The streets get Ashwin back

The best cricket stories of the week, 14th to 20th December 2024

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1

The streets get Ashwin back

ESPNcricinfo’s Sidharth Monga has the best tribute to Ravichandran Ashwin, calling him a fearless experimenter in a land that values preserving your advantage.

“This writer once asked him if he didn't fear losing the quality offbreak. "Then what will you do?" He said if he did lose it, it would mean it wasn't his to keep. He never let that fear, that conservative mindset, come in the way of his pursuit for excellence.”

• Indian Express’ Venkata Krishna B writes about how Ashwin maintained his humanity even as the fame grew; “The R Ashwin I know: A cricketer who achieved greatness – a person who remained true to his roots”

2

Punting on Ponting

Cricket Australia’s Adam Burnett has a fantastic piece celebrating Ricky Ponting the youngster, as the older man turns 50.

"You'd watch from the other end and just marvel at him. The quicks are operating, you're struggling as all hell, and he's just doing it on a dime. It was embarrassing batting with him sometimes (laughs). He was only 18, but he was destined for greatness."

3

Testing the waters

Cricbuzz’s Nathan Johns writes about New Zealand’s packed crowds for the England series, and whether their strategy is repeatable globally.

“In an era where spiralling costs and dwindling attendances create a bleak outlook for Test matches, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) looks to have found a formula for drawing in crowds. The question is whether this is repeatable, can other nations lacking the financial heft of England, Australia and India take note? Or are the Kiwis simply taking advantage of their own good thing?”

• Writing for his own Substack, The Part-Timer, Nathan Johns also has an intriguing question for his home nation; “Should Ireland play Test cricket?”

4

The best of the rest

• ESPNcricinfo’s Nagraj Gollapudi gets a glimpse behind the Chinnaswamy curtains; “RCB team director Mo Bobat: 'Winning the IPL is our target, but the way we play is our obsession”

• Manners on Cricket’s Neil Manthorp remembers his Canadian adventure with the always enthusiastic Tim Southee; “Tim Southee and the Blue Jays”

• Between Innings’ CS Chiwanza looks at Kwena Maphaka’s childhood development as the pacer takes the Proteas by storm; “The Early Years”

• RNZ’s Bridget Tunnicliffe talks to former Kiwi Dipak Patel about his childhood and career; “Dipak Patel on fleeing Kenya, discrimination, and a 50 year devotion”

• Cricket Australia’s Andrew Ramsey remembers Australia’s first indigenous cricketer; “Aunty Faith Thomas: The trailblazer's unlikely journey to Ashes”

5

The best videos and podcasts

• Good Areas’ Jarrod Kimber takes a stab at placing Ashwin’s legacy into the context of Indian and global cricket, in the way that only he can.

• She’s in the Game’s Maitlan Brown & Hannah Darlington catch up with Amelie Kerr, the White Ferns star who’s broken into the elite this year. [Apple Podcasts]

• Powerplay’s Firdose Moonda talks to new South Africa Women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi about his team’s past performances and future plans.