Player of the Decade

The man who laughed in bowlers' faces

Like Don Bradman before him, Ricky Ponting turned the opposition into ball-ferriers, delighting in his mastery all the while. By Christian Ryan

Bigger, faster, greedier

Decade review: From a genteel pursuit, cricket became big business in the 2000s, and lost a lot in the bargain. By Sambit Bal

Gilly and Baz go bonkers

Decade review: Flintoff's Edgbaston magic, a Tendulkar gem, that 434 chase, and the IPL's fiery start feature in the second part of our performances of the decade

Performances of the decade I

Ricky rampages, Shoaib sizzles

Decade review: An all-time great Test, four World Cup performances and more in the first part of our pick of the performances of the 2000s

Missed chances and lost glories

For England, despite the Ashes successes, the overriding feeling as the 2000s drew to a close was one of a gnawing emptiness. By Andrew Miller

Little cricket, lots of corruption

Decade review: Zimbabwe lost Test status, most of its senior players, and the compassion of the cricketing world in the 2000s. By Martin Williamson

Whatever happened to context?

Decade review: Cricket has become a victim of the culture of fun. Now there are no sub-plots, no drama and no rivalries. By Siddhartha Vaidyanathan

The age of the bat

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Why 55 is the new 50

Numbers indicate that the noughties was the best decade for batting in a long, long time. By S Rajesh

From match-fixing to Modi

Decade review: The last 10 years in Indian cricket were defined by three kinds of madness. By Rahul Bhattacharya

Where is the game headed?

Harsha Bhogle: Twenty20 can save or destroy cricket. India, the financial backbone, must lead the rest into the next decade with responsibility and vision

Coaches: eyewash or essential?

Decade review: In the 2000s, the role of coach assumed more importance and complexity than ever before. By Peter English

West Indies' downward spiral

In the 2000s, the team went further and faster down a slippery slope, as infighting, apathy and instability came to reign. By Vaneisa Baksh

The world money made

Decade review: The BCCI's clout grew through the 2000s and the other boards fell in line. By Osman Samiuddin

The screen-eyed monster

Decade review: The 2000s saw the game's television economy grow and dictate terms like never before. By Ashok Malik