Breaking down the PSL’s surprising growth
The best cricket stories of the week, 19th to 25th April 2025
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1
Breaking down the PSL’s surprising growth
Profit’s Abdullah Niazi writes about the PSL’s finances, and the league’s bright future of a league despite all odds.
“I am not against the PCB or the HBL PSL. What I am against is mediocrity. HBL PSL needs to take criticism positively and work with franchises to evolve and grow the brand, not pretend everything’s perfect,” [said Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen]
…It was the most public expression of discontent in the HBL PSL that has happened yet between the team owners. While it might not seem so, this is probably the biggest sign that the HBL PSL has been a success beyond what anyone could have expected.”
2
The T20 spin cycle
Sportstar’s Sahil Mathur analyses the growth of mystery spin in T20 cricket, from the early mid-00s internationals to the modern IPL.
“India spin legend Harbhajan Singh puts it simply: “They’re finger spinners who bowl with the wrist — like me or (Ravindra) Jadeja — but they don’t spin the ball as much. Their hands work like playing carrom; that’s the mystery — the action.”
Unlike conventional spinners who use flight and turn, mystery spinners operate differently. Traditional spin uses an upright seam with revolutions. Mystery spin comes with a scrambled seam, hiding the ball’s behaviour till late.”
Sportstar’s Pranay Rajiv traces the return of a seemingly forgotten bowling weapon; “Once rare, now ruthless: The rise of left-arm wrist spin in IPL”
3
Building the basement of Women’s cricket
ESPNcricinfo’s Andrew McGlashan writes about the new Women’s tournaments in England, and how they can - for the first time ever - create a middle-tier of solid pros to improve the Women’s game.
“I remember thinking, if I'm not playing for England by the time I'm 15, then I'll need to give up, which is crazy," Castle recalls. "And then, there was always something else that just kept me going, until I'm 17 … until I'm 19 ... I was in my third year of university when there were murmurs around professional cricket happening, and because I'd always worked in cricket, I managed to transition in when I'd finished.”
4
The best of the rest
Code Sports talks to former Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha about fleeing the country after last year’s coup; “Ruined my career’: Cummins’ mentor fights shocking allegations” [It’s a weird, Australia-specific headline]
The Times’ Simon Wilde writes about the back-and-forth on bat development in cricket; “Big bat clampdown gets personal — and how batsmen are trying to swerve it”
ESPNcricinfo’s Greg Chappell eulogises Keith Stackpole; “Goodbye, Stacky”
Cricket Australia’s Andrew Ramsey remembers Norman Callaway, the Aussie youth prodigy killed at just 21; “Fallen and forgotten: Tragic tale of a boyhood batting star”
5
The best videos and podcasts
Beyond23’s Michael Clarke talks to Rashid Khan about his career, Afghanistan’s growth as a team, and how he misses playing in Australia since the diplomatic furore between the two countries after the Taliban coup. [YouTube]
Pak Passion’s Saj Sadiq talks to former player and broadcaster Bazid Khan about the structural issues in the PCB, why Pakistan isn’t producing world class cricketers, & the ‘correct’ ways to criticise the system. [YouTube]
Good Areas’ Jarrod Kimber talks to bowling aerodynamics expert and ECB analyst Aaron Briggs about the science behind swing bowling. [YouTube]
Wisden Cricket Weekly’s Ben Gardner & Yas Rana talk to editor Lawrence Booth about this year’s Wisden Five, and the editorial in the Almanac slamming the ICC and BCCI for their control of the game. [Apple/Spotify]