New Zealand vs Pakistan: Test Series Preview

The obvious point to make ahead of a New Zealand – Pakistan Test series is that the two sides have, on the face of it, diametrically opposed approaches. New Zealand are sometimes dull, usually reasonably efficient and often mediocre, whereas Pakistan are exciting, unpredictable, inconsistent and fleetingly brilliant. Recently, though, New Zealand have been through [...]

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Twenty20 Champions League Preview: Part One

Club cricket takes a new turn this week with the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League. Here’s a brief run-down of the sides involved: The Cape Cobras, although without the injured Graeme Smith, will still have plenty of firepower with JP Duminy and Herschelle Gibbs the main threats. The lack of access to the large pool of [...]

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Champions Trophy Final Preview

The Champions Trophy, even though it’s only the Carling Cup of international cricket tournaments, has – partly due to its timing – taken on a disproportionate significance in many people’s minds with regard to the future of 50-over cricket. Leaving aside wider questions about whether the format is enjoying a renaissance, whether the tournament’s design [...]

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Champions Trophy: Group B Preview

South Africa have always been the nearly men of 50-over cricket, but they did win the Champions Trophy back in 1998, since when they have developed a reputation as big tournament bottlers. This is South Africa’s best chance in years to win some ICC silverware, as well as to cast off the ‘chokers‘ tag. New [...]

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Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: Test Series Preview

Away from the tension, hype and seagulls (yes, honestly, seagulls) of the build-up to the final Ashes Test, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are preparing for a Test series of their own. For most of the tourists, Test cricket in Sri Lanka will be a new experience (only three members of the Black Caps’ squad [...]

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Black Caps Agree to Pass on IPL Cash

There has been a lot of talk recently about the rise of Twenty20 freelancers, with Andrew Symonds and Andrew Flintoff both being linked speculatively with the idea of wandering Twenty20 specialists playing in four or five different countries’ domestic Twenty20 competitions a year rather than playing for their country. Kevin Pietersen is the latest player [...]

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Bond is back

Shane Bond looks set to return to Test cricket, and he won’t even need to wear a comedy disguise. Having cut all ties with the ICL, the Kiwi pace bowler has made himself available for selection by New Zealand. The news has been welcomed by captain Daniel Vettori, given the injury problems that frustrated his [...]

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ICC World Twenty20: Super Eight

Group E England recovered well from their shock defeat to the Netherlands in the tournament opener to record a relatively convincing win over Pakistan, but doubts remain over the side’s ability to push on and score big if the top order fails. It would be a surprise if the hosts were to make it as [...]

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ICC World Twenty20 Preview: Group D

New Zealand beat India in their recent warm-up match for this tournament, which is bound to raise hopes that the Black Caps will pose a real challenge. Brendon McCullum is perhaps the archetypal Twenty20 batsman (as he showed in his dramatic introduction to the IPL last year), and Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram are both [...]

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The End of the ICL?

The Indian Cricket League, currently in limbo following the cancellation of its World Series in the wake of last year’s attacks in Mumbai, and apparently running seriously short of cash, has offered its Kiwi players the option of being released from their contracts. Some of the New Zealanders involved, notably Shane Bond and Darryl Tuffey, [...]

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New Zealand turn the tables, then the screw

Ahead of the Second Test in Napier, with India having been so convincing in the first you would have been offered stratospheric odds on New Zealand forcing them to follow on, Sehwag twice getting out for less than 35 and Jesse Ryder making a double century. Yet all of those things have come to pass. [...]

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Women’s World Cup Final Preview

England and New Zealand will contest the World Cup Final in Australia with both looking for their first tournament wins away from home (and the first ICC-sponsored Women’s World Cup). England were much fancied at the start of the tournament, but their 17-match winning run was recently brought to an end by Australia (admittedly in [...]

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