crickedle blog
The 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 · 2026-07-07
The 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
A 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
A 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
Facing 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 · 2026-07-02
A 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 · 2026-07-01
How 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 · 2026-06-30
Why 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 · 2026-06-29
How powerplays and fielding restrictions shape limited-overs cricket — why only so many fielders may guard the boundary, and how batters and bowlers respond.
Explainers · 2026-06-28
Why 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 · 2026-06-28
A 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 · 2026-06-27
A 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 · 2026-06-27
A 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 · 2026-06-26
How 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 · 2026-06-26
What 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 · 2026-06-25
How 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 · 2026-06-24
Inside 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 · 2026-06-24
How 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 · 2026-06-23
A 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 · 2026-06-23
The 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 · 2026-06-22
How 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 · 2026-06-22
A 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 · 2026-06-21
How 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 · 2026-06-20
How 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 · 2026-06-20
A 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 · 2026-06-19
A 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 · 2026-06-18
A 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 · 2026-06-16
A beginner-friendly guide to cricket's three international formats — how Test, one-day and Twenty20 cricket differ in length, tactics and skills.
Explainers · 2026-06-14
A guide to the Melbourne Cricket Ground — the size, the Boxing Day Test, the history and the atmosphere of Australia's greatest sporting arena.
Grounds · 2026-06-12
A 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 · 2026-06-10
New 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 · 2026-06-08
What 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 · 2026-06-06