Malcolm Knox

Credit to Nick Kyrgios. He did not throw in the towel.

Quitter hitters should leave the kitchen

COMMENT

The retirement rate (if not the retirement age) has gone up by 50 per cent across the men's and women's games in the past decade.

Missing you already: Chris Lynn hits lustily for the Heat.

Mid-year report for the Bingewatch League

Like any binge television viewing, the Big Bash League moves too fast for analysis of one particular match. Themes can, however, emerge from the continuum, and here's a report card of the BBL06 season so far.

Under-employed: Hilton Cartwright in the change rooms after Australia's victory.

Cartwright the forgotten man who delivered just four overs

Whatever the Australian selectors thought they were doing when they chose Hilton Cartwright for the Test match in Sydney, Steve Smith evidently did not think they had picked him as an all-rounder on a dry fifth-day pitch.

Test captain Steve Smith bats during day four of the Third Test against Pakistan at the SCG.

Poor scheduling puts heat on Australian tourists in India

Between now and the start of the first Border-Gavaskar Test match, Australia have no strenuous first-class engagements that will remotely approximate the pressure that will come down on them on 25 February.

Like watching paint dry: Two fans during the rain delay at the Sydney Cricket Ground on the third day of the Test.

Rain of terror killing cricket

Recorded long-distance telephone conversation between Kerry Packer (location: The Hereafter High-High-Rollers' Room) and unnamed Nine Network cricket producer (location: Sydney Cricket Ground). Date: First week of 2017.

Perfect pair: Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb pose with the SCG Honour Board.

Handscomb the mad scientist of batting

Just before 11am on Wednesday, 20-year-old Matthew Renshaw walked off the Sydney Cricket Ground to a standing ovation after scoring 184, his maiden Test century.

Study in contrasts: David Warner and Matt Renshaw.

Turtle and the Bull: Warner and Renshaw an original odd couple

It's not only the Big Bash League that produces double-headers. In a single day of Test cricket, David Warner unfurled an innings for the ages and Matthew Renshaw the innings of a lifetime.

Victory dance: Dave Warner's celebration blurred the line between joy and rage.

No guts, no glory: Warner is the avatar of all-out attack

So this is what a hundred before lunch looks like.

Australian captain Steve Smith in the nets before the third test at the SCG.

Sydney's still a Test cricket city

Sydney has embraced its Big Bash franchises, the Sixers and Thunder. Both have won the tournament, yet Sydney cricket crowds still reserve their hearts for the New Year's Test match.

Incoming: Hilton Cartwright will make his debut for Australia at the SCG.

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.

Malcolm Knox

Sport