Ashley Mallett

Keith Miller lived his life and played his cricket king-size

The great Australian batsman always did justice to his precociousness and reputation for being adept in all conditions

Hundred in a session? Easy peasy for Doug Walters

After receiving a pasting at the hands of the Australians during the first post-war Ashes tour, Bedser decided he had to think up a new delivery: the legcutter

Actors, pop stars, business tycoons and politicians have been attracted to cricket over the years

One of few non-cricketers to share a bond with Sir Don Bradman was a South Australian doctor, Donald Beard

For the king of television hosts, Michael Parkinson, Don Bradman proved about as elusive as the Scarlet Pimpernel

Gary Gilmour was a supremely talented allrounder but his international record doesn't tell you just how much ability he possessed

The former Australian PM Bob Hawke was a wicketkeeper and loved cricket and Bradman. But he once left the Don speechless with the force of his political convictions

Cricket nicknames have been a part of Australian cricket for centuries, and they don't look like they are going away anytime soon

The honour belongs to the iconic and charming Basin Reserve in Wellington

Clarrie Grimmett, Arthur Mailey and Jack Russell were as evocative on canvas as they were skilled on the field

When in full flight Graeme Swann was a brilliant offspinner - third on the all-time list after Prasanna and Laker

With the help of Nelson Mandela, Ali Bacher took cricket into the black townships of South Africa in the 1980s

Tony Mann, who turns 68 today, was an exceptional Australian legspinner growing up, but his over-use of the googly might have shortened his Test career significantly

The former Australia captain, known for his tough and aggressive approach, turns 70 today

Steven Smith has the talent to become a Test-standard bowling allrounder, the best of his type since Richie Benaud

Ashley Mallett looks back at his three Tests at the final venue for this year's Ashes

Australia have been tentative against Swann's offspin. At Old Trafford, where history's greatest spin performance was delivered, they must watch out for him

In 1972, on a surface utterly ruined by rain, the England opener played an innings wholly uncharacteristic of his usual batting