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Ben Jones analyses a genius in-waiting. That’s Babar. The sound that a cricket bat makes when striking a cricket ball, when striking it sweetly, is among the most iconic in all of sport. No other game can claim to have a moment, a single sound, as filled with both poetry and quality, both style and […]
CricViz analyst Freddie Wilde explains the consequences of Australia selecting Steve Smith in their T20 team. The selection of Steve Smith in Australia’s T20 side is hugely significant, not only because it sees the addition to the squad of a player whose T20 credentials remain in considerable doubt, but because selecting him has knock-on effects […]
Ben Jones analyses the structural issues hampering England’s T20 side. In 12 months time, England will begin their T20 World Cup campaign. Broadly, they are in good shape. They have numerous excellent opening options, from Bairstow, Roy and Buttler, to Hales, Vince and Banton. They have all-rounders, spin options, guys who can swing the ball […]
CricViz analyst Freddie Wilde examines the most significant selection battle of England’s tour of New Zealand. England’s T20 squad for their five match series against New Zealand contains six players yet to make their T20 international debut. Five of them, who haven’t played international cricket at any level, attracted the most attention: the opening batsman […]
Patrick Noone looks at how Australia’s number three lit up Adelaide Oval in the first T20I. In cricket, and indeed all sports, there are countless examples of players just fancying it on a certain ground or against a certain opposition. Circumstances which, for whatever reason, bring the best out of a player. For Glenn Maxwell, […]
Ben Jones analyses whether or not the red ball genius should be in the T20 side. After a year in which ODIs and Tests have each had their moment in the spotlight, attentions around the world have begun to turn to T20. The World Cup for the shortest international format is now only a year […]
Ben Jones analyses a fantastic series performance for the Indian opener. Rohit Sharma is in a very good moment. Three centuries in his four innings against South Africa, recording an astonishing average of 132.25 over the series, is a seriously impressive return for a player who started the home summer with plenty to prove in […]
Patrick Noone reflects on another dominant series for India India are becoming even better at home There are no signs that India’s formidable record on home soil is likely to change any time soon. On the contrary, even as pitches differ more across the many different venues India play at, they consistently find a way […]
Patrick Noone looks at the make-up of each Hundred team after yesterday’s draft *All ‘Best XI’ lists assume availability for whole squad Trent Rockets Stephen Fleming has assembled a side rich with local talent, as has been his tendency as coach of T20 franchises around the world. Luke Wood, Tom Moores, Matt Carter, Steven Mullaney […]
Ben Jones casts his eye over who needs what in Sunday’s draft. Trent Rockets Draft Position: 1st Red Ball Player: Joe Root Local Icons: Alex Hales, Harry Gurney Coach: Stephen Fleming Priorities: Middle order batsmen, Powerplay bowlers, spin bowlers The clue is in the name for the Trent Rockets – their home ground is going […]
Ben Jones looks at why the Indian captain has such an ability to double up. Virat Kohli is a double-century making machine. In the last Test against South Africa in Pune, the Indian captain built a near flawless 254* (336) to anchor the first innings, as the hosts progressed to a near insurmountable 601-5d. It was, […]
Patrick Noone looks ahead to Sunday’s draft and picks out the key factors that will determine how the eight teams look to build their squads. The importance of Kolpaks With only three overseas players per side allowed, the presence of a number of Kolpak players could make for tempting selections for teams looking to preserve […]
Ben Jones analyses the Indian seamer, and his excellent second innings record. India claimed another emphatic home win in Visakhapatnam today, after twin centuries from Rohit Sharma were too much for South Africa to handle. A wonderful first-innings partnership from Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock gave the Proteas hope that maybe they would be […]
Ben Jones analyses how selection works in the current English game. 1548 red ball runs in a single season, at an average of 64.50, all while opening the batting in Division One of the County Championship. They are appealing numbers, an irrefutable case to open the batting for England in Tests, at a time when […]
Freddie Wilde analyses the talking points from England’s T20 squad for the five match series in New Zealand – England’s first engagement as they embark on their year-long preparation for next year’s T20 World Cup. Developmental squad After a marathon home summer it was expected that England would rest a number of their major players […]
Ben Jones analyses the Worcestershire’s captain’s place in international cricket. Against Sri Lanka in the World Cup, Moeen Ali had the chance to take England home. He swept the ball to the boundary, then found the man at long-on. He was dropped from the XI. Moeen had the chance to bowl England to victory on […]
Ben Jones analyses one of the great series performances. Cricket has a great history of literature, of eminent scribes writing in exhaustive detail about the exploits of long dead men, of their greatness, of their genius, of the impassable nature of their achievements. For some it adds to the allure of the game, and enhances […]
Ben Jones analyses a battle that meant a lot, while it happened. Context. We call out for it, in cricket, at every opportunity. Why can’t this ODI series mean anything, we cry, as 20,000 people leap into the air in joy and fear. Why can’t this dead-rubber Test capture our imaginations like live ones, we […]
Patrick Noone looks at how England’s opener adjusted his approach to succeed on Day 3 at The Oval. To say Joe Denly got into the England Test team through the back door would be something of an understatement. This time two years ago, it appeared that the nine ODIs and five T20Is he played in […]
Patrick Noone analyses a superb display of fast bowling on Day 2 at The Oval. It seems to remarkable to think that it is still two days short of a month since Jofra Archer bowled his first ball in Test match cricket. He’s packed quite a lot into those four matches and 29 days. Since […]
T20 Legends: Sunil NarineApril 2, 2020 - 7:54 am
CricViz Analysis: Babar and Virat – One and The OtherFebruary 19, 2020 - 12:37 pm
CricViz Analysis: Where Should Buttler Bat?February 12, 2020 - 9:02 am
CricViz Analysis: Mark Wood’s SpeedJanuary 28, 2020 - 12:05 pm
CricViz Analysis: Jos Buttler v Ben FoakesJanuary 25, 2020 - 10:00 pm