Off Stump

I hate the joke about London buses and two coming along at once but the point it makes is interesting and one that does seem to happen often in life (or is it just a matter of perception?). Batting stances are not something I've paid huge amounts of attention to in the past, mainly because I've always believed that results matter, technique doesn't. And in cricket, more than many other sports, success is more about mental strength than technical ability. So to come across not one but two articles on the very same (and not oft written about) topic of bat position was very educational to say the least. The first one was more informational and a touch provocative in that it takes a relatively firm stance that bat down is better than up. The second one was more specifically about Root and his technical deficiencies stemming from being bat up. Interestingly they were written by the same person so clearly SB Tang feels deeply about the issue. Not deeply enough though to...

Somehow, I've gotten into the habit of posting here only when I have longish pieces written up. There's a lot that keeps happening that leads to more one-off quick thoughts so will attempt to jot them down here more often.

England and Pakistan will object (as might Sri Lanka and the West Indies) but in my view the 2015-16 season begins in earnest on Thursday. South Africa and New Zealand are currently the most watchable when it comes to Test match cricket and Australia and India are next on the list. So for all four to be in action at the same time with little overlap in timezones is joyous (if sleepless) news for fans like myself. Further down the road there is England's visit to South Africa and Australia's return trip to Kiwiland to look forward to as well. There's already a number of things happening either for the first time or after a long gap. India and South Africa have not played a four Test series since 1992 and never that many in India. India are playing a home Test for the first time in nearly two years.The Kiwis rarely get to play three away Tests against the top teams (in fact they haven't in nearly five years). England, surprisingly haven't played in South Africa in ...