Skills

NOVEMBER 26, 2013

The quickest spell I ever faced

Jon Hotten: When up against really fast bowling, the unconscious functions required to see the ball and judge it are overwhelmed by the sheer speed of what is happening

To face a bowler as fast as Mitchell Johnson is to confront the limit of your ability © Getty Images

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NOVEMBER 07, 2013

What has happened to the art of swing?

Nicholas Hogg: If a bowler hits the popping crease with a booming sidewinder that starts outside off and is about to uproot leg stump, not many batsmen are going to try anything fancy

OCTOBER 29, 2013

A yorker state of mind

Krishna Kumar: Your early cricketing experience hugely influences your ability to consistently pitch it in the blockhole as an adult

OCTOBER 27, 2013

New Zealand cricket

Sodhi, the answer to a 40-year quest

Leg spin is argued to be one of the toughest arts to master, as New Zealand know very well. Since their last premier exponent, Jack Alabaster, retired in 1972, there have only been three others have made it to the national side, and unobtrusively vanish. But Ish Sodhi, the fourth and most recent entrant, exhibits both skill and intent that tempts Andrew Alderson, in the New Zealand Herald, to suggest their 40-year wait for an attacking legspinner might be over.

In the second test against Bangladesh, Sodhi demonstrated enough to suggest he is something special. Rhythm, loop and speed were packaged into an action reminiscent of India's Anil Kumble. Sodhi possesses an attacking mindset. His three first innings wickets for 59 runs from 18.5 overs made you sit up straight on the couch. If he can eliminate the four-balls which release pressure each over, he'll threaten.