My heart says New Zealand, head South Africa

Jan 29, 2015: How the top eight teams stack up ahead of the World Cup, plus predictions for the knockouts

Why cricket needs yellow and red cards

Jan 18, 2015: David Warner's repeated transgressions tell us that the game has a discipline problem that has got out of hand

Is this New Zealand's best World Cup chance?

Jan 13, 2015: With form players in all departments, depth in selection, and efficient backroom staff, this team has plenty to be excited about

A year of triumph and disaster

Dec 19, 2014: While 2014 will be always remembered for the shocking death of Phillip Hughes, there was joy as well, courtesy Misbah, McCullum, and the ICC's efforts against chucking

It's largely even between bat and ball

Dec 11, 2014: Each skill evolves over time to get the edge over the other, but as long as conditions encourage both, there's no cause for worry

Towards a kinder, gentler game

Nov 29, 2014: The death of Phillip Hughes is a reminder to us that we would do well to change the tone of cricket for the better

The perils of premeditation

Nov 19, 2014: Due to the demand for sixes in T20, more and more batsmen are resorting to predetermined slogging, which leads to their downfall in the other formats

The men and memories that made me

Nov 13, 2014: Of Sobers, Sutcliffe, Hookes and other inspirations and influences down the years

The insecure kid who never grew up

Oct 14, 2014: Kevin Pietersen missed the point of life in the second half of his career, failed to show maturity, and has regressed to being the bitter youngster who left Natal years ago

Minding the gap

Oct 4, 2014: The space between two balls is where cricket is really played

A blueprint for England's World Cup campaign

Sep 10, 2014: Teams need to start strategising now for next year's event by picking the right men for various roles. England need to get on it sooner than most

Dhoni the Test wicketkeeper needs a break

Sep 4, 2014: History has shown that a vibrant keeper infuses energy into a side, but that quality has gone missing in the case of India's captain

Test cricket's young Fab Four

Aug 29, 2014: Kohli, Root, Smith and Williamson will take turns as the No. 1 Test batsman. So far each has shown only one technical weakness

Cricket cannot bend rules to accommodate chuckers

Aug 21, 2014: Maintaining a healthy balance between bat and ball does not mean the authorities must give those with dodgy actions leeway

Should Dhoni focus on one-day cricket?

Aug 14, 2014: His decisions in the England series have seemed to confirm that he does not care too much for the Test game. Maybe he should be concentrating on the World Cup

The perils of ignoring footwork

Aug 8, 2014: The secret to consistent Test batting is to play athletically off both feet, a tenet largely ignored on day one at Old Trafford

Have India missed the boat?

Aug 2, 2014: They made a wrong move by refusing to pick Ashwin; Kohli and Pujara have not come good; and Jadeja has only flattered to deceive

England don't need a visible coach

Jul 24, 2014: The team now consists of two halves: a burnt-out one and a fresh one

Why isn't Ashwin playing?

Jul 12, 2014: It's close to inexplicable how India's best spinner is being left out in favour of bits-and-pieces players

England and the age of denial

Jun 28, 2014: When a player like Alastair Cook fronts the press so often, spinning a contrived message is the only option, especially when vulnerable