Did Rohit fulfill his Test potential?
The best cricket stories of the week, 3rd to 9th May 2025
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Did Rohit fulfill his Test potential?
ESPNcricinfo’s Sidharth Monga writes about the ups-and-downs of Rohit Sharma’s Test career, as the Indian captain announced his sudden retirement this week.
“When the other batters of his age group started to dip, when the spinners started to get on, Rohit the batter played a big role in sustaining India's unbeaten series streak at home. In this dominant period, Rohit averaged 54.43 at home when the average top-six batter managed only 34.47 in these Tests. At home he was like Virender Sehwag - incidentally the only Indian to have hit more Test sixes than Rohit's 88 - but in 2021 he also showed the promise of being able to bat like Rahul Dravid when away.”
Indian Express’ Venkata Krishna B looks at the deserved beneficiary of the decision; “With a solid technique and good mindset, Sai Sudharsan a likely candidate for India cap after Rohit Sharma retirement”
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Does spitting on a ball make that much of a difference?
ESPNcricinfo’s Sidharth Monga analyses the new trend of reverse swing in the IPL, and argues that are eyes (and some data!) may be lying to us.
“Last year, 11% of deliveries, excluding slower balls, swung more than 1.5 degrees after the tenth over; this year it's 18%. It has almost gone from one in ten to one in five.
However, before we conclude that there has been more reverse swing than in the Covid-19 years, when the use of saliva to shine the ball was banned, we need to first acknowledge that degrees of swing is a flawed measure.”
Sportstar’s Abhishek Saini looks at this IPL’s favourite delivery; “How the yorker is reasserting its dominance in IPL 2025 — a deep dive into stats”
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Fitness or fatness complaints?
ESPNcricinfo’s Valkerie Baynes talks to ex-international Lauren Winfield-Hill about the England Women’s team’s “fitness” criticisms, and the rise of new talent through the new domestic structure.
“I think the biggest thing is the physicality and the athleticism," [Lauren Winfield-Hill] tells ESPNcricinfo. "Can you hold long spells as a bowler? Can you get up and down for twos as a batter? And how good's your fielding; are you cutting twos, are you taking catches?"
If that falls under the banner of fitness, Winfield-Hill says "yeah, there's some big improvements to be made" in the England Women's squad.
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The best of the rest
The Telegraph’s Nick Hoult & Connor Ibbetson dig up the cricketing costs of war; “The untold stories of English cricket heroes who died in Second World War”
Cricbuzz’s Telford Vice recounts the view from SA; “A blot on Rabada's record, but no more than that”
The iPaper’s Evie Ashton talks to four players affected by the latest, seemingly over-reaching ECB policy; “'It's devastating': Trans cricketers feel betrayed by the game they love”
The Part-Timer’s Nathan Johns reads through financial documents to analyse Ireland’s plans; “Where is Cricket Ireland spending their money?”
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The best videos and podcasts
Beyond23’s Michael Clarke talks to Mike Hussey about being a player versus a coach, the state of international cricket, and more. [YouTube]
IWM’s Cyrus Broacha talks to Joy Bhattacharjya about the Aussie side that dominated world cricket in the 2000s. [YouTube]