the bottom of the fifth with England holding a two-run lead, and their bullpen is purring and leaving Australia’s batters to ponder their strategy of taking balls and not swinging strikes.

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19 wickets in 71 overs wasn’t the fault of the pitch or conditions. It was merely a product of some outstanding fast bowling, patches of senseless batting, and the occasion, which got to both the inexperienced and the veterans alike.

The pivotal point of yesterday’s play was Travis Head’s dismissal. Australia were in no way steady—Head’s partner, Cameron Green, was reeling on the ropes; dazed and seeing stars. But, at 4-76, and with the partnership starting to move, and with Head beginning to find his mojo, after an awkward start, Australia were in a position to counter-punch—Head’s reason for batting at five.

Ben Stokes was into the attack—this is a point worth making; a significant reason for England not to play four quicks is that it relegates Stokes to number five in the bowling rotation, and delays his impact with the ball. So, England’s captain drops short to Head, a perfect height to flail over mid-wicket, he cloths it to mid-on where Carse takes the catch. Head departs at 5-76, and Stokes proceeds to take five wickets in six overs, and Australia’s innings is all but done, 50 adrift.

Understandably or not, the local press went to town on their visitors as soon as they set foot in the West. Joe Root and Stokes were mocked, others were bagged, England’s planning and match preparation were a joke. To their credit, though, beneath all the fluff and condemnation, there remains an unambiguous and hard-nosed edge to this England side and its handler. Brendon McCullum knows well that he has a compelling opportunity to take back the Ashes in the most challenging possible environment.

England, you presume deliberately under McCullum, has purposely created a self-approval bias in which its success is not judged by the standard parameters: wins, losses, averages, etc. But more by the decisions they are making in-game, and the enterprise they show when under pressure. It’s an atmosphere that initiates questioning and infuriates many—Australians are at the top of that list. Me too. But if nothing else, it forces the dressing room to be interminably supportive of one another.

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So, Australia trails by 49. Nathan Lyon and the impressive debutant, Brendan Doggett, get first crack at redressing the tilted balance in their team’s favour—I would take another 20 if it were offered. Then it will be in Mitch Starc’s hands again to strike early and expose England’s dangerous middle-order. Scotty Boland needs a day. If Doggett can match his first-innings efforts, that would be a pass, and maybe Lyon will have a say if England look to launch him into the Swan River. Oh, if Ussie Khawaja can stay on the field, that will help matters when the Aussies bat again, which might be as early as tea!

I’ve been wanting to back England for a while now! What’s been stopping me?

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Partly the endemic ‘Englishman in Australia’ syndrome. Suffered by many like-types.

Secondly, I now understand better how important a home Ashes series is to Australia. Conversely, I see many English grounds surrendering to the corporate types; not so here.

And, thirdly, Australia have enjoyed the benefits of a protection racket for the best part of a decade. Messers, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, and Lyon have been undeniably loyal to the Australian cause as both protectors and elite practitioners of their art.

In this age of short-form content, I’m unsure why this Ashes series has occupied so much bandwidth - yes, I’m not clear of culpability either.

So, put simply, the series outcome will be determined by how England’s batting—given they continue in their pursuit of immediate gains—holds up against Australia’s bowling.

Forget injuries, the hosts have strength in depth here. They execute bowling plans military-like, field and hustle as well as any team, and strategise above all others. That said, if England can post first innings scores, they are in this up to their eyeballs—whatever that means! The eyeballs analogy.

If Harry Brook and his merry band of swingers can handle the heat, load up, you’ll still get a reasonable price.

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England’s coach, Brendon McCullum, is rightly put out by the one-way, one-lane accusations. Again, for brevity, England’s pivot in method was a necessary adjustment following the meek showing in the 2021-22 Ashes.

McCullum believes there is more to Bazball than bash, bang, wickets, golf, and beers.

He said on a popular English cricket podcast, “I think there’s a misconception about the way we play, I find it slightly disrespectful.”

Righto, Baz, you do like golf, though, and own shares in a London pub.

In fact, it would be hard to separate the two coaches when it comes to beers and golf.

What will we see then? A muted version of Bazball; my view is that Harry Brook aside, the rest of the batters, down to Jamie Smith, play in a more orthodox fashion than the original Bazball way.

England’s calling is here and now. They were bullied and pummelled in 2021-22. In 2023, they regained ground and might still consider themselves unlucky not to win that series.

Winning this Test would be a start, something they haven’t done since 2010-11. The series will be a marathon, but it’s here and now that matters, and Australia look prime for the picking.

Ps. The toss is not that important, although the visitors prefer the bat second and fourth option. If England is inserted, who will take ball one? Their coach knows how difficult a Mitch Starc slinging swinger can be to navigate. Surely he couldn’t repeat the dose!

Enjoy.

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The SCG wicket looked a treat: good grass cover, proper pace, bounce, and some turn for Nathan Lyon—who, by the way, I believe is no guarantee to play in Perth. Although the optimistic Lyon stated this week that, “his best is still ahead of him!” That suggests he may also have similar thoughts.

In a hard-fought first day’s play, Victoria’s standout batter was Pete Handscomb. Dropped at slip early from the persistent Josh Hazlewood, Handscomb handled a three-part Test attack comfortably, mixing solid defence with effective counter-attack, and the odd slice of good fortune.

Hazlewood looked no different to his usual MO, although there was a passage of play before the new ball where he cranked it up with some speedy short stuff, a role he doesn’t usually take on. A popular punditry and coaching term is bowling a ‘hard-length’—for Hazlewood, it should be a ‘Hazlewood length’. I don’t know a current Test bowler who repeats such a difficult length—to be forward, or back, or caught between, England’s gun-slingers will have their work cut out.

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Mitchell Starc assumed the role of the late Shane Warne—the illusionist.

Starc, during the ODI series with India, had complained about having no rhythm and that there were technical issues in his action that he needed to iron out before the Perth Test. Suppose you were to ask Campbell Kellaway if this were the case, little doubt the answer would be an affirmative no. Kudos to Kellaway, though, he battled hard for his 51—although he threw more punches than Tommy ‘The Hitman’ Hearns. Starc bowled with sustained hostility and looked comfortable in action against left and right-handers, finishing with 4 for 91 from 18 overs.

As said, before he had scored, Handscomb edged Josh Hazlewood low to first slip, where Jack Edwards, who handed the NSW captaincy to New Yorker, Steve Smith, for this match, grassed a regulation catch. 208 balls later, Handscomb reached his second Shield century of the season, and his 30th first-class hundred.

Handscomb is a relatively understated cricketer with a weather-worn look akin to an outback shearer.

Through the pathway system, he was an effective middle-order player who provided cover for the primary wicket-keeper. This flowed into his early years in the Victorian team, where he deputised for Matthew Wade when he was away on national duties. As Wade transitioned back into primarily a Shield player, Handscomb’s stickwork had progressed enough to warrant a place as a batter.

Handscomb earned his first Test call-up in 2016-17, and two centuries in his first four Tests followed. Like many, though, his international career flip-flopped back and forth. His last iteration was the 2023 tour of India, where he made an excellent 72 in Delhi, but, unfortunately, he’d been tagged as a spin or sub-continent specialist.

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Two things stood out to me about his innings yesterday.

First, his capacity to adapt. Admittedly, I haven’t watched a lot of Handscomb’s batting this season, so the method might have been in play previously. However, there was a significant difference in his starting position for Starc and the right-armers. Handscomb chose to stay well inside Starc’s over-the-wicket line; this was either based on projected length (and the pitch conditions—above-average bounce), or he was guarding against Starc’s late swing into the stumps, avoiding LBW. Handscomb enjoys excellent hand-eye skills.

At this level, individual plans enter the conscious realm for all batters; implementing them is another matter. Breaking your heavily crafted mould is difficult. New players might not have the confidence to go against what they and their early handlers see as the norm. Alternatively, many veterans find themselves mired in their own shit (speaking from experience), so happy to wait for the scoring wheel to turn again in their favour.

The second flows from the first, and might lean into what England’s batters might take from Handscomb’s innings.

The word ‘plane’ entered the cricket/batting vocabulary only recently, borrowed from golf swing instruction, notably Ben Hogan. Hogan described the swing plane as a pane of glass resting on his shoulders, tilted down toward the ball. The club, he said, should travel along, or inside, this pane without breaking through it, ensuring consistent and repeatable ball striking.

Using Hogan’s theory in relation to Handscomb’s batting, I suggest the plane runs from the peak of his helmet straight down to the ground. Without exception, in defence, Handscomb’s bat repeatedly made contact with the ball on his side of the pane. And the bat angle was as close to perpendicular as you could get. Yes, it all sounds too much math-based, but what it showed in practice was a batter in control of his defence and ready to extend into attack.

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Which English batters would benefit from taking a look at the Kayo highlights? For starters, Ben Duckett and Zac Crawley.

Handscomb’s approach in this instance serves as a reminder that run-scoring isn’t just about talent and intent; it’s about adaptability, strategy, and strength of mind.

As the Ashes series progresses, it will be interesting to see if England’s batters choose to take a page from Handscomb’s playbook and apply these principles. I think they are prudent to. Confidently defending your opposition’s best ball is not to be scoffed at.

England have lost six of their last seven one-day series. Their world ranking is 8th—Afghanistan head them. On the positive side, they bat at 6.30 runs per over. If, and if they could be bothered, if they elongated their innings past the thirty-odd over mark with the same run-rate, then presumably, their win-rate would increase and their world ranking would improve. However, and a big however, who dares to raise such concerns?

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Test coach, Brendon McCullum, took over England’s ODI side in January 2025 as part of a strategic restructure following the sacking of Matthew Mott in July 2024. Mott presided over England’s disappointing performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. He presented as a sitting duck as McCullum’s star rose through strong performances in Tests.

The recent three-match ODI series in New Zealand finished with New Zealand winning the series 3-0—a clean sweep. You might think that a little more attention to detail might have been given. Here in South-East Australia and New Zealand, the weather has been awful, making productive batting more challenging than most of England’s batters had the appetite for.

Does this sound obvious? With two new white balls in play, and in the hands of decent bowlers, home-town advantages prevalent, a more measured approach to gathering runs might have been considered. And, more alarmingly, England passed up the opportunity to ingrain some habits that they will absolutely need in the imminent Ashes series, which both sides are desperate to win, and win with bragging rights.

It’s a wonderfully cerebral maxim to “be brave and keep moving forward,” but, at some point, thought must be given to variables that acutely affect outcomes. Surely Coach McCullum could concede that?

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And the ball turns red.

I gave some consideration to the make-up of Australia’s side here. It was more from a selectorial viewpoint. Who and why I would pick, more than who I thought George Bailey and co would select. And how is England looking in comparison?

From a selection bent England look more certain. Given a clean fitness card, the first seven pick themselves. Ollie Pope will get the initial crack at first drop—he has better than average numbers at the start of Test series, opposed to later. Jacob Bethell, still to make a first-class hundred and with only eight fifties from 40 innings, will get his chance at some point.

Eight down are bowlers, or Will Jacks as a bit-part all-rounder, more there for the extra batting option than his off-breaks. Leaving three spots for the quicks with Ben Stokes to pick up the slack. Or the visitors might opt for four quick if Stokes’ fitness is not 100%. I don’t see finger-spinner Shoaib Bashir playing until later in the piece. A key decision will centre on whether England goes all in or takes a more measured approach with Mark Wood and Jofra Archer. I expect both to play in Perth, and then it could be a ‘one in, one out’ approach, dependent on the series scoreline.

So will England’s batters temper their aggressive bent?

If England is to win back the Ashes, this is the match-up they have to win. Their batters must counter Australia’s strength in home conditions—they will be helped initially by Pat Cummins’ absence.

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley boast certainty in selection, and since 2019, they top the list of Test opening partnerships with an average of 46, including 14 fifties and five hundreds. Conversely, Usman Khawaja has had six opening partners in Test cricket since the start of last year.

It’s no wonder, according to former coach Justin Langer, that Australian fans are feeling “a bit confused”. But then Mr Langer would say that—he of the elephant memory. For me, Duckett will be a key wicket for the hosts, less so Crawley.

Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Stokes form a combative middle-order (you can also include Jamie Smith). Root is the class act, but still needs to conquer Australian conditions fully. Brook is capable of anything, but remains a rookie. Stokes will bear much of the load when it comes to handling the noise from outside the ropes; hopefully, he manages this and can influence the series with both bat and ball.

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An intriguing match-up lies in the hands of the wicket-keepers.

In Alex Carey, Australia have a tried and tested international back-stop. Four years on from debut, Carey has become a mainstay of the side. Discussions about Bairstowgate will undoubtedly arise during the series, and he will have to address this; however, over the last 18 months, he has been outstanding, averaging close to 42.

Jamie Smith travels to Australia as one of England’s smokies. His ‘stay back’ method will lend itself to the early surfaces, and he shows plenty of power and poise to present a challenging match-up to Carey and the Australian attack. Like Brook, though, he remains a rookie in Aussie conditions.

As England gears up for the Ashes in isolation, the majority of Australia’s Test hopefuls are in tune-up mode playing competitive Shield cricket. England’s batters must ponder the balance they choose between aggression and caution to counter the challenges of Australian pitches and a formidable attack. The match-ups, especially in the top order and behind the stumps, will be crucial in determining the series’ outcome.

BTW, here’s the teams from the Gabba, first Test, 2021:
ENG: Burns, Hameed, Malan, Root, Stokes, Pope, Buttler, Woakes, Robinson, Wood, Leach.
AUS: Warner, Harris, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Green, Carey, Cummins, Starc, Lyon, Hazlewood.

England return four, Australia nine!

The premier stuff matters little in the bigger picture, although it is worth noting that Harjas Singh (Western Suburbs) recorded a triple century in a first-grade one-day Sydney premier game. Yes, he made 314 from 141 balls. Singh hit a total of 35 sixes. His extraordinary innings placed him third on the all-time list in New South Wales Premier first grade history, behind Victor Trumper’s 335 in 1903 and Phil Jaques’ 321 in 2007. Harjas was suitably modest when questioned later, “Definitely that’s the cleanest ball-striking I’ve ever witnessed from myself, for sure.”

And one further note on Premier cricket. Victoria switched from the Kookaburra Regulation ball to the Turf ball. Centuries have duly followed with a line of disgruntled medium-pacers ready to argue the change. Of the batters, Farzan Chowna (Melbourne) is the leading beneficiary with consecutive hundreds; however, Chowna might have to wait a while longer for his crack at the big-time—although McDonald and co are apparently looking for an opener!

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The ODIs with India carried not much more significance than Premier cricket. However, the second game in Adelaide proved to be a watershed moment in the cottage industry of cricket broadcasting. In a similar fashion to ChatGPT’s release (November 2022), Fox cricket’s commentary team were presented with a new toy, and how they flogged it—as a coach and previously a player, the virtues of weight transfer, when batting, were, as a player, fanciful, and then as a coach, a virtue. Getting ‘back into’ when driving the quicks is all well and good for a select few; for mortals, it’s just one of those things you wish you could do.

“I present the new graphic that illustrates, from side-on, a batter’s progression of weight transfer from ball release, to contact, and beyond.” The first shot was a Shubman Gill signature cover-drive that split the offside field. We saw his trigger, stop, tracking, then his movement into the drive, contact, and follow-through. Ravi Shastri was on the mic and demonstrated his unerring capacity to ‘state the obvious’—on replay, he read the percentage change perfectly, halting his analysis on ball-contact, so stating what we all saw that the ideal percentage is mid-seventies on the front foot, which then moves to 90% at the end of the shot. Soon after, there was a commentary change, which saw Mark Howard, Mike Hussey, and the opinionated Brad Haddin assume the weight transfer analysis. Haddin moved the contact mark back to a 60/40% front-foot position; Hussey astutely observed that there is no hard and fast rule, as it will change for different bowlers (I would have been in the front-foot minuses against Allan Donald). And Mark Howard, as he always does, tried to plead ignorance but gave his opinion anyway. And then, before you had time to take a position, the debate was over, and the team moved on to a new toy.

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And to the Ashes, and who will play. As an observer and writer (commentator), surely the question should be: “Who do you think should play?” Not, “who do you think they will pick?” The moment is for you to present your opinion and argument, not report on who they (the selectors) will pick—I will concede there is a difference between reporting and opinion.

I have Marnus in—he has thankfully, and finally, returned to a runs-first approach, so ditching his need to look the goods at the expense of run-making— the currency of batsmanship (how else can you say it!). His method looks instinctive again, the head position is neutral, his footwork assertive, and his alignment in address and in-shot is clean and repeatable—I hope he makes some in Perth! So, for me, he bats three, and has the opportunity to outscore his opposite number—one of England’s soft spots.

Beau Webster is an interesting cricketer, perhaps below par in both disciplines, but combined, and as a stopgap, he hasn’t let anybody down. His delayed return to Shield cricket and a quiet game (on a difficult pitch) in Melbourne will make it hard for the selectors to pick both him and Cameron Green—assuming Green’s bowling loads are managed and he is fit to play an active bowling role in Perth.

With this said, and Green moving back to six, Bailey and co need to fill one more gap—for now! If I had to hand the teamsheet in right now, it would be:

Usman Khawaja, Farzan Chowna, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood.

No, please, come on, be serious! But seriously, it feels like there is no one jumping off the page, or it’s just too obvious for me to see, and Jake Weatherald should play. Or is it Matt Renshaw?

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Renshaw has some history, and most of it is negative. The positive is 14 Tests in the bank, including a century. To counter that in the 2024/25 Sheffield Shield season, Renshaw scored 496 runs from 10 matches, averaging 29.17. Compare that to Weatherald, who scored 906 runs at 50.33. The one stat that stands out in his first-class record is his 50 to 100 conversion rate: 23 fifties and 24 hundreds—I’m not able to think of anyone who has more hundreds than fifties from the games he’s played (128).

Weatherald was another victim of the challenging Junction Oval this week. His two outs were to excellent deliveries, and, as is the life of an opener, both dismissals were just before the close of play—the dreaded ‘red-time’.

Still, I have Weatherald in my starting XI.

Usman Khawaja’s run is coming to an end, and Weatherald looks a likely medium to long-term alternative, with the other opening spot on ice for a younger player—Sam Konstas, Campbell Kellaway, or the like.

So if asked to name a 14-man squad, this would be it—not who I think they will pick—just my selections:

Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Brendan Doggett, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott.

Disclaimer: I did speak at a dinner with Tony Dodemaide last month (Koringal Golf Club). But those at the dinner will attest to Tony’s inability to spill any Ashes selection beans, this despite my insistent hounding; he played a straighter bat than Boycott.

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It’s easily my favourite Aussie sport’s word, barrack, and barracking. I’ll save you the explanation.

OK, in short, “Barrack” could refer to military housing; in these parts, it’s a verb, meaning to support or cheer for a sports team. In Melbourne—a generalisation—but pretty much everyone ‘barrack’s for someone. I barrack for Richmond (Tigers).

With Richmond languishing low on the ladder, the question is: if you barrack for a team in Melbourne, or further afield, but live in Geelong, should you be barracking for the Cats in Saturday’s Grand Final? I’m saying yes, even if the crew from Kardinia Park can be a tad polarising—really, I’m not sure why. They win and continue trying to win, unlike many clubs in the AFL competition. If permitted, I would consider jumping ship, but it’s just not done. That said, my daughter switched teams—Bombers to the Tigers!

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The same could be said for the many Victorians who have fled the Mexican state for Queensland, seeking warmer winters and cheaper flip-flops. Should they be barracking for the Brisbane Lions if they’re not a Catter? Again, I say yes. I was going to mention the Collingwood fans, but that would be too challenging. They would barrack for neither, and probably refuse to watch the game—they lost to Brisbane in last week’s semi-final.

For many Australian families, Grand Final Day transcends sport—it becomes an annual pilgrimage, steeped in traditions passed down through generations. Early starts are the norm, and local bakeries are kept busy. Backyards are prepared in advance, BBQs dusted down, and eskies stocked with ice and refreshments. And then there is the Pub—this will be my choice of venue. Norm Smith Medal (MVP) sweeps are run, as well as first goal scorer and a variety of other side bets. The Elephant & Castle—my Pub of choice in Geelong—will do a great job.

It’s a day for geographical loyalties to blur, when expat Victorians dust off their old guernseys (shirts), and when even the most casual observers find themselves emotionally invested in the game, deliberating whether the Cats can claim another flag or if the Lions can go back-to-back. The beauty lies not just in the spectacle, but in the shared moments that bind people together, one tradition at a time.

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The Rules Aren’t Really the Problem

There’s an uncanny irony in the name “Australian Rules Football” that rarely fails to amuse those who’ve grown up with the game. Foreign friends will invariably ask, “So what are the rules?”—as if expecting some mystical code that unlocks the secrets of this unique sport. The truth is, the rules are surprisingly straightforward: get the ball between the big sticks for six points, the smaller ones for one, and don’t get caught holding it too long without bouncing or handballing (a form of throwing) it away. You can catch it, kick it, punch it, but not throw it. Simple enough? I think so, but to see the game umpired, you might form a contrary opinion.

What confuses most isn’t really the rulebook—it’s the manic chaos that unfolds when 36 athletes are set loose on an oval the size of a small suburb, with play flowing in any direction at breakneck speeds. It’s a rugby code meets Gaelic football meets rollerball, with a dash of ballet thrown in when a player takes a spectacular mark (catch). The real skill lies not in understanding the rules, but in reading the game’s rhythm, anticipating where the next contest will emerge, and appreciating the split-second decisions that separate winners and losers.

So, finally, we circle back to the coaches: Chris Scott and Chris Fagan, the conductors.

Chris Scott won a premiership in his first year coaching Geelong. Chris Fagan won the premiership in 2024 and returns for a shot at the quinella. Chris Scott was a player—a tough, uncompromising individual. Chris Fagan didn’t play in the AFL. He chose the classroom, where I imagine he would have been a considerate teacher.

Back to Scott and 2011. I wrote about it here in 2022.

Yet, when Chris Scott delivered this coaching rarity in his first season at Geelong football club in 2011, there was chastisement, not adulation. It was as if he had stolen the town’s crown jewels. It somehow didn’t belong to him, similar to an unexpected inheritance from a distant aunt, something subconsciously you feel you should give back, but of course, don’t.

And…

Geelong, as a region, can be regarded as a heavy lifter. The city has been, and is, a critical transportation hub — by port, rail and road, servicing the agricultural needs of the Western District. Labour intensive industry prevails. The Ford factory, now closed, has been intrinsically linked to the football club for years — the partnership will reach its centenary in 2025. No doubt it was full of bloody tough, no-nonsense, individuals, who endured lengthy work weeks, and even longer weekends.

Education, in the main, is delivered through elite, esteemed private schools, where some students still board! Parents seem more willing to transpose themselves in Geelong, working their professional jobs remotely, and then the younger single professional tribe seems content with its nightlife and broadband speeds. And, of course, their Melbourne fix is met by taking the ‘rattler’ to town — which no longer rattles. All that has a paradoxical feel to it when you delve into the real underbelly of Geelong.

So, you have these two contradictory classes that co-exist. The old are reluctant to relinquish a custodial hold on what they believe to be theirs. Football, through these eyes, is still very much a weekend pursuit for both them as spectators and what they expect from ‘their’ players. Yes, ‘their’ players — smothering, helicopter-style parenting is in play here. This tribe separates players from coaches with a clear leaning toward the player.

This from September, 2022. And it’s likely Scott’s record has improved.

To date: Chris Scott, the coach, has 199 wins from 285 starts, giving him an 80% win rate. In his 12 seasons as head coach, Geelong has only missed the finals once (2015) — a supporter cannot ask for much more — those are the distilled facts. His win-loss percentage ranks alongside the world’s finest coaches. And, still, I can hear the bigoted tribe banging their drums — ‘his finals record is deplorable in comparison to his regular-season record’. Hello, surely, your players have to take some responsibility here!

And, ‘Father Fagan’

This from September, 2023. You can read the full post here.

Why I like Chris Fagan…

Being a sports fan and living in Melbourne, one is naturally persuaded by the allure of AFL Grand Final week. There’s a ritzy best-and-fairest event, player parades through the city, an event where notables try to kick a footy across the River Yarra, and just about everything else you can imagine.

Football likens itself to taxes and the unmentionable; there is simply no escape. It is truly suffocating during any typical week through the regular season; this week, though, is next level.

Hey, that said, I’d take this week over taxes and that other stuff any day! Wouldn’t you?

Unfortunately, with all this comes the inevitable hype and noise from football’s circling circus.

It’s true, football is no ‘cottage industry; instead, it feeds an army of hangers-on: multi-dimensional media, the coterie industry, social media, families, fans, supporters, and barrackers, all pouring over every utterance, fact or fiction.

But then there is a beacon: somebody, or those that stand out from the crowd.

Chris Fagan stands out as a bastion of distinctiveness in the staid waters of AFL coaching, his unpredictable aura defined by an exceptional fusion of sagacity, unassuming humility, and an unwavering, soul-deep ardour for the game of football.

In stark contrast to the superfluity of coaches who lean heavily into strategic facility, Fagan’s hallmark lies in his engaging talent for forging profound, personal connections with his players. Be sure, these are not superficial relationships. Fagan moulds brotherhoods, tribes, and fraternities.

Born in Queenstown, Tasmania. Fagan played 263 games in the Tasmanian Australian National Football League (TANFL) and Tasmanian Football League (TFL), with Hobart, Sandy Bay, and Devonport kicking 430 goals.

What does all that mean? Not much, really, other than it qualifies one of Fagan’s core principles: longevity.

Fagan’s stripes were not handed to him; on the contrary, he earned them as they should. And he asks the same of his players.

“Chris Fagan galvanises attentive listening through actually believing his every word.”

There’s not one skerrick of BS in Fages. Or Chris Scott. They are both consummate professionals.

I hope you enjoy the game wherever you are. I’m barracking for a tie!

The Leitchville and Gunbower cricket clubs merged a few years back to enter a stronger competition, the Goulburn Murray Cricket Association (GMCA). The GMCA includes clubs like Bamawm Lockington United, Echuca Cricket Club, Rochester, Echuca South, Moama, and Nondies. Australian off-spinner Todd Murphy is a celebrated alumnus. Baggy Green #465 will forever belong to him.

I was there this weekend with the Victorian Country U19 squad to watch some trial games against Fitzroy-Doncaster CC. It really is a delightful ground in proximity to the Murray River with a wicket as flat as a "cat's head"—Coach Miller!

Gunbower—a 30-minute drive from our luxurious Echuca accommodation—is itself a blink-and-miss affair. But that's OK; it has a pub (for sale), a racecourse, a primary school, and a pie shop that rivals any. My indulgence was a Saturday sausage roll —it was so good! I didn't get a price on the pub, but you would likely get a decent deal if making money isn't your priority—it's just a little too far from the Elephant & Castle for me!

I'll spare you the history lesson on Gunbower and the like, instead concentrating on the oddities that cricket compels one to undertake.

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The clans in the North of England coined a phrase while Lancashire and Yorkshire were still fighting the "War of the Roses." I understand the wars were civil in nature—kinda topical—fought between the rival houses of Lancaster (red rose) and York (white rose). It all ended in 1485 when Henners Tudor defeated Richard III at Bosworth and married Elizabeth of York, uniting the two houses under the Tudor family dynasty. Here's an academic resource if you're inclined to read a more serious account.

On the cricket side, I was fortunate to play in several "Roses Matches" (Lancashire v Yorkshire). We rarely conversed about the shenanigans of the 15th century; it was more about Bryan's fish & chips and a pint of Tetley's at day's end. I asked a friend in the U.K. to describe and join the two events; here's his effort: "Think of the Wars of the Roses as England's longest, bloodiest Test series — red rose versus white — ending in 1485 when Henry Tudor 'took the match' at Bosworth and united the houses under the Tudors." Which is similar to what I said above.

I'm surprised to read that Yorkshire have a clear lead in the head-to-head (first-class matches) - 84 to 56, with 133 draws—what does that say about the weather!

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The missing phrase? Sorry.

It goes like this, “There's nowt so queer as folk.” In this old Yorkshire saying, “queer” simply means “odd” or “unusual,” not its modern association with sexuality. In cricket, it highlights the bizarre lengths players will go to for their fix.

Travel in Australia is a given, but generally reserved for adventure and vacations. Not at the whim of a ball that won’t swing or a local umpire that decided that your front pad got in the way. Among other’s, these are the perils travelling cricketers face. Remember, at this level, cricket is largely self-funded; no councillors, therapists, or the like. You’re on your own, pal!

We had players travelling from the South-West of Victoria to Melbourne, and then North to Echuca, covering nearly 800km round trip. We barely had time to unpack before it was time to shut the suitcase again. Breakfasts are a communal event with participants required to bring their own plates and toasters! Dinners are what you want them to be. Late Saturday afternoon, locals filled Gunbower's airspace with the sweet aroma of BBQ'd sausages and steaks. We (the coaches) and they (the Vic players) were hopeful that the catering would extend to us as well. We didn't know that Fitzroy had three other teams in the area that would all be back to indulge at the expense of their opposition—it was nearly as crushing as the game's outcome. Later, we learned that Fitzroy had been travelling to Gunbower for close to a decade. For the record, I started and ended my day with a jam/peanut combination butter on toast—one of many bad habits I picked up in the U.S.—and I highly recommend it.

Then there was Sunday, a shortened game, a similar result, and the debilitating thoughts of return travel in the hired minivans. I was solo, and Coach Miller had half a dozen customers.

Gunbower, to Lockington, then past Diggora, and on to a fuel stop in Elmore. Next stop, Heathcote, and on to Kilmore, finally the Melbourne skyline and the fkn traffic. It takes nearly as long to get to St Kilda. And then, unpack and drive to Geelong. Elmore, similar to Gunbower in its attributes, did have a BP that served as a congregation space for at least three other Victorian Premier clubs. Cordial interaction took place, with some participants being more animated than others. I observed all this in the rear mirror of my solo minivan while hightailing to a Heathcote shiraz!

As someone must have said, "There's nothing so queer as cricket folk!"

Oh, and if you are in the area, Gunbower is well worth a visit. I have it ticked off my list of must-visit destinations.

Best, as always.

I was already digging the hole of self-pity, ready to jump in and drown in my own contradictions.

"They're just commercial spin-ups that have lost their true meaning"—that's what I tell my family about Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Father's Day, and the rest. Perhaps it's easier to be cynical when your family is as disparate as mine, sprinkled across continents: my daughter on the Gold Coast, trying to stay warm, her brother building a career in Boston after college, me in Geelong, and their mother in Melbourne.

So, there I was, on the couch, feeling sorry for myself—again.

My son in Boston operates on a different calendar—Father's Day in the U.S. falls on the third Sunday in June, coinciding with the U.S. Open (Golf), which acts as an easy reminder. My siblings in Manchester share that timeline. Nothing to expect there; any contact would be a welcome surprise, though not expected. Leaving the burden, unfairly, on my daughter—the youngest and, as she reminds me, the wisest of the bunch. Could she rescue her father from a day of sulking?

Then, by chance—I rarely look at email on Sunday's—I found an extraordinary piece by Gideon Haigh on his Cricketetal Substack. It was titled, "The Father Who Didn't."

Before I go on, I should say that Gideon and I have known each other off and on for the past 20 years, or since I moved to Australia. Obviously, we share a common interest, cricket. He is an avid player, still with South Yarra CC, and an extraordinary writer, who doesn't just muse on cricket, but pretty much anything he puts his mind to. Whereas I am an ex-player trying to leave cricket alone, and an accidental commentator on the game—I'm not able to use writer in the same paragraph.

Perhaps I could offer that the gap between Gideon's writing and mine is similar to the difference in our cricketing abilities? I hope that's not too vain on my part—it’s more to substantiate the gap in our writing!

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I am certainly not going to offer an opinion on the article, and I urge any or all of you to take the time to read the post here. It's a reminder of both the power of honest writing and the actual weight of paternal absence.

The only comment I will offer is to marvel at the prose and composure that Gideon displayed. I can't imagine writing a piece like that and not becoming emotional. The balance he held between fact and feelings was, to my mind, remarkable.

I was fortunate to meet Gideon's mother when he asked me to act as an interlocutor—I had to go to the dictionary—at a Geelong book launch—I think it was "On the Ashes"

I opened with a question on his cricketing education, while referencing Geelong Grammar as his school. Fortunately, Gideon didn't allow me to go much further before correcting his place of education to Geelong College. At the evening's conclusion, Ms. Haigh, after a brief congratulatory sentence, reiterated the need for proper and comprehensive research before taking on such roles. It remains the most polite telling-off I have received.

So, my petty complaints about time zones, geography, and lack of appreciation suddenly felt appropriately small. And, of course, the next time I looked at my phone, there was a "Father's Day" message from dear Ella. She was in Hobart for the weekend, throwing snowballs. We're just hopeless wanderers!

Just in case you missed it, here’s the link:

Cricket Et Al

The Father Who Didn't

At the Melbourne Writers’ Festival earlier this year, I was part of an event entitled Better Off Said, furnishing ‘eulogies for the living and the dead.’ I composed something for someone who is a bit of both - my father, still alive, but whom I have not seen in a quarter of a century, and will not again. I know it’s not exactly on message with Fathers…

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8 months ago · 85 likes · 31 comments · Gideon Haigh

Because it's topical—the upcoming Ryder Cup was offered as a comparison, matching the U.S. and captain Keegan Bradley’s dilemma with that of the Australians.

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Today it's the turn of the European Ryder Cup team and England's Ashes squad. First, let's hear from Luke Donald and his predictable picks.

From the bleeding obvious playbook: spin conjecture, then land the obvious.

European captain Luke Donald picks six returning players, choosing the safe route over the no-tolls option. Totally understandable.

Clearly, Donald wants combative players who can handle both home and away conditions. The New York crowd will be loud and hostile, he knows that, most of his preparation being centred on this critical variable.

Of the six picks, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, and Jon Rahm shape as the enforcers, ready to bop any misbehaving New Yorker on the nose—and caddy if repeated. At the same time, Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland will form the negotiating team, buying the enforcers time to get into position. And, if all of the above fails, Matty Fitzpatrick will assume the role of smiling assassin, full of Sheffield steel and guile.

No, seriously, both teams are set, and as mentioned, I am looking forward to the matches with great anticipation.

So, who is making the decisions on England's side of the aisle?

Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key form the primary caucus, with National selector Luke Wright rounding out the team.

England's win/loss record has steadily improved since Stokes and McCullum took office. Additionally, speculative selections have enabled the likes of Harry Brook, Gus Atkinson, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith to become permanents, all in essential positions—Brook being the standout.

Interestingly, Luke Wright, when questioned on a Sky Sports podcast, explained the process around picking players; he said, "character and playing the short ball are key traits." A narrow yet straightforward criterion; one being subjective, the other very measurable.

The England set-up continues to wrestle with the domestic game. The counties believe—or convince themselves—that county cricket and form matter little when selecting the national team. Key and Co. tow the party line—like all career politicians—not lowering their guard, they assure the masses that county cricket does matter, it's just not visible. But, hey, it's their team!

Personally, I was left wondering at Lancashire when half the team were on national contracts. Stupidly, I concluded the others might get paid more, with the ECB picking up the majority of the wage bill at 'Gold Trafford.' I should have been content to be employed! I can’t recall who told me that!

So what does a National selector actually do?

My guess is Wright will have spent the English summer filtering briefings from his scouts on the ground—a key component of any selection funnel. At the same time, back-office analysts will be mining data, speculating, and hoping to find a new spin on old news. But the reality remains, the central decisions will be made by the top-dogs, in this case, Brendon McCullum, and the captain, Ben Stokes. Remember, Team England presents as a fixed-model template that leans unevenly into their leadership.

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Optus Stadium, Perth, is the venue for the first Ashes Test, with tickets at a premium. The England XI that played out an extraordinary final Test with India at the Oval will not return as a whole in Perth. Chris Woakes will be convalescing, and the pace attack could look very different with the visitors set to enjoy the luxury of both Mark Wood and Jofra Archer fit and available.

I believe Woakes inability to play will hurt England. The dependable Warwickshire all-rounder would be a ways down the Australians' threat chart. Still, he balances the England ledger with his all-round skills, and as Luke Wright has mentioned, his character and resolve. Essex's Sam Cook is a possible replacement.

England's batting looks set, despite some below-par career stats carried by Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope. Pope still looks a player to me, less so Crawley. Ben Duckett shapes as a loose cannon at the top of the order; he possesses the capacity to score quickly in unorthodox areas and then the terminal propensity to miss straight balls, which Australia can supply in spades. I like Ollie Pope, but he gets out. Joe Root and Harry Brook form the best four/five combo in World cricket. Stokes' batting output depends heavily on his bowling; as a stand-alone batter, he will find it hard. Jamie Smith will have moments, like his counterpart, Alex Carey. For England to consistently make 300+, they will need Smith to outperform Carey from the number seven spot.

Jacob Bethell is the spare batter who directly challenges Ollie Pope. He spent much of the summer serving drinks, until there was a Test to be won at the Oval. He squandered that opportunity, but he should be better for the experience. This Ashes tour comes at an excellent time in Bethell's development as an international player.

And to spin, or the lack of.

Shoaib Bashir will likely carry the torch for England. At best, his height and overspin should create bounce, and if he can locate Mitch Starc's oversize footmarks later in the game, spin should follow. I doubt that Australia will play Nathan Lyon in all five Tests, so Bashir might also spend time on the pine. I do wonder what happened to Tom Hartley? And Jack Leach, the green-fingered twirler from the West Country—didn't he help win an Ashes Test not so long ago? And, and, Rehan Ahmed, the diminutive leg-spinner who is now making county runs from a top-order spot—yes, county runs!

In conclusion, when messers Key, McCullum, Stokes, and Wright convene to assemble their combine, there is one thing as sure as the obvious: this administration is painfully loyal to its own. Play away, Mr. Crawley—prove me and many others wrong.

As always, thank you for making it this far :)

American Ryder Cup captain, Keegan Bradley, confirmed what many golfing pundits got wrong; he chose not to pick himself for the upcoming Ryder Cup matches in New York.

I thought he would. Why? I punted on him being the egotistical, polarising person he once was. If anyone could do this it was Keegan. So, it was encouraging to hear the captaincy had helped him grow as a person and golfer, and to become more connected with his peers, those comrades he has always chosen to keep at arms length.

“I used to go to the course to do my job and disappear, a life in the shadows.” A refreshing change of course for the 39-year-old New Englander.

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I was going to continue with, “That’s not going to help you Bradley, the Euro’s will come and kick your ass all round Bethpage Park Black.

Yes, I did. Why not, there are so many numpty’s on the U.S. team—I doubt half of them could pass the, “No dickheads test.”

This week, it is Europe's captain, Luke Donald's, turn to select his six picks. The local media (London) say Donald will enjoy a relatively stress-free sleep tonight in comparison to his opposition. Europe look set to field the most settled/predictable team in Ryder Cup history. Projections show 11 of the same players as Rome, with the only change being Rasmus Hojgaard replacing his brother, Nicolai.

The matches start September 23, in a New York State public park. I, for one, cannot wait.

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Team selection is a complicated dance between ego and unity, individual skill and cohesion, particularly the higher up the chain you go. One of the first books I read post-playing was Phil Jackson’s Eleven Rings—thank you, Hector. Not knowing what to do, coaching was an obvious path to take. I still read it over.

Jackson still maintains that the best teams are those where each member knows their role, embraces it, and most importantly, understands that their individual story is just one part in a larger narrative. I wont bore you with Michael Jordan stories, but I would recommend the book to anyone who plays in this space.

What makes Bradley's evolution fascinating is that he's experienced both sides of this dynamic - from being the lone wolf to now becoming the shepherd. Jackson said on this, “The beautiful paradox of team sports is the moment when an individual transcends their individual ego.”

Parochially, it is easy to argue that the Europeans enjoy a more lucid responsibility with the challenges of leaving egos on the team bus. Their resurgence through the eighties was founded on Jackson's team-first principles; they continue this as a matter of course, where the Americans flit in and out of that space like an absent-minded schoolboy.

These selection dynamics—the intricate balance between individual ambition and team cohesion—play out even more dramatically in cricket, where careers are decades long and statistics tell only part of the story.

As we approach another Australian summer, we find ourselves wrestling with the same fundamental questions that Bradley and Donald face: how to mould unity from individual talent, when to set free and evolve, and when to hold firm.

When was the last time Australia went into a home Test series with a settled opening pair? Never—in recent times. You would have to trawl back to the Hayden/Langer period. I fear Sam Konstas will be back in school for a while longer—in my view, not a bad thing for the young Sydneysider. His time should come again.

This top-order hole will be the focal point of the Australian early-summer debate.

Spots four, five, six, and seven are locks. Steve Smith needs no greater motivation than the current form of his counterpart, Joe Root, to steel his resolve. The Travis Head/Harry Brook face-off looks irresistible. Cam Green will be back in situ at six. Beau 'Slug' Webster has done nothing wrong. And Alex Carey has some Ashes demons that need burying.

As a refresher, here's how the last Australian Test XI lined up:

Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood.

Why is Usman Khawaja not a lock? Fair question.

Khawaja turns 39 during the third Test in Adelaide, with his recent record trending downward—not unusual at this stage of a player's career.

2024 yielded 415 runs from 18 hits, averaging 25. And in 2025, Khawaja has 461 runs at 38 with a career high of 232 in Sri Lanka. Stand the double-hundred out, and he averages under 20. Combine that with a declining strike rate, and it doesn't offer much solidity and confidence, which is needed against this England team.

As mentioned, Sam Konstas appears to have surrendered his spot with a run of low scores and no real signs of improvement in his learning/problem-solving.

Typically, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw would be offered as possibilities; however, that ship has sailed. Nathan McSweeney will start the Shield season playing for a second chance—which I believe he should get—and other notable names could be Jake Weatherald, Henry Hunt, and Jason Sangha. That said, none of them averages 40 in first-class cricket. I would punt on Sangha over the rest.

And then Marnus Labuschagne. Much might rest on his slumping shoulders. At his fiesty best, Labuschagne is a highly effective top-order player who can endure pressure and counterpunch as needed. Like a golfer who won majors, hitting a draw, who then decides a fade works better, more recently, Labuschagne abandoned his modus operandi for both a clone of Steve Smith and then an old-fashioned English blocker. He needs to get back to being Marnus and be comfortable with that. His team needs that to.

So, there's the cast on the Australian side of the aisle, minus a couple of left-fielders, which I might keep up my sleeve for now.

Later this week we can intro the English cast.

As always, thank you for being here.

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The series ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors. Much of Australia's troubles stemmed from their batting in the first two games, which appeared to take on a decidedly more aggressive bent than previously shown—possibly a shift in strategy in the game's diminishing format that warrants closer scrutiny. No doubt they will be seeking a greater level of consistency, especially in knock-out tournaments. Nevertheless, it worked on Sunday afternoon.

As well as South Africa played here, it is increasingly difficult not to project forward to the third week in November and the upcoming Ashes series with England.

Optus Stadium in Perth will host the first Test, with tickets in high demand and at a premium. Cricket Australia looks set to grow its coffers further, a treat that will no doubt please the new-look management team of CEO Todd Greenberg and Chief of Cricket Ben Oliver.

Before we get to the relationship dynamics, I am intrigued to see how the new Chief of Cricket, Ben Oliver, will handle a pivotal aspect of how this Ashes series will play out.

Pitch preparation remains a contentious issue, with local associations, broadcasters, and cricket boards all wielding influence. While Australia will likely seek early advantages through traditional home ground preparation, England's recent approach to pitch preparation—favouring flat, dry surfaces—presents an intriguing contrast.

Gideon Haigh recently highlighted India's mean-minded parochialism in the rubbish tip pitches they have doctored for their spinners. Saying the country's batters deserved more, highlighting Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli as players who could handle all comers in all climes, rather than cynically rigging the home-game in their favour.

This space promises to be an interesting watch.

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The relationship between England and Australia appears to be a one-and-done affair. Bairstowgate was undoubtedly significant; however, an underlying sense of unease has existed between the camps for some time. England, bolstered by the brashness of the Bazball dynasty, now operates in a different sphere. Their indifference to opposition and the basic code of Test cricket has turned off many traditionalists, including parts of their own supporter base. While Australia finds itself in a more centrist position, driven in the main by Captain Pat Cummins, and to a lesser extent, the non-confrontational Andrew McDonald. Both are more liberal in their thinking and delivery.

I hasten to add that I am no expert in relationship policy; the older I get, the more they allude me!

We know that England founded Australia as a penal colony in 1788, creating a complex parent-child dynamic where the "child" eventually grows to rival and often surpass the "parent" in all sorts of endeavours, including cricket. To quote Shane Warne, "Nothing compares to beating England, especially in England."

In recent times, this may be England's best opportunity to reclaim its reputation as a strict and austere cricket nation—a more hawkish parent.

This relationship has undergone a fascinating evolution since the introduction of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. The Anglo-Kiwis have orchestrated a cultural reset to the dynamics of English cricket that extends far beyond Bazball and the aggressive nature of their batting. McCullum preaches being brave as option one, then two, three and four. "Sail toward the storm, not away from it." Stokes buys in completely and displays this through his own cricket. The soldiers follow instructions—you could stand out, Joe Root—because they understand, once in, always in. Zak Crawley is the conspicuous example.

Meanwhile, Australia's leadership group has matured considerably since Pat Cummins took the captaincy and Andrew McDonald assumed the whiteboard from Justin Langer. A team that once thrived on niggle and psychological warfare now centres on a more moderate approach, letting their cricket do the talking. A shift that is not universally embraced by those surrounding Australian cricket, though, will fit better against a side now seeking confrontation, rather than bowing to it.

From what I can see—again, not being a relationship expert—the Australian team operates under a more inclusive mindset, one that focuses on getting the best, or close to, from everyone, not just a few. Whereas England presents itself as a fixed-model template, you could say it is immutable in its methods. They lean heavily into their leadership—to me, this looks too narrow. If England wants to reset the parent-child dynamic, then elevating their middle-tier players must be a priority.

There is so much more to play out in the lead-up to November 21—a significant day on the calendar!

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To end on a lighthearted note. Richard Burton, the famous Welsh actor, was ill-advised in returning to his first wife, Elizabeth Taylor, after an earlier divorce. Ms Taylor's penchant for marriage was insatiable; she was married eight times, to seven hopefuls. She was no expert either!

Eventually, after coming to my senses, my sporting focus shifted begrudgingly from football to cricket. Why should I complain? Cricket has been nothing but good to me, since my dear mother put me on the plane to New Zealand back in 1984, to now, not playing—thankfully—but still coaching and enjoying seeing young cricketers trying to transition to the professional ranks.

That said, Bazball and the new custodians of Indian cricket did everything they could to regain engagement from someone who has spent increasingly less time watching the game than previously. I hadn’t realised my condition until last evening (AEST).

The Oval Test had everything that I had been missing while being lured to the world of TV golf watching, culminating in as intense an hour of Test cricket as anyone could imagine. The sight of Chris Woakes, left arm in a sling, attempting to run a bye while riven with agony was excruciating in its rawness. There was so much that went before this in a series that ebbed and flowed across 25 days of combative Test Cricket. Finally ending at 11.56 am local time (8.56pm AEST) when Mohammed Siraj removed the off stump of a flailing Gus Atkinson—Kalidasa, one of India's most celebrated playwrights, could not have scripted it better for the visitors.

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As Sky Sports' Ian Ward was clumsily pressing England's coach, Brendon McCullum, on the series as a whole, and some of his charges' decisions the previous evening, while trying to bring the upcoming Ashes series into the conversation, I found myself self-reflecting on my grey divorce with cricket and this confusing England team.

What I gleaned—firstly, the cricket part.

Cricket always seems to confront me with its perpetual paradox—forever on life support while miraculously extricating itself from a zombie state to a place of unequalled vibrancy, alertness, and full consciousness. I postponed dinner and what goes with it, not wanting to miss a ball. The Oval crowd engaged and held their breaths in unison. The players' balcony was full, empty, and busy again. Only seven people were playing this game: Siraj and his able ally, Prasidh Krishna. Wicketkeeper Jurel, and catchers, KL Rahul and Captain Gill. Then the two batters. The rest of the Indian's are spread far and wide, hoping in the main to remain spectators, Ravindra Jadeja aside. Truth be told, I was calling for Jadeja to replace Krishna, and then the three-card short ball trick and Josh Tongue's furniture was spread far and wide. What do I know, pour yourself a drink!

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And for the England part.

For all the infuriating bullshit rolled out by Team England, the many moments of headless posturing, the pointless sideshows that follow this charabang, McCullum and his merry men actually know what they're doing, and they are genuinely rewriting the English cricket playbook.

Ben Stokes and Joe Root are generational cricketers and sit at the axis of England's wheel. Around them are bowlers with pace and bowlers with skill. They now have a wicketkeeper in Jamie Smith who will challenge Alex Carey this winter. Ben Duckett is as annoying as you could possibly be to bowl at, and Harry Brook is, and could be anything in the future. Brook's second innings century was labelled a "Hoodlum Hundred"—I loved the term, but if you go back over Brook's first 20 balls, you will see a restrained observation, while he determined the best time to break for the line. If only he had recalibrated and calmly steered his team home, but then where's the fun and bravery in that—his coach will forever plead the bravery clause. Listen for that through the Ashes series. See, I can't help myself!

In my defence, though, England does like to tell us and the rest of the cricket world that they are in the process of saving Test cricket. It takes two to Tango—they should be clear on this. And self-preservation is a mitigating factor in their claims. The strongest form of job security comes from being genuinely functional and hard to replace. The Bazball way must be easier to learn on the inside than the outside. I still have no clue how Zac Crawley has crept to a Test batting average of a shade over 30 in nearly 60 Tests—and he averages less than your correspondent did in first-class cricket! But then he might be "good around the group?"

Anyways, I sat down to be positive and share with you a returning relationship with the game. Not to mention a chance to break my lack of writing here. I can report seeing enough through this Test match to await November and the ensuing Ashes series in Australia eagerly.

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Some highlights:

If that was the wrong kind of hundred from Harry Brook, then my rear end is a fire engine. It was simply incredible batting. Gus Atkinson, a long way short of a gallop, returned with eight wickets for the game, shouldering a heavy workload in England's second bowling innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal, after several reprieves in India’s second innings, posted another pulsating hundred—he now has six from 24 Tests and averages over 50, opening the innings—I'll leave that there!

And Washington Sundar swinging for the fences; some of his ball-striking was only matched by Harry Brook—he must feel some redemption after speaking out of turn at Lords—which pundit Stuart Broad stated as his highlight of the series—ahh well, Broad isn't long removed from the dressing room. And then the two captains, Ben Stokes and Shubman Gill, opposites in their own ways, but equally lethal when it came to production and guile.

Not wanting to self-contradict anymore, I should close by saying thank you to both teams and the beautiful game for restoring my oscillating faith—and thank you, Baz—in the greatness of Test cricket. It's good to be back.

Damn, who can forget, Mohammed Siraj, cricket's true superpower, not only for his on-field performance, but also for his untouchable bi-lingual interview post-game. Rest easy, cricket's most loved villain.

Best, and see you soon.

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I note that Tongue received a King's Worcester education after being raised in one of England's unhappiest towns, Redditch. Modesty and decorum are the cornerstones of many private school establishments; with that in mind, England's rookie seamer just might be having a lend of us.

"With our batting lineup, we can chase anything." "We're really confident, If you look at our batting lineup, it's obviously very strong. We play a positive brand of cricket. I think chasing 371 will be a good thing for us to do. I feel like with that batting lineup, we can chase down anything." And there's more. "Their bowlers are going to bowl well in periods of the game. It's just soaking up that pressure and then reapplying it back onto them." I agree with that, Josh. But then, Tongue slips straight back into BS mode, "We'll go for the win; it's just being as positive as we can. I don't see why we can't chase that down."

And then, in defence of the bowlers—of which he is one—we got this. Tongue said of the wicket that, "When they were batting, it flattened out." So the wicket was flatter on day four than day three—he really is having a lend.

And, from India's side, KL Rahul, who displayed a consummate technique for the majority of the 247 balls he faced, said this wasn't the case and that a wearing pitch and an overly aggressive England approach will likely play into the visitor's hands. Rishab Pant agreed. I mean—no one got closer to the pitch than Pant with his commando-roll-paddling!

Rahul went on to say, "There's going to be a result. That's what England have said very openly, and their style of cricket suggests that—this gives us a good opportunity to pick up 10 wickets. It was a very tricky wicket—I spent a lot of time batting out there, and I didn't feel set at all at any stage."

So, who to believe?

Before you decide, I will say this. Josh Tongue bowled an outstanding spell between drinks and lunch. He troubled both Rahul and Pant—having Rahul dropped and narrowly missing Pant on multiple occasions. Such is the ambiguity of cricket that Pant never looked settled, in contrast to Tongue, who looked like a genuine threat—Pant makes a second hundred, and Tongue has to wait for the Indian tail to give him his just rewards.

Josh Tongue looks like a Scott Boland clone to my eye; he is strong, hits a hard length, and holds up a wide-of-the-crease line to right-handers.

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2025 has been a barren year to date. Test cricket has offered little. Australia played a short away series with Sri Lanka. India's last series was in Australia. England has been quiet, playing just one Test. Surprisingly, Zimbabwe has featured in four Tests, Pakistan in three, Bangladesh in three, and South Africa in two, one being their historic win at Lords over Australia in the World Test Championship Final.

So, it's been nice to watch a body of cricket that, for me, is becoming increasingly challenging—not due to access, but rather the exercise of watching and staying engaged.

Being English and living in Australia has me paradoxically aligned. I am closer to the Australian scene and then a long way removed from domestic cricket in the UK and, by extension, the England team. I feel that many readers here are critical of my bias toward the Australian team—which I understand. After all, I avoided a proper job for nearly 15 years by playing county cricket. I should so more gratitude.

Perhaps this shift in my attention span has been fuelled by my estranged peers. The Sky commentary team is excellent, in my view, without comparison. Mike Atherton remains as he was when we first met in 1976. Nasser Hussain still rubs most up the wrong way, but his knowledge and acumen mask his irritation. Stuart Broad comes across as the rookie he is. However, Broad provides an invaluable link to the England dressing room and leadership. Ian Ward plays the role of the ringmaster, loud and enthusiastic, but then knows his place in the pecking order. And, for this series, India's Dinesh Karthik will provide the balance needed between Nasser's hometown barracking and the youthful visitors led by Shubman Gill. This late addition is by no means an afterthought; Australia's Mel Jones offers a lot more than a cautionary female voice.

So, with that said, I haven't said much at all! Other than that, I will be tuning in this evening to see if Josh Tongue was having a laugh at us or if KL Rahul was pulling some wool over our peepers, all to the soothing tones of a Manc and an Essex lad!

Best, always.

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As is their want, Australia confidently announced their starting XI early—Lord's is the ground of the super-sub, hence the starting part!

Sam Konstas, after being jettisoned into last year's Boxing Day Test, will this time be spared the grand stage and a mouth-watering dual with Kagiso Rabada. Marnus Labuschagne moves up to open, and Cameron Green, with a closet full of county runs, bats at three. Steve Smith and the form batter of this WTC cycle, Travis Head, look ominous in the middle order for a shallow South African attack. Beau Webster plays ahead of Josh Inglis, who can consider himself unlucky after an excellent tour of Sri Lanka. Webster's bowling covers Green's inability to bowl yet.

It was here—Lord's—in 2019 that Marnus Labuschagne's Test career took hold, courtesy of soulmate Steve Smith and England's Jofra Archer. It was unfortunate for Smith—literally knocked out by an Archer thunderbolt—but fortunate for Marnus, who was subbed in and allowed to bat in Australia's second innings. Labuschagne made 59 and subsequently finished 2019 in extraordinary style with another 916 Test runs at an average of 76, including three centuries. Oh, and he started 2020 nicely also, with a double-hundred in the New Year's Test against New Zealand.

I live two suburbs over from Australian coach Andrew McDonald, so our paths cross, and Ronnie's always up for cricket chat, especially while watching the local footy. He says a lot—when he's excited—but then he doesn't say much at all. It is a real skill. Contrary to what you think at the time, Ronnie gives nothing away; he instead corrals you into his point of view. He rates Marnus, and then Marnus gives him the shits. We agreed on the gifted Queenslander being more effective when he bats to his true personality. Labuschagne is an irritation to the opposition, and it's a strength that he doesn't always use. He should. I should add that Labuschagne is an accomplished technician who's always in the contest and a terrific team player—not merely an irritation!

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On the bowling side, Josh Hazlewood's inclusion at the expense of Victorian Scott Boland strengthens NSW's hold on Australia's pace cartel.

For the record, Boland's numbers are insane. From his 13 Tests, he has 56 wickets at an average of 17 and an economy rate of less than three. His strike rate is a wicket every 38 balls. In the recent home series with India, Boland took 21 wickets in three Tests, with 10 in his last Test in Sydney. Surely, Scotty Boland has to be one of the best stunt doubles in Test history. In comparison—which is foolish—Hazlewood has 279 Test wickets, and in 2024, they cost him 13 runs apiece. An embarrassment of riches that Australia have enjoyed for some time now.

Is it a fallacy? The lucky country, the prospector's backyard, the land of the gambler, the underdog turned good. Believe me, it's not true when it comes to the Australian men's cricket team. Nearly almost, they err on the side of caution. It's not that there is an absence of speculation surrounding their decision-making and options. The leadership subtly spawns this, creating a smoke screen that inevitably leads to the obvious choice. Yes, they are so bloody conservative when it comes to selection, and this week is no exception. In Australia's defence, this World Test Championship Final is a one-off game, and Pat Cummins and his merrymen are all in for the win. As is their coach, Andrew McDonald, who told me so.

I hope you are looking forward to 'cricket in July'. It's cold and wet where I am, and the Sherrin dominates. It will be a welcome respite.

I wrote at the beginning of April that I planned to write a series of posts exploring the best (subjective) cricketers by age in 2025. I said, "The series would explore the spread of talent across the different age brackets, hoping it would show how some players develop quicker than others and how different countries manage their lists trying to avoid talent vacuums. Also, the age-old conundrum of how long successful players should play, weighing immediate success against long-term sustainability."

*Please note I am only looking at International (INT) cricket. So, Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.* No franchise cricket. I plan to do this in a separate series.

You will also have access to the stats via a Google Sheets link. (On the sheet, I placed a filter on the format column (column F) so it defaults to combined games. Thanks to my colleague, Prateek Patil, who helped connect me with Rajesh and Vijay at Kadamba Technologies, who are kindly providing the data.

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So, WHO IS The Best International player (male) aged 21 and under in 2025.

It surprised me that only 13 players were currently playing INT cricket in 2025, aged 21 and under:

Cooper Connolly, Sam Konstas - (AUS), Jacob Bethell, Josh Hull, Rehan Ahmed, Shoaib Bashir - (ENG), Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Jahandad Khan - (PAK), Andile Simelane, Kwena Maphaka - (SA), Shevon Daniel (SRL), and Jewel Andrew (WI).

By country: England dominate the list for games played.

Shoaib Bashir has only played Test cricket. 16 Tests, 11 more than England teammate, Rehan Ahmed. In part, the exaggerated volume can be attributed to England's top-heavy schedule in this World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Combining all formats (Tests, ODI's, and T20I)—Jacob Bethell and Ahmed top the list with 23 and 21 matches respectively. And, looking at the total matches (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is) played by country, England sits comfortably on top with 61. Somewhat surprisingly, powerhouses India and Australia only have nine combined—that's with India contributing zero!

Focusing on Test cricket, Shoaib Bashir leads the troupe with 16 Test appearances, significantly ahead of teammate Rehan Ahmed's five.

Bashir's (21) rapid rise from Somerset's second XI to England's frontline finger spinner highlights cricket's willingness to surprise.

In early 2024, aged 20 and with just 10 first-class wickets in the bank, England included Bashir in their squad to tour India. Many critics pointed to a threadbare record, predictable action, and the enormity of bowling spin in India. Even in an era of bold selections under Ben Stokes, Rob Key, and Brendon McCullum, Bashir's elevation caused concerned ripples. Now—in June 2025—from 16 Tests, Bashir has 58 wickets with an average in the mid-thirties. His economy rate sits at 3.8, and his strike rate is close to a wicket every six overs. Bashir claimed Rohit Sharma as his first Test scalp. He’s going nicely.

At first glance, you could easily mistake Bashir for Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Both comfortably fit the mould of a benign, woke-like off-spinner who plays cricket to delay their entry into the corporate world.

Joking aside, England's leadership deserves credit for seeing something beyond a tall twirler with reasonable drift to his stock ball. Paradoxically, visiting teams to India are continually looking to extract bounce, whereas the hosts prefer the opposite in their spinners. It will be fascinating to watch how Australia receives Bashir, bounce and all, in the upcoming Ashes.

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Jacob Bethell (21) announced himself internationally with a dominant 20-run over against Australia's Adam Zampa in Cardiff, followed by three unbeaten half-centuries in the Caribbean before earning Test selection. Born in Barbados, Bethell moved to England at 13 on a Rugby School scholarship, and later signed with Warwickshire aged 17, and starred in England U19's World Cup final run in 2022, and his breakthrough 2024 season earned international call-ups and T20 franchise deals with Melbourne Renegades, Paarl Royals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

They say looks can be deceiving. Bethell, at first glance, looks nothing like a Google CEO—instead, with his boyband looks and Caribbean background, he might be typecast as a free spirit who might not conform to orthodoxy. Yet, I have it from reliable sources at the Melbourne Renegades that Bethell is meticulous in his preparation to the point of journaling daily.

England values Bethell as a generational player in all formats, even if his career is still in its infancy. Unfortunately for him, he missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe due to his IPL commitments, allowing Ollie Pope to bat three, and he duly dipped his bread with an assured 170-odd. England's squad for the first Test against India includes Bethell, so the selectors will have to make a difficult call. Leave Pope in, or back the youngster.

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Conclusion

Of the rest, Sam Konstas rates a mention just courtesy of his arrival during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, where he went from park cricket novice to Jasprit Bumrah slayer. All eyes will be on Konstas in the WTC final and the Ashes beyond—did England's Test cricket pivot force Australia's hand? We will see.

South Africa has a real talent in Kwena Maphaka, who is the youngest of the group. Maphaka will miss the upcoming WTC final, with Lungi Ngidi returning.

The Verdict

After weighting the performances, potential, and impact across all formats, Jacob Bethell stands out as the best international player aged 21 and under in 2025.

His versatility across 23 international matches, impressive Test average of 52.00, and ability to dominate established opposition set him apart. Behind the boyband looks lurks a methodical professional whose meticulous preparation and all-format adaptability suggest England's faith in him as a "generational talent" is well-placed.

Honourable mention goes to Shoaib Bashir, who has made an impressive start to his Test career. He will have a lot of work to do from now until the New Year's Test at the SCG.

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Here’s the link to the Google sheet again. I will update as we go through the series. Once again, thank you for being here. And please post a comment if you have a strong viewpoint.

Best,