Resilient Australia close to becoming a powerhouse

Mar 9, 2014: They have the aggressive opening bowler and batsman and the imaginative captain to become unbeatable. The No. 3 slot is the only chink in their armour

The Warner effect, and Johnson v Steyn

Mar 7, 2014: A look at the key aspects that ensured a 2-1 series result for Australia in South Africa

Australia in South Africa 2013-14

Warner and Johnson a class apart

Mar 6, 2014: ESPNcricinfo marks the Australian players out of 10 following their impressive series win in South Africa

South Africa v Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town, 5th day

Where did Harris find the swing and strength?

Mar 5, 2014: Plain numbers will never explain how good Ryan Harris was in Cape Town, where he defied logic and a crocked knee to bowl Australia to a famous victory

The icing on the season's cake

Mar 5, 2014: Test cricket is in roaring health and there has been no proof more ringing than the enthralling South Africa v Australia series

South Africa v Australia, third Test, Cape Town

Manly Mitch, and a funny DJ

Mar 4, 2014: Test cricket in Newlands means lots of colour, noise, and a bit of ogling

SA v Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town, 1st day

Clarke (just about) survives Mornzilla

Mar 1, 2014: A blow-by-blow account of Morne Morkel's fearsome attack on Michael Clarke

South Africa v Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town

Warne soothes Clarke's worry

Feb 28, 2014: Shane Warne has turned up in Cape Town at a helpful moment for his friend in need, Michael Clarke, ahead of a pivotal Test match meeting with South Africa

'I never wanted to be a cricketer'

Feb 28, 2014: Dirk Nannes likes messing about in the snow, can't speak Japanese or Dutch, and once saw Brad Hodge throw a shoe to delay a game

Steyn's spell from hell

Feb 26, 2014: No other bowler in the world today could have won the match in Port Elizabeth so suddenly and with such effect

Could it be New Zealand's World Cup year?

Feb 25, 2014: A few predictions and some surmise about the tournament from a year away

Baz's Basin feats, and Ireland the giant slayer

Feb 25, 2014: Also, centurion No. 8s, cricketers nicknamed "Stumpy", and youngest List A players

The tradesmen

Feb 24, 2014: A Barber, a Cook, an Engineer and other cricketers whose names are also professions

Jason Gillespie

'You do what you need to do for the team'

Feb 21, 2014: Jason Gillespie talks about what separates a good fast bowler from a great one, and why it's important to find a balance between rest and practice

Johnson v Smith, and other such contests

Feb 21, 2014: The case of left-handed batsmen against left-arm fast bowlers, and New Zealand's batting high this season

South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Port Elizabeth

Revisiting the ghosts of 1997

Feb 19, 2014: In 1997 Australia secured a remarkable come-from-behind victory in Port Elizabeth which helped define a generation. The lead in to the Test this year has some striking similarities

All hail the Man of the Series

Feb 19, 2014: In modern times, the most accurate method of anointing the best of the best is surely an analysis of those who have been voted top performers in series most often

Johnson's demolition, and last stands

Feb 18, 2014: Also, most runs in a 50th Test, most keeping dismissals without a stumping, and greatest difference between innings scores in a Test

The Mitchell Johnson effect

Feb 16, 2014: Whole batting line-ups have been laid to waste by the raw pace and confidence of Australia's fast-bowling leader

South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Centurion, 1st day

More bust than boom

Feb 12, 2014: Proper cricket fans would have enjoyed Shaun Marsh's doggedness and Steven Smith's strokeplay - pity there were too few in the ground