Inside Cricket

Unwritten laws rely on civility. When beneficial unwritten laws are overtaken by written legislation, a society normally has a problem. An over-legislated society tips over from orderly to oppressed. Some unwritten laws, it’s true, are ridiculous. Many others make the world work. Have you ever noticed what happens when you go into a shop and pay for something on your card? Without exception, normal people adhere to an unwritten law: they look away just as you key in your pin number. Cricket has had its share of unwritten laws. The nonsensical ones have prevented the game progressing creatively. But one has endured for very good reason. The approval of incessant short, fast deliveries to tail-enders has done away with an important safety net. Of all the old “gentleman’s game”, “spirit of cricket” mores,…

Despite an uncanny number of physical and mental setbacks, 19-year-old Southern Stars speedster Lauren Cheatle has already left a mark on Australian women’s cricket. The left-arm tearaway quick, who grew up in Bowral, home to none other than Sir Donald Bradman himself, made her T20 International debut at the age of 17 in early 2016, before reinforcing her selection with a pair of ODIs against New Zealand in February of 2017 for the Stars. But despite the five T20I wickets and two ODI wickets to her name from only a handful of games, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Cheatle. One of the more difficult tasks for Lauren was juggling the NSW Higher School Certificate with her cricketing pursuits. Maintaining a rigorous study program combined with completing the two-hour drive to the…

"Some other things, apart from the ‘headbutt' business, were said by Australia in the middle but what they were is staying there … Only if they are said again would the matter go further.” Jonny Bairstow, suggesting Australia crossed several lines in the first Test. "If that's not motivation to the players I don' t know what is. Seriously." Joe Root, on Steve Smith’s open amusement at the post first-Test presser, when Bancroft was relating the story of Bairstow’s “headbutt”. “He was saying I was slow, so it was nice I sort of beat him for pace. That was good.” Craig Overton, on dismissing of Steve Smith in the Adelaide Test. "They have played fantastic ally well throughout the series. They were the far better side.” James Anderson, speaking on behalf of a…

RECORDS GO WEST England’s Dawid Malan (140) and Jonny Bairstow (119) added 237 for the fifth wicket in Perth. They broke the record for the fifth wicket for England against Australia previously held by Denis Compton and Eddie Paynter, who had added 206 in 1938 at Nottingham. In the same Test, Australia’s Steve Smith (239) and Mitchell Marsh (181) put on 301 for the fifth wicket. The highest stand for the fifth wicket against England is 405 between Sidney Barnes and Don Bradman in Sydney in 1946-47. His double century enabled Smith to reach 1000 runs in 2017. This is the fourth time in a row that he has reached 1000 runs in a calendar year – from 2014 to 2017. Only fellow Australian Matthew Hayden has achieved it more often, five times…

CENTENARY TEST STARS HONOURED IN MELBOURNE The Boxing Day Test at the MCG, venue for the Centenary Test 41 years ago (March 12-17, 1977), celebrated the heroes of that astounding match with laps of honour – better late than never! For those of you too young to remember, here are some Centenary Test facts that made it the famous match it was: ▄ Australia won by 45 runs, the same result and margin as that of the first-ever Test at the same venue. ▄ The great Australian ‘keeper Rod Marsh scored 110 not-out in the second innings. ▄ England’s Derek Randall made 174 in England’s chase of 463 and almost got them there. ▄ Marsh caught Randall when he was on 161 and didn’t claim the catch after Randall was given out. ▄ Australian opener Rick…