Does the theory of devalued baggy green cap fit?

On Tuesday in Sydney, Hilton Cartwright from Zimbabwe via Perth becomes the 450th Australian cricketer to receive a baggy green cap.

Serena should be taken seriously – but not literally

The one institutional restriction in professional sport is sex.

A scarcely believable ending to a strange week of cricket

Having almost won the unwinnable in Brisbane, Pakistan proceeded to lose the unloseable in Melbourne. Each is a rare and acquired art, but it is at the latter that they have had more practice.

How to fix the problem at six?

Having gone to hell (or Hobart) and back in a tumultuous season, the Australian cricket selectors are back where they began.

Warner's transformation from rodeo clown to serious actor

Azhar Ali's faultless 205 was the highest score by a visiting batsman in Melbourne since 32 summers ago, when Vivian Richards arrived at the MCG in career-worst form. Having made 162 runs from his previous 12 innings, Richards groped and clawed his way to a thoroughly unconvincing 208 from 245 balls.

Azhar brings Australian bowlers to their knees

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Azhar Ali was on his knees before his first Test century on Australian soil. Ultimately, though, it was the home bowlers whom Azhar brought to their sore and creaking haunches.

Lyon's crowdsourced wicket a distraction from spinner's struggles

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As Nathan Lyon's effectiveness as an off-spinner has dwindled, his appeal as a crowd hero has mushroomed.

Boxing Day at the MCG a test of nerves

Four Australian and eight Pakistani players will on Monday find out whether their nerves are strong enough for cricket's most intimidating theatre.

Forget the winners, it's the villains who need the Christmas presents

Christmas came early for the fairytale heroes of 2016.

When Plan A didn't work for Smith he turned to ... Plan A

Australia will take a one-nil series lead to Melbourne, but it was Pakistan who skipped off the Gabba like winners. A pale and drawn Steve Smith spoke of not having any fingernails and not particularly enjoying Test matches when they were quite so exciting, whereas Misbah-ul-Haq said he was 'very happy and proud' with a 'wonderful' effort, proceeding to tell the story of the match as if narrating a great victory. Only the scoreboard begged to differ, but few were fooled by that.