Sport
Cricket
Smith the opener dares quicks to bounce him with new ball
Steve Smith says the world’s quickest bowlers will have to risk wasting their new ball if they want to pummel him with short-pitched bowling now that he’s an opening batsman.
- by Daniel Brettig
Latest
Scorchers fight back for vital BBL win against Brisbane
Suffocating bowling from the Perth Scorchers has delivered them a brilliant Big Bash League win against the table-topping Brisbane Heat.
- by Alex Mitchell
Scorchers bat first in BBL blockbuster against the Heat
Just three days after the Heat brushed aside the Scorchers at the Gabba, the sides meet again in Perth although some headline names are missing for both teams.
- by Alex Mitchell
Opinion
Australian cricket
Aussie fans used to idolise West Indies greats. Now we need to Google their players
The shortest path to public notice for the Windies’ young players will be to put up strong resistance against an Australia team very much at the height of its powers.
- by Geoff Lawson
Like Bradman, Smith seeks a way out of bouncer barrage
A yearning for “normal cricket” has compelled Steve Smith to open the batting for Australia, as he seeks a way out of the cycle of short balls, negative tactics and slow scoring.
- by Daniel Brettig
Opinion
Test cricket
Test cricket split into two divisions is better than nothing at all
Here’s a wrong-’un of an idea. Test cricket could split into two divisions. The first would consist of Australia, England and India - who have been manoeuvring towards a closed shop anyway - and maybe New Zealand and South Africa, suitably subsidised.
- by Greg Baum
Opinion
Test cricket
Windies greats Holding and Roberts fear glory days will never be seen again
The West Indies’ era of dominance, once a source of pride, now echoes as a distant memory. Fast-food cricket leagues have dealt the killer blow.
- by Greg Chappell
Updated
Big Bash
Warner’s flying visit to SCG unable to stop Thunder batting collapse
The former Test opener arrived in style for the “Sydney Smash” match on Friday night after flying in from his brother’s wedding, but could not inspire the Sydney Thunder to victory in front of a record SCG crowd.
- by Jonathan Drennan
Test matches are the priority for Australia’s bowling quartet, says Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood says one-day cricket may be sacrificed by Australia’s record-breaking attack as they strive to continue their Test careers through the next Ashes and beyond.
- by Malcolm Conn
Opinion
Australian cricket
Sack the lot – selectors do nothing as cricketers pick the team themselves
If it’s not doing anything beyond backing the senior players’ decisions, when is it time for the selection panel to be formally dissolved, consigned to the irrelevance it has so eagerly embraced?
- by Malcolm Knox
Opinion
Australian cricket
Cameron Green was dropped five months ago. Why the mad rush to bring him back now?
What does it say to Cameron Bancroft and aspiring Test players when a gluttony of runs means less than Green’s unrealised potential?
- by Andrew Webster