Victoria completes 'accidental' Shield hat-trick

In 2014, Cricket Victoria reversed its emphasis. From time immemorial, it had set out to win Sheffield Shields, believing the bi-product would be a stream of Australian players. Three years ago, it decided that its No. 1 KPI would be Australian caps, and the Shield could look after itself. One consequence, says CA cricket manager Shaun Graf, is that coaches and selectors became more adventurous, also looked more favourably on youth.

Some cricketers should be seen and not heard

• COMMENT

The Test series between Australian and India was riveting, but there were some things we did not need to see or hear.

Small victories all round, but still the Indians prevail

Australia had moral victories, and personal victories, and technical victories, and an actual victory. They had a victory over doomsayers - and let's face it, we were legion - a victory over an old phobia about playing in India, and a victory for their unorthodox, laboratory-style preparation. They won respect, which they have not always enjoyed in India. They won hearts. They probably even won the war of words, if anyone cares.

India wears down Australia's last resistance

The impossible Australia did immediately, but the miracle is going to have to wait at least another couple of years.

Australia v India Test series 2017: Brave Aussies live to fight another day

So after another day of the unexpected, in a series of the unexpected, we go to an unexpected decider.

Cummins quickens Australian hearts

• ANALYSIS

If not a red letter day for Australia, it was at least a red leather day. Pat Cummins on his return to Test cricket took four wickets, and is not done yet.

Smith and Maxwell blaze the trail

• ANALYSIS

Steve Smith looked to the dressing room at least twice, at 50 and 100, and again as he walked off at stumps, unbeaten. If in Bengaluru he had misguidedly needed an outside opinion about whether or not he was out, it is a long time since he has needed direction about how to stay in. This was his 11th cenury in 21 matches since he become captain, merely 16 months ago. He is Australia's man for all situations, seasons and reasons.

The Centenary Test 40 years on - cricket with style

The way the Melbourne Cricket Club pulled the Centenary Test together moved Marylebone Cricket Club secretary Billy Griffith to remark: "This must be the most magnificent effort ever made by any cricket authority."

Three cheers for the underhand way

Wilt Chamberlain has two prodigious claims to fame, and one at least is verifiable. The first is that he slept with 20,000 women. The other is that one night in Pennsylvania in 1962, playing for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks, he shot 100 points in a game of basketball, a record unlikely to be broken.