crickedle blog — cricket guides, grounds and explainers
In-depth cricket guides from the team behind the daily game: rule and format explainers, visits to the world's great grounds, the stories behind the sport's tournaments, and the craft of batting, bowling and keeping. Every article is researched and written by Spud — no filler, no reposts.
A short history of Test cricketThe origins and evolution of Test cricket from the first match in 1877 — how the five-day game grew, spread across nations and earned its place as the ultimate format.
History · 2026-07-08
Cricket captaincy: the thinking gameThe captain never stops thinking — field placement, bowling changes, reading the pitch and the batter, and leading eleven players through a match that shifts every over.
Players · 2026-07-06
Adelaide Oval: cricket's most picturesque arenaA guide to the Adelaide Oval — its stunning redevelopment, the day-night Test tradition, the heritage scoreboard and why it's one of cricket's loveliest grounds.
Grounds · 2026-07-05
T20 franchise leagues around the world, explainedA clear guide to the global T20 franchise circuit — how city-based leagues like the IPL and Big Bash work, why the model spread and what it means for cricket.
Tournaments · 2026-07-03
The art of opening the battingFacing the new ball is cricket's hardest first hour — the temperament, the tight technique, seeing off swing and seam, and building the platform an innings is made on.
Players · 2026-07-01
Newlands, Cape Town: cricket beneath Table MountainA guide to Newlands in Cape Town — one of the most beautiful grounds in the world, set below Table Mountain, with its oak trees, history and atmosphere.
Grounds · 2026-06-30
How the IPL changed cricketHow the Indian Premier League, launched in 2008, reshaped cricket — the franchise model, the rise of T20, player wealth and a shift in the game's balance.
Tournaments · 2026-06-28
The toss, the pitch and reading conditions in cricketWhy the coin toss matters in cricket, how a pitch changes over the course of a match, and how captains read conditions to decide whether to bat or bowl first.
Explainers · 2026-06-26
The all-rounder: cricket's most valuable playerWhy genuine all-rounders are so prized — the balance they give a side, the batting and bowling types, the rarity of the real thing, and how they change a team's shape.
Players · 2026-06-25
Powerplays explained: cricket's fielding-restriction oversHow powerplays and fielding restrictions shape limited-overs cricket — why only so many fielders may guard the boundary, and how batters and bowlers respond.
Explainers · 2026-06-23
Every way to get out in cricket, explainedA clear guide to the modes of dismissal in cricket — bowled, caught, LBW, run out and stumped, plus the rarer ways a batter can lose their wicket.
Explainers · 2026-06-22
The SCG: a guide to the Sydney Cricket GroundA guide to the Sydney Cricket Ground — the heritage stands, the New Year Test, the famous Hill and the unique character of one of cricket's great venues.
Grounds · 2026-06-20
The story of the Ashes: cricket's oldest rivalryHow a mock obituary in 1882 gave birth to the Ashes, the tiny urn behind it, and why England versus Australia remains cricket's most enduring rivalry.
History · 2026-06-18
Slip, gully, cover: cricket fielding positions explainedA clear guide to cricket's named fielding positions — the on side and off side, slips and the cordon, catchers versus boundary riders, and attacking versus defensive fields.
Explainers · 2026-06-17
The follow-on in Test cricket, explainedWhat the follow-on is, the runs threshold that triggers it, and the tactical gamble of enforcing it — one of the most fascinating decisions in Test cricket.
Explainers · 2026-06-15
What makes a great wicketkeeperInside cricket's most demanding job — standing up versus standing back, glovework and footwork, reading edges and reviews, and why a keeper who bats is priceless.
Players · 2026-06-13
DRS explained: how cricket's review system worksHow the Decision Review System works — ball-tracking, edge detection, the umpire's call margin and exactly what happens when a team asks for a review.
Explainers · 2026-06-12
The Oval, London: a guide to England's other great groundA guide to the Kennington Oval in London — home of the first Test in England, the traditional end-of-summer Test, its gasholders and its history.
Grounds · 2026-06-10
The Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method, explained simplyHow rain-affected limited-overs cricket is decided fairly — the idea of resources, par scores and revised targets, and why the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method exists.
Explainers · 2026-06-08
The googly, the doosra and the art of wrist spinHow wrist spinners deceive batters — the leg-break, googly, top-spinner and flipper, and the fine art of reading which is which straight out of the hand.
Explainers · 2026-06-07
A short history of the Cricket World CupThe story of the men's 50-over Cricket World Cup, from its 1975 beginnings in England through decades of change in format, tactics and global reach.
Tournaments · 2026-06-05
How cricket scoring works: runs, extras and the scorecardA clear guide to how cricket runs are scored — boundaries, extras like byes, leg byes, wides and no-balls — and how to read a cricket scorecard at a glance.
Explainers · 2026-06-03
The art of spin bowling, explainedHow spinners really work — flight, drift and turn, off-spin against leg-spin, and the patient art of out-thinking a batter over an over rather than overpowering them.
Players · 2026-06-02
LBW explained: cricket's most argued-about ruleHow leg before wicket really works — the line of the ball, where it pitches, where it strikes the batter, and whether it would have gone on to hit the stumps.
Explainers · 2026-05-31
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai: a visitor's guideA guide to Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai — the sea breeze, the roaring crowd, the World Cup history and why it's one of India's most electric grounds.
Grounds · 2026-05-30
Lord's, the Home of Cricket: a visitor's guideA guide to Lord's Cricket Ground in London — its history, the famous slope, the Long Room, and why it's called the home of cricket.
Grounds · 2026-05-28
How the IPL auction works, explainedA clear guide to the Indian Premier League auction — purses, retentions, the Right to Match card, overseas limits and why the bidding gets so wild.
Explainers · 2026-05-26
Test, ODI and T20: cricket's three formats explainedA beginner-friendly guide to cricket's three international formats — how Test, one-day and Twenty20 cricket differ in length, tactics and skills.
Explainers · 2026-05-25
The MCG: a guide to the Melbourne Cricket GroundA guide to the Melbourne Cricket Ground — the size, the Boxing Day Test, the history and the atmosphere of Australia's greatest sporting arena.
Grounds · 2026-05-23
Eden Gardens, Kolkata: cricket's great cauldronA guide to Eden Gardens in Kolkata — the history, the famous atmosphere, the great matches and why it's one of cricket's most intimidating venues.
Grounds · 2026-05-21
A beginner's guide to cricket roles and positionsNew to cricket? A clear guide to the roles — openers, top order, all-rounders, wicket-keepers and the different kinds of bowler — and how a team fits together.
Explainers · 2026-05-20
The art of fast bowling, explainedWhat makes fast bowling so hard and so thrilling — pace, swing, seam, the yorker and the bouncer, and how great quicks set batters up over an over.
Players · 2026-05-18