Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-26 i Universal’s Summer Cricket Guide

Most cricket grounds aren’t big enough to contain the big-hitting exploits of many of today’s most attractive cricketers, especially England’s frontline ‘Bazballers’ Harry Brook, Jamie Smith and Jacob Bethell. On song, the ‘new’ England motors to 350 and 400 runs per day with a joy, vibrancy and a regularity which is filling Test match grounds around the world. Imagine if it freewheeled to 400 this Boxing Day! Upfront and central in the new positivity are these three lads with shots galore, traditional and New Millennium. Crowds love their aggressive and intent. Some would like the 6s which soar out of stadiums to be called 7s… as it used to be a century or so back with 5s and 6s. Australians are well aware of the exploding talents and confidence-levels of…

Two moments of destiny struck me like flashes of lightning in the 1950s. The first was my introduction to Ashes Test cricket in January 1951. The second was meeting the lovely Queensland girl who became my wife: for 62 years. I used to tease Debbie that she’d simply fallen for the Royal Australian Air Force uniform. Unlike many wives, she was generously understanding about my cricket fever and shared many cricket occasions with me, from Sydney to Lord’s to Windsor Castle. She was also an excellent proof-reader. But like many a cricket wife, she often regretted my absences, a regret that was mutual. My fairytale cricket landscape has a towering central peak: England v Australia – or, if you happen to reside in the deep south, Australia v England. I…

Far away Barbados has always had a mesmeric hold for those of us passionate about cricket. Known for its extraordinary arsenal of cricket legends and pop princess Rihanna, the Caribbean cricketing Citadel lives and breathes the game. Or used to. When England and Australia tour, the fever for the game is at its zenith. Or should be. All Test week in June, the Australians were escorted to and from Bridgetown’s iconic Kensington Oval by motor bike police, their sirens wailing to clear the path of the buses being led Indian file often onto the wrong side of Bridgetown’s narrow Highway 7 in scenes straight out of ‘All the President’s Men’. It’s Bajan tradition, reserved only for visiting cricket teams and for Rihanna, born and bred just a few Shamar Joseph…

The signs are clear. The planets are aligning. The Ashes is about to showcase a new champion. Alex Carey, the boy from Loxton in country South Australia, could be on the verge of a fabulous summer and favourable comparisons to the greatest wicketkeeper batsman of all-time, Adam Gilchrist. No longer is he the apprentice. He is the champion allrounder as important as anyone in Australia’s elite Test XI, Pat Cummins and Steve Smith included. From limited appearances, Carey topped the Sheffield Shield averages with 80 runs an innings last summer. Included was a rollicking hometown century on the last day of the Shield final which lifted South Australia to its first title in a generation. His drama-filled knock and matchwinning stand with Jason Sangha followed soon after his pivotal 156…

THE SCG Australia’s last 10 Tests (from latest): WWDDDWDWWD Fifth Test starts January 3 Ground capacity: 48,000 Dimensions: 156 x 154 metres Ends: Randwick (south), Paddington (north) Australia’s record v England at the SCG: Played 57: Won 27, Lost 22, Drew 8 Highest team scores: Australia: 8-659 dec, 1946-47. England: 644, 2010-11 Lowest team scores: Australia: 42, 1887-88. England 45, 1886-87 Highest solo scores: Australia: Don Bradman 234 and Sid Barnes 234, 1946-47. England: RE ‘Tip’ Foster 287, 1903-04 Best bowling: Australia: CTB ‘Terror’ Turner 7-43, 1887-88. England: George Lohmann 8-35, 1886-87 Last time (January 2022): An exciting draw ended on ther fifth day at 6.50pm in near darkness, England’s last pair Broad and Anderson at the crease. After Travis Head contracted Covid on match eve, Usman Khawaja took his place…

10 NATIONAL REPS When NSW cricket is strong, so is Australia and with seven nationally contracted players in Australia’s elite squad, NSW again dominates. Test captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Sam Konstas, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa are on national contracts in 2025-26, five playing in the wintertime World Championship final against South Africa and Konstas in the three Tests in the West Indies NSW Cricket’s Head of Cricket Performance Greg Mail says it’s always a balancing act: the pursuit of silverware or the recognition of Blues players at elite red and white-ball levels. (10 played for Australia across multi-formats in 2024-25). Despite its best players missing for most of the summer last season, NSW finished just one game shy of both the Sheffield Shield final…

Titles: 2; Runners-up: 1 Stats by Ric Finlay QUEENSLAND WHO’S WHO 2025-26 CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (3): BARTLETT, Xavier Colin. Born 17 December 1998 (Adelaide). Right-arm fast medium bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Gold Coast. ODIs (2): Debut 2023-24 v WI (Melbourne). Bowling: 8 wickets for 38. Av 4.75. BB 4/17 v WI on debut. No batting or catches. T20 Internationals (8): Debut 2023-24 v WI (Perth Stadium). Batting: 3–0–14–9 v WI (Basseterre) 2025. Av 4.66. Bowling: 13 wickets for 201. Av 15.46. BB 3/13 v Pakistan (Bris.) 2024-25. 7 catches. First-class matches (27): Debut 2019-20 for Qld v SA (Bris.). Batting: 37–10–526–70 v NSW (Allan Border Field, Brisbane) 2023-24. Av 19.48. Bowling: 93 wickets for 2428. Av 26.10. BB 5/32 v Vic (Melb) 2024-25. 5WI: 3. 25 catches. List…

BIG BIRD RETURNS The return of seasoned paceman Jackson Bird, 38, to Hobart for another season of first-class cricket is having a multi-faceted benefit for Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield squad. Bird’s consistency as a wicket-taker at state level is almost unparallelled and his example and mentoring of so many younger ones is accelerating their improvement. The tall right-armer from Sydney originally played for Tasmania in the 2011-12 season–taking 52 wickets at 16–and is the state’s leading wicket-taker, having seven times taken 30 or more wickets in a season. He has spent the last two summers back with NSW. Coach Jeff Vaughan was also enthused by the wintertime selection of key duo Jake Weatherald and Billy Stanlake for Australia A against Sri Lanka in Darwin. Weatherald made almost 1000 runs across red…

Titles: 2; Runners-up: 4 VICTORIA WHO’S WHO 2025-26 CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (4): BOLAND, Scott Michael. Born 11 April 1989 (Parkdale, Melbourne). Right-arm fast medium bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Frankston Peninsula. Tests (14): Debut 2021-22 v England (Melbourne) taking 1/48 & 6/7. Batting: 17–7–83–20 v England (Birmingham) 2023. Av 8.30. Bowling: 62 wickets for 1025. Av 16.93. BB 6/7 v England on debut. 5WI: 2. 10WM: 1. Took a hat-trick in Kingston 2025. 7 catches. ODIs (14): Debut 2015-16 v India (Perth). Batting: 4–1–9–4 v RSA (Cape Town) 2016-17. Av 3.00. Bowling: 16 wickets for 725. Av 45.31. BB 3/67 v RSA (Centurion) 2016-17. 3 catches. T20 Internationals (3): Debut 2015-16 v India (Melbourne). Bowling: 3 wickets for 90. Av 30.00. BB 3/26 v SL (Pallekele) 2016. No batting.…

Having contested yet another exciting women’s World Cup on the subcontinent In October, Australia’s elite cricketers are vying for selection for the coming multi-format internationals against the touring Indian women, featuring a one-off autumn-time Pink Ball Test at the WACA Ground in Perth. There are two new fully contracted players: 22-year-olds Tess Flintoff, a bowling allrounder from Melbourne and Georgia Voll, an opening batter from Brisbane. Flintoff has long been touted as a future Australian player having first been spotted as a 13-year-old in the Australian Cricket Society’s scholarship program. Having dominated at every pathway level, she has played for Australia A, the Governor-General’s XI and many Green v Gold challenges. Her CV also includes the fastest half-century (from 16 balls) in the history of the Weber Women’s Big Bash…

WBBL 10 STANDINGS Final: Dec 1 (St Kilda): Melbourne Renegades 9-141 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 69, Charli Knott 3-28) d. Brisbane Heat 6-90, 12 overs (Jess Jonassen 44*, Hayley Matthews 2-24), by 7 runs (D/L Method). Player of the match: Hayley Matthews. Umpires: Claire Polosak, Andrew Crozier 2024 COACHES & CAPTAINS HOW YOUR TEAM HAS FINISHED TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers) Lizelle Lee (Hobart Hurricanes) Beth Mooney (w-k) (Perth Scorchers) Georgia Voll (Sydney Thunder) Phoebe Litchfield (Sydney Thunder) Hayley Matthews (Melb. Renegades) Sophie Molineux (c) (Melb. Renegades) Alana King (Perth Scorchers) Chloe Ainsworth (Perth Scorchers) Shikha Pandey (Brisbane Heat) Samantha Bates (Sydney Thunder) 12th: Georgia Wareham (Melb. Renegades) HIGHEST TEAM SCORES 5-212 Thunder v Strikers, North Sydney, 1 Nov 3-203 Hurricanes v Scorchers, Sydney, 10 Nov…

FINAL TABLE THE FINAL: Hobart, January 27, 2025: Hobart 3-185 (Mitchell Owen 108 (off 42 balls), Matthew Wade 43*, Tanveer Sangha 2-43) d Sydney Thunder 7-182 cc (Jason Sangha 67, David Warner 48, Riley Meredith 3-27, Nathan Ellis 3-23), by 7 wickets with 35 balls to spare. Attendance: 15,706. Player of the match: Mitch Owen. Umpires: Sam Nogajski and Donovan Koch. TV umpire: Phillip Gillespie BBL MEDAL WINNERS, 2024-25 Adelaide Strikers: Jamie Overton Brisbane Heat: Nathan McSweeney Hobart Hurricanes: Mitch Owen Melbourne Renegades: Tom Rogers Melbourne Stars: Glenn Maxwell (Co-winner KFC BBL Player of the Year) Perth Scorchers: Cooper Connolly (Co-winner KFC BBL Player of the Year) Sydney Thunder: David Warner (received the Mike Hussey Medal) Sydney Sixers: Jordan Silk HIGHEST TOTALS TEAM OF THE YEAR David Warner (Sydney Thunder) (c)…

Ollie Peake, one of Victoria’s finest emerging young cricketers and already an Aussie rep The Australian Cricket Society is famous for caring for cricket. Our membershipis open to cricket lovers Australia-wide. We watch, tour, support and play. And, for almost 60 years, we’ve been celebrating the game through celebrity dinners, meetings and book launches. Last winter 12 of us went to the West Indies for the three Tests and Jamaican legend Lawrence Rowe was our guest speaker on Test eve in Kingston (see Lawrence with immediate past president Ken Piesse below). Champion fast bowler Mitchell Starc signed a cricket ball with ‘100’ on it, commemorating his centenary of Tests. In immediate planning are tours of India and England in 2027. In October, the legendary Greg Chappell, now 77 not out,…

THE INTERNATIONALS WOMEN TWENTY20 INTERNATIONAL SERIES V INDIA February 15, 2026 First T20, SCG, Sydney (n) February 19 Second T20, Manuka Oval, Canberra (n) February 21 Third T20, Adelaide Oval (n) ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL SERIES V INDIA February 24 First ODI, Allan Border Field, Brisbane (d-n) February 27 Second ODI, Ninja Stadium, Hobart (d-n) March 1 Third ODI, CitiPower Centre, St Kilda (d-n) WOMEN’S TEST V INDIA March 6-9 Pink Ball West Test, WACA Ground, Perth (d-n) WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP 2026 AUSTRALIA’S FIXTURES June 13, 2026 Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford June 17 Australia v Qualifier, Headingley June 20 Australia v Qualifier, Hampshire Bowl June 23 Australia v Pakistan, Headingley June 28 Australia v India, Lord’s Semi-finals: June 30 & July 2 (The Oval) Final: July 5 (Lord’s) MEN…

How will Joe Root be remembered in Australia? Champion or underachiever? The many-seasoned Yorkshireman with more than 20,000 international runs and a half century of 100s in more than 360 matches across three formats for England has a truly magnificent record, everywhere, except here… in Australia. One of the ageing Big Three in world cricket, alongside Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, this in all likelihood is his last hurrah – his final chance to impact an Ashes series Down Under. India’s Virat Kohli, the fourth long-time member of cricket’s most elite batting band — and its biggest celebrity — farewelled Test cricket last summer in acrimonious fashion, shouldering Australia’s teenage debutant Sam Konstas, an act not befitting the champion he is. He was booed every after and was denied the…

First Ashes Test in Australia: 1876-77, Melbourne Tests in Australia: 185 (Australia won 99, England 57, drawn 29) Overall: 361 (A 152, E 112, drawn 97) LAST 10 SERIES DOWN UNDER (all 5 Test series) * A one-off Bicentennial Test was drawn in 1987-88 Highest total (in A): Australia 9-662 dec., Perth 2017-18; England 644, Sydney 2010-11 Lowest total (in A): Australia 42, Sydney 1887-88; England 45, Sydney 1886-87 Most Ashes Tests: Allan Border (A) 47; David Gower & Graham Gooch (E) 42 Most runs: Don Bradman (A) 5028 at 89.78; Jack Hobbs (E) 3636 at 54.26 Highest average: Don Bradman (A) 89.78; Herbert Sutcliffe (E) 66.85 Most runs in a series (in A): Don Bradman (A) 810, 1936-37; Walter Hammond (E) 905, 1928-29 Highest score (in A): Bob Cowper…

BARBADOS (Test 1): A boilover win had beckoned at the height of Shamar Joseph’s pillages. Instead the hosts were humbled by more than 150 runs, seven dropped catches, six sodas, costing the Windies any chance of a David and Goliath opening win when Australia was its most vulnerable without injured champion Steve Smith. The coup de gras came in the first 15 minutes on the third morning when Justin Greaves at second slip dropped man-of-the-match Travis Head when he’d made just 21. Head finished with 61. In a low-scoring game, his match-high 120 runs across two innings was pivotal. Greaves’ hard-handed fumble was a shocker, the pressure imparted by the zippy Shamar immediately being released. Instead of being exposed to Joseph while he was still fresh, next-man-in Alex Carey was able…

CAPTAIN PAT CUMMINS Right-arm fast bowler, No.8 right hand bat, represents Penrith. Test, ODI & T20 debut 2011-12. Tests 71. Tests v England: 19, 471 runs at 20.47, highest score 44*, Birmingham 2023; 91 wickets at 24.10, best bowling 6-91, Leeds 2023, 2 5wI. ODIs: 90. T20s: 57 (his last in June 2024). Has captained Australia in 37 Tests since 2021-22 for 23 wins, 8 losses & 6 draws. His record in 9 Tests as captain v England is 5-2-2. Australia’s most popular and dynamic sportsman, with magnetic boy-next-door appeal, Cummins continues to lead the national team with flair and snowballing success, winning two of every three Tests. Took six for 28 in the World Championship Final at Lord’s in June. Still bowls at imposing pace, without reaching the consistent…

Where is he? Does he exist? He must be found… the Ashes are at stake. The English cricket selectors and public hope and pray that amongst all those who have been tried this northern summer that a matchwinner will step up – with attitude, zip, durability and a positive loathing for Australian batsmen. History can be bunk, but in this case the evidence is conclusive. In the 107 years since the end of the First World War, England has won Ashes series in Australia only seven times. And in the new millennium, just once. For those watching from 13,000 miles away, a drawn series would be almost as good as a win. But even for that to happen, England needs a genuine fast bowler, fit, hungry and resilient. Think Harold…

ADELAIDE OVAL Australia’s last 10 Tests (from latest): WWWWWWLWWW Third Test starts December 17 Ground capacity: 50,000 Dimensions: 167 x 123 metres Ends: River/City end (south), Scoreboard/Cathedral end (north) Australia’s record v England in Adelaide: Played 33: Won 19, Lost 9, Drew 5 Highest team scores: Australia 582, 1920-21. England: 5-620 dec, 2010-11 Lowest team scores: Australia: 100, 1891-92. England: 124, 1894-95 Highest solo scores: Australia: Bobby Simpson 225, 1965-66. England: Kevin Pietersen 227, 2010-11 Best bowling: Australia: Albert Trott 8-43, 1894-95. England: Jack ‘Farmer’ White 8-126, 1928-29 Last time (December 2021): Recalled as captain for the first time since the shame of Cape Town – Cummins dropping out on match-eve with Covid concerns – Steve Smith’s 93 and a century from Labuschagne were pivotal in a rollicking win under…

Titles: 1; Runners-up: 2 Stats by Ric Finlay NEW SOUTH WALES WHO’S WHO 2025-26 CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (7): CUMMINS, Patrick James ‘Pat’. Born 8 May 1993 (Westmead, Sydney). Right-arm fast bowler, No.8 right hand batsman. Club: Penrith. Tests (71): Debut 2011-12 v RSA (Johannesburg). Batting: 105–13–1548–64* v WI (Bris.) 2023-24. Av 16.82. Bowling: 309 wickets for 6829. Av 22.10. BB 6/23 (took 10/62 in match) v SL (Bris.) 2018-19. 5WI: 13. 10WM: 2. 33 catches. ODIs (90): Debut 2011-12 v RSA (Centurion). Batting: 59–22–537–37 v NZ (Dharamsala) 2023-24. Av 14.51. Bowling: 143 wickets for 4116. Av 28.78. BB 5/70 v India (Mohali) 2018-19. 4WI: 7. 24 catches. T20 Internationals (57): Debut 2011-12 v RSA (Cape Town). Batting: 27–12–158–28 v NZ (Auckland) 2023-24. Av 10.53. Bowling: 66 wickets for 1556. Av…

DOING THE HOKEY DOKEY Douwtjie ‘Dokey’ Hoogenboezem may not be a household name in Adelaide just yet, but he shapes as a genuine prospect for Shield honours sometime this summer or next. ‘Dokey is among a very strong group of rookies,’ said coach Ryan Harris. ‘His impressive performances in the second XI for Western Australia have us excited about his prospects going forward.’ South African-born, the 21-year-old left-handed opener represented Fremantle in Perth club cricket last summer and is among several new faces in SA’s senior squad. His unbeaten century at second XI standard against Victoria came from 415 balls in February. He is playing club cricket at Woodville. ‘It’s an awesome opportunity to learn from some of the best cricketers in the country,’ he said. ‘It’s great to be…

Titles: 0; Runners-up: 2 Stats by Ric Finlay TASMANIAN WHO’S WHO 2025-26 CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACT: ELLIS, Nathan Trevor. Born 22 September 1994 (Greenacre, Sydney). Right-arm medium fast bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Lindisfarne. ODIs (12): Debut 2021-22 v Pakistan (Lahore). Batting: 9–4–73–18 v RSA (Centurion) 2023-24. Av 14.60. Bowling: 15 wickets for 565. Av 37.66. BB 2/13 v India (Visakhapatnam) 2022-23. 4 catches. T20 Internationals (26 to 12 Aug): Debut 2021 v Bangladesh (Mirpur). Batting: 7–3–30–11* v NZ (Auckland) 2023-24. Av 7.50. Bowling: 38 wickets for 740. Av 19.47. BB 4/28 v Pakistan (Lahore) 2021-22 4WI: 1. 8 catches. First-class matches (10): Debut 2019-20 for Tas v WA (Hobart) taking 3/120 & 6/86. Batting: 14–0–205–41 v WA (Park 25, Adelaide) 2020-21. Av 14.64. Bowling: 42 wickets for 1232. Av 29.33. BB…

MARSH SCHOLARS EXCEL Two of the teenagers from the Rod Marsh Wicketkeeping Academy have frontline roles this summer as Western Australia looks to a season of rejuvenation. Joel Curtis, 25, has earned his first full contract while fellow wicketkeeper batsman Simon Budge, 18, is among three new WA squad rookies. Deputising behind the stumps for international Josh Inglis, Curtis earned his first state contract after playing eight of WA’s 10 Shield matches in 2024-25. He won the Olly Cooley Medal as WA premier cricket’s most outstanding player, amassing 972 runs at an average of 81 with six centuries for Perth CC. In between juggling his high school commitments, WA under 19 captain Budge was the most prolific player at the National Championships with 346 runs at almost 60. Included were…

CAPTAIN ALYSSA HEALY Opening batter, No.1 wicketkeeper. Club: Sydney CC. Schools: MLC, Burwood/Barkers College, Hornsby (Sydney). 1.66m. Test debut 2011-12. ODI & T20 debut 2009-10. Tests: 10, 489 runs at 30.56, highest score 99 v RSA, WACA Ground, Perth, 2023-24, strike rate 56; 24 dismissals (22 catches & 2 stumping). Has captained 4 Tests for 3 wins & 1 loss. ODIs: 115, 3198 runs at 34.76, hs 170, 5 100s, sr 97; 115 dismissals (80c & 35s). Has captained 21 ODIs for 17 wins, 3 losses & 1 no result. T20s: 162, 3054 runs at 25.45, hs 148 not out, only 100, sr 129; 129 dismissals (65c & 63s). Has captained 50 T20s for 30 wins, 19 losses & 1 tie. Belinda Clark Medallist: 2019 After a season ravaged by…

Pakistan’s finest four players are all part of this summer’s BBL|15 which promises to break all attendance records Australia-wide given the presence of up to 20,000 cricketing visitors from the UK for the Ashes. The world-class Shaheen Shah Afridi joins fellow debutants Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf as leading overseas players in the best T20 League of all, bar the IPL. Left-arm speedster Shaheen is a headliner with the Brisbane Heat, while Babar, another former Pakistani captain, is at the Sydney Sixers and Rizwan, the Melbourne Renegades. The Melbourne Stars retained expressman Rauf, another master of the white-ball leagues. Other internationals this summer include NZ pair Finn Allen (Perth Scorchers) and Lachie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder) and Englishmen Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes) and Sam Curran (Sydney Sixers). BBL…

1. The Ashes, A Coming of Age Memoir, Mark Browning. Wilkinson Books. Softback. $35 Foreword by Greg Chappell who calls it: ‘enduring, evolving, essential.’ 2. Breaking Barriers, from Barbados to England… and back, Roland Butcher. Fairfield Books. Hardback. $50 Includes six forewords from Sir Clive Lloyd to Lord Ian Botham to Sir Hilary Beckes. 3. In Syd’s Voice, the extraordinary life of Dave Lawrence, with Dean Wilson. Fairfield Books. Hardback. $50 A gripping story of the first blackman to play for England and his battle with MND. 4. Victory in Australia, the remarkable story of England’s Greatest Ashes Triumph 1954-55, Richard Whitehead. Bloomsbury. Hardback. $60 A classic remake of England’s most famous post-war Ashes tour led by cricketing immortal Len Hutton. 5. Cricket World Cup, A Celebration of the ODI…

As the Middlesex ‘Twins’ Denis Compton and Bill Edrich marched triumphantly off Kennington Oval in 1953, upstairs in the BBC commentary box, Brian Johnston was in a high state of euphoria. ‘It’s the Ashes… the Ashes,’ he exclaimed, his voice racing. He couldn’t have been more excited had he won the Lottery. After almost two Bradman-dominated decades, England had reclaimed the old urn, emphatically winning the deciding Coronation Year Test by eight wickets. It was yet another irresistible chapter in cricket’s keenest and oldest rivalry, which has produced more words and books, I dare say, than any other sport in the world. Despite the rise of other teams: the West Indies were hostile and imperious in the 1980s and these days India formidable everywhere, the anticipation for Anglo-Australian contests remains…

1 2019, Leeds: The modern-day Miracle of Headingley is engineered by a Kiwi-born left hander by the name of Stokes, Ben Stokes. Australia is just one wicket away from an unbeatable 2-0 lead and England needs 70-odd runs. Surely only one team can win from there… 2 1993, Old Trafford: ‘That Ball’, Shane Warne’s Ball of the Century. It hums, veers, spins and hits top of off, Mike Gatting is bowled. Years of Warne-inflicted Ashes torment begins. And it was only his warm-up. 3 1936-37, MCG: Don Bradman reverses the batting order waiting for the wicket to dry. Delaying his entry, he makes an epic 270 from No.7 (including 192 runs on day 4) as Australia — bowled out initially for 76 — mounts a massive against-the-odds comeback to the joy of…

The iconic Greg Chappell has just released his 10th cricket book, the Chappell Chronicles, co-written with Australia’s most published sportswriter and author Ken Piesse. Now 77, Greg’s polished writings will delight. From Thommo and DK Lillee to today’s stars, his expert opinions make him one of the game’s ultimate voices. On offer to our CRICKET SUMMER GUIDE readers are three signed and numbered hardbacks, limited to just 200 copies. We also have the new season TLA Trading Card series, so popular with all of you. We will send cards to the first 30 entries; please only one entry per household! And as always some lovely new books including two new ones from Affirm Press and Vol. 14 of Australia’s cricket annual, the Digest, edited by Fox Sport’s stats wizard Lawrie…

Match scores: Australia (sent into bat) 212 (Smith 66, Carey 23, Webster 72, Rabada 5-51, Jansen 3-49) and 207 (Labuschagne 22, Carey 43, Starc 58 not out, Rabada 4-59, Ngidi 3-38) lost to South Africa 138 (Bavuma 36, Bedingham 45, Starc 2-41, Cummins 6-28) and 5-282 (Markram 136, Mulder 27, Bavuma 66, Starc 3-66) by five wickets, Lord’s, London, June 11-14. The fall-out from Australia’s shock loss at Lord’s was considerable with the careers of several household names on the brink… but the bigger picture was enlightening. South Africa’s shock unseating of the Aussies created a new world order and was an elixir of life for Test cricket which had teetered for years dominated by England, India and Australia, with New Zealand a distant fourth. Just 20 or so months ago,…

Tasmanian Mitch Owen is among many exciting newcomers vying for more Australian honours after his scintallating debut in the West Indies. The clean-hitting 24-year-old from Hobart ensured his status as a one-day franchise warrior after the most spectacular white-ball innings of the 2024-25 domestic summer. His 149 from 69 balls included fourteen 4s and ten 6s against South Australia, which won the Dean Jones Trophy. Tasmania finished with a tournament high 8-330. After Owen’s dismissal in the 20th over, Tassie was 4-197. Australia’s best white-ball players were due to play Fifty50 and Twenty20 series against India in spring, preceding the Ashes. AUSTRALIA’S LEADING ODI PLAYERS * Ages at October 15…

CAPTAIN BEN STOKES Born: June 4, 1991, Christchurch, New Zealand. Left-hand middle-order batsman, right-arm medium pace. First-class debut: 2009-10, aged 18. Test debut: 2013-14. Tests: 115, 7032 runs, av 35.69, highest score 258 v South Africa, Cape Town 2015-16, 14 100s, strike-rate 60; 230 wickets at 31.64, best bowling 6-22 v West Indies, Lord’s 2017, 5 5wI, s-r 59, economy rate 3.31. Record v Australia: 24 Tests, 1562 runs at 36.32, HS 155, Lords 2023, 4 100s; 41 wickets at 38.95, BB 6-36, Nottingham 2015, 2wI. Has captained 38 Tests since 2020 for 23 wins, 13 losses & 2 draws. Has 13 times sent in the opposition for 8 wins, 3 losses & 2 draws. His record in 5 Tests as captain v Australia is 2-2-1. ODIs 114. T20s 43.…

PERTH STADIUM Also known as: Optus Stadium Australia’s recent record (from latest): LWWWW The ‘West Test’ starts November 21 Ground capacity: 61,500 Dimensions: 165 x 130 metres Ends: Langer Stand end, Member’s end Australia’s record v England at Perth Stadium: Yet to play Last time in Perth (WACA Ground, December 2017): Despite starting with 400-plus, England lost by an innings after massive, career-best contributions from Australia’s then-captain Steve Smith (239) and Mitch Marsh (181). England’s top six was: Cook, Stoneham, Vince, Root (captain), Malan and Bairstow. What to expect: Fireworks! Jofra Archer’s intimidating high-pace inswing backed by Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse is likely to discomfort whoever is chosen to open for Australia. England must start well to truly compete. Ben Stokes is a key; Joe Root too – despite…

ONE-DAY GREATS HONOURED The contributions of Dean Jones and Michael Bevan, two of Australia’s greatest one-day players, have been recognised in Australia’s elite domestic oneday cup competition… so important for white-ball franchise recruiters around the world. The two limited overs stars of the ‘80s and ‘90s were recognised last December. The trophy final is in Dean Jones’ honour while man of the match in the final receives the Michael Bevan Medal. Tasmania’s Mitch Owen immediately benefitted from the exposure, being feted by several overseas franchises and being called into Australia’s T20 squad in the Caribbean internationals in July. His strike-rate in 2024-25 was unsurpassed and included an incredible 149 from just 60 balls against eventual champions South Australia in Adelaide. ONE-DAY CUP 2024-25 Titles: Western Australia 17, NSW 12, Queensland…

TORNADO CAL EXPLODES Fast bowling tyro Callum Vidler has only just turned 20 but could be Queensland’s finest fast bowling prospect since Craig McDermott. So impressive and pacy was the redhead on his Sheffield Shield debut last autumn, that he retained his place for the Shield final and took five wickets for the match. At 183cm (6ft), he is of whippy build and already seriously fast, the speed gun measuring his raw pace at 148km/h on debut. Alongside fellow Bulls contracted players Hugh Weibgen, Tom Straker and Lachlan Aitken, Vidler was a member of Australia’s 2024 Under 19 World Cup championship team. Only Lance Morris and Mitchell Starc are quicker and if Vidler can maintain his form, fitness and ferocity, he could be a wildcard Australian selection in the near…

Titles: 1; Runners-up: 1 Stats by Ric Finlay SOUTH AUSTRALIA WHO’S WHO 2025-26 CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (2): CAREY, Alex Tyson. Born 27 August 1991 (Loxton, SA). Middle-order left-hand batsman, wicketkeeper. Club: Glenelg. Tests (43): Debut 2021-22 v England (Bris.). Batting: 65–7–2010–156 v SL (Galle) 2024-25. Av 34.65. 100s: 2. 159 catches & 18 stumpings. No bowling. ODIs (80): Debut 2017-18 v England (Bris.). Batting 72–12–2149–106 v England (Manchester) 2020. Av 35.81. 100s: 1. 91 catches & 8 stumpings. No bowling. T20 Internationals (39): Debut 2017-18 v NZ (Syd). Batting: 27–5–255–37* v Pakistan (Harare) 2018. Av 11.77. 19 catches & 9 stumpings. No bowling. First-class matches (99): Debut 2012-13 for SA v NSW (Adelaide). Played for Sussex 2019. Batting: 165–16–5642–156 for Australia v SL as above. Av 37.86. 100s: 11. 372 catches…

Titles: 4; Runners-up: 0 WESTERN AUSTRALIA WHO’S WHO 2025-26 CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (6): GREEN, Cameron David. Born 3 June 1999 (Subiaco, Perth). High order right-hand batsman, right-arm fast medium bowler. Club: Subiaco-Floreat. Tests (32): DebuT 2020-21 v India (Adelaide). Batting: 51-5–1565–174* v NZ (Wellington) 2023-24. Av 34.02. 100s: 2. Bowling: 35 wickets for 1236. Av 35.31. BB 5/27 v RSA (Melbourne) 2022-23. 5WI: 1. 34 catches. ODIs (28): Debut 2020-21 v India (Canberra). Batting: 24–8–626–89* v NZ (Cairns) 2022-23. Av 39.12. Bowling 20 wickets for 784. Av 39.20. BB 5/33 v Zimbabwe (Townsville) 2022-23. 4WI: 1. 13 catches. T20 Internationals (13): Debut 2021-22 v Pakistan (Lahore). Batting: 12–2–263–62* v Scotland (Edinburgh) 2024. Av 26.30. Bowling: 12 wickets for 279. Av 23.25. BB 3/35 v Scotland (Edinburgh) 2024. 6 catches. First-class…

WOMEN’S NATIONAL CRICKET LEAGUE 2024-25 Final: March 2, AB Field, Brisbane: NSW Breakers 215 (Anika Learoyd 90, Grace Parsons 3-29) d. Queensland Fire 194 (Georgia Redmayne 97, Lauren Cheatle 2-32), by 21 runs. Umpires: Michael Graham-Smith and Gerard Abood Player of the match: Anika Learoyd (NSW) BEST BOWLING MOST RUNS MOST WICKETS CENTURIES WNCL RECORDS HOW YOUR TEAM HAS FINISHED LAST 11 TITLEWINNERS NSW 5, Tas 3, Qld 1, SA 1, WA 1 Most runs: Elyse Villani (Vic-Tas), 2015-25, 3513 runs at 51  Highest score: Meg Lanning (Vic), 190 v Tas, Hobart, 2016-17 Most hundreds: Elyse Villani (Vic-Tas), 2015-25, 12 Most wickets: Amanda Jade Wellington (SA), 136 wickets at 22 Best bowling: Stella Campbell (NSW), 7-25 v ACT, Canberra, 2021-22 HIGHEST SCORES MOST CATCHES…

ADELAIDE STRIKERS Coach: Ryan Harris Home ground: Adelaide Oval Internationals include: Hasan Ali (Pak)  Average attendance in 2024-25: 28,593 BRISBANE HEAT Coach: Johan Botha Home ground: The Gabba Internationals include: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pak) Average attendance in 2024-25: 26,593 HOBART HURRICANES Coach: Jeff Vaughan Home ground: Blundstone Arena  Internationals include: Rehan Ahmed (Eng) Average attendance in 2024-25: 9459 MELBOURNE RENEGADES Coach: Cameron White  Home ground: Marvel Stadium, Docklands  Internationals include: Mohammad Rizwan (Pak) Average attendance 2024-25: 21,526 MELBOURNE STARS Coach: Peter Moores Home ground: MCG Internationals include: Joe Clarke (Eng)  Average attendance in 2024-25: 24,401 PERTH SCORCHERS Coach: Adam Voges Home ground: Perth Stadium  Internationals include: Finn Allen (NZ) Average attendance in 2024-25: 38,507 (record) SYDNEY SIXERS Coach: Greg Shipperd Home ground: SCG Internationals include: Babar Azam (Pak) Average attendance in…

John Benaud’s The First Ball After Lunch is a cricket connoisseur’s delight. Beautifully produced in an admittedly expensive limited edition, it’s an unusual cricket book: each chapter a course in a meal. The cover shot of a dinner plate with a cricket ball on it reminds of the inner sleeve from Warren Zevon’s 1976 album Excitable Boy, famous for its hit single Werewolves of London. There, instead of a cricket ball on the dinner plate, is a handgun with veggies. The text is engaging and vibrant and makes you wish the younger Benaud had concentrated on books, rather than daily journalism after his playing retirement, at just 29. The younger brother of the legendary Richie, John was a lesser cricketer but the superior writer. Ironically ‘baby John’ finished with a…