Welcome to fantasy land for cricket nuts, where Shane Warne is finance minister of Australia — until he gambles the entire GDP away — and Sanath Jayasuriya is president of Sri Lanka.
Cricket
English fast bowling legend Alec Bedser dies at 91
Alec Bedser played 51 Tests for England and took a then world record 236 wickets. As Cricinfo’s David Frith writes, the man was larger than life.
How to speed up cricket? Ban left handers!
In an effort to speed up the game, plans have emerged to ban left-hand batsmen and bowlers – whatever next?
Deconstructing the IPL gravy train
Ashok Malik takes a look at all the crazy places where money is being promised, and made, in the phenomenon that is the Indian Premier League.
Howard, the diplomat, may prevail as ICC president
The appointment of John Howard as International Cricket Council president from 2012 is more due to his diplomatic nous and less because of his awful bowling technique.
The inaugural Crikey Sports Monday week in sports wrap (official name pending)
First Dog on the Moon and Leigh Josey get together to shoot the breeze in the inaugural wrap of the sporting week that was. Rather hilariously inappropriate sporting commentary from the Crikey bunker.
One Day cricket: does anyone still care?
Only 635,000 people watched the cricket on Nine last night. Simply put: people are watching something else. Anything else. Is there a future for One Day cricket in Australia? asks Leigh Josey.
Political snippets: Mac’s randy Ranny ripper
Tennis great John McEnroe serves up a classic when introducing SA Premier Mike Rann. Plus, is no game sacred, arsenic on your cereal and other political snippets.
“Racist” KFC ad only the second worst cricket ad ever
So KFC has come under fire from overseas for its latest TV ad being supposedly racist. But the real question is, why are cricket ads so terrible? asks Leigh Josey.
I love Mr Cricket
Leigh Josey pens an ode to Australian cricketer Mike Hussey, “the zany uncle of the Australian cricket team who really isn’t that zany at all. But he is also steel personified. Chuck Norris is scared of him.”
Political snippets: Forget about boat people: it’s still the economy, stupid
A new Morgan poll says it’s still the economy and environmental issues that Australians think are the most important, soccer match-fixing in China, and Thailand takes the stealing of religious artifacts very seriously.
Howzat?! AP, Reuters, FP boycott Aussie cricket
News agencies the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse are refusing to cover Australia’s three-test series against the West Indies in protest over Cricket Australia’s attempts to restrict their coverage of the event.
A 2020 vision of Australian sport
As the century’s first decade comes to an end, a look at how various Australian sporting codes are faring, and where they might be in another ten year’s time.
Classic Crikey presser: Tasmanians unite to free Jason Krejza
Is this Crikey’s funniest ever press release? Join Concerned Tasmanians for Jason Krejza (CT4JK), a lobby group aimed at getting Tassie spin bowler Jason Krejza selected for the Aussie side.
Nine’s cricket team: all out except Slats
As the cricket season eases into its being, it’s time to reflect on the Channel Nine commentary (read pensioners) team, most of whom are well beyond their use-by dates, mulls Michael Vaughan.
Football codes bury hatchet to defend alcohol sponsorship
Football codes are uniting against a Health Task Force recommendation that would see advertising during live sport broadcasts phased out during high adolescent/child viewing times and the end of alcohol sponsorship of sport, writes Simon Chapman.
NSW Blues bat their way to a million-dollar pay-day
The NSW Blues are set to leave India’s Champions League Twenty20 competition with at $US1.3 million — and a potential $US2.5 million if they can take out the series. Howzat?!
Partner swapping: One Day Cricket’s opening stands
Openers who’ve had the most batting partners, and those with the fewest. Sachin Tendulkar’s had 19 — but that only puts him in fifth possie on Cricinfo’s table.
And that was the Ashes; a sissy fight in the schoolyard
The truth is that the Ashes 09 were like two pretty ordinary sides that were fighting like sissy kids in the schoolyard. One of them won. It wasn’t Australia.
England wins Ashes, 16 months of barmy humour ahead
For the next 16 months we have to endure open-top buses, MBEs for scratchy batsman and all the jokes about how rubbish we are, writes Jarrod Kimber.
Crikey wrap: Let the Ashes blame game begin…
As the blame game begins, what is the world’s media saying about the Ashes? For a start, Ricky Ponting’s captaincy has been called into question, writes Crikey intern Emily Finlay.
Ashes 09: Tories and no balls everywhere at The Oval
There was no atmosphere at the Oval today, writes Jarrod Kimber.
Ashes 09: The Oval, the Fifth Test preview
Ashes series are only played every four years in the hearts and minds of the average English fan (the Australian series are in a shocking time zone). So this test is like the Olympic final of Tests.
Should England have kept faith with Ravi Bopara?
The London Times’ cricket correspondent Mike Atherton questions England’s decision to leave Ravi Bopara off the squad in favour of Jonathan Trott.
