Cunning double-meaning-subject-lines* aside, the face of cricket is about to change as a series of high profile players announce their retirement from the game. Firstly, there was Damien Martyn a week or so ago, who didn’t so much announce his retirement as just went away on holiday, but today saw two more. Steve Harmison announced he won’t be playing any more one day cricket in order to prolong his Test career (probably because enormous wides and crap bowling can be hidden more easily at Test level), a tactic which worked well for Shane Warne, who confirmed that he will be …read more

Whilst the ICC Champions Trophy trudges dull-ly along with scant chance of seeing any sort of exciting gamesplay, I thought I start a feature that looked at the quirkier side of cricket. It might turn out as a sort of cricketing glossary. Similar to the feature that Channel4 used to run, before they stupidly gave up the rights lost the cricket, the name of which I’ve forgotten*. That said, it was a much better feature than Sky’s Willow and Stumpy a godawful animated pool of cricketing sputum.
So in this inaugural edition, I’m covering a peculiar affliction that doesn’t apply only …read more