Feature

West Indies cricketers better be down to business from ball one this morning in Leicester if they are to make the most of the busiest lead-in to a Test series away from home for nine years

However much the IPL's organisers tried, they faced one insurmountable problem: Cape Town never was, and never will be, in India

Ian Bell only returned from the warmer climes of the Caribbean a week ago, but had no qualms swapping his shorts and T-shirt for a beanie and three jumpers as he prepared to play for MCC at Lord's

Cricket has had a long and loyal following, born not only out of the village greens of England or the dusty Indian maidans, but the war-torn wastelands of Afghanistan and a spare scrap of land in Canada

Andrew Miller looks at Antigua's lost legacy on a day which saw a Test match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium abandoned after just 10 balls

They all want a piece of the newest entry to India's Test squad, but Dhawal Kulkarni's feet are placed firmly on the ground

Marais Erasmus will become probably the first overseas umpire to officiate in Indian domestic cricket, starting with the Duleep Trophy game in Mumbai. Nagraj Gollapudi met him

The two bowlers who impressed most during the Duleep Trophy were virtual unknowns from India's cricketing backwaters: Andhra legspinner M Suresh and Vidarbha fast bowler Umesh Yadav

Dilshan has been a constant for many years now, a significant part of many of their successes and evolution. But what exactly is he, what is his role?

Praveen Amre never won the Ranji Trophy as a player, but in his three years as Mumbai's coach he has won the Ranji title twice. He shares Mumbai's journey to their 38th Ranji crown

Wicketkeeper Vinayak Samant, pushed into opening by Amre in the final league game, scored his maiden ton to allow Mumbai have a firm grasp on their 38th title

Great debut season. Heartbreaking injury. Loss of form. But Sudeep Tyagi did enough in his first season of first-class cricket to merit a central contract, and to be retained by Chennai Super Kings

What is the BCCI doing to raise the level of umpiring in the country?

A lively pitch for the final was a pleasant sight when you consider that complete batting beauties were served up for the semi-finals

New Zealand's latest Test centurion Tim McIntosh has had to wait in a long queue before being granted an opportunity to open for his country

Suresh Raina looks back at his worst year, 2007, as a blessing in disguise

Indian cricket's next big thing seems to be a 20-year-old from Rajkot determined to break the selectors' door down by producing triple-hundreds on demand

The story of Shivakant Shukla, who batted for821 minutes to take Uttar Pradesh through to the final of the Ranji Trophy, embodies Uttar Pradesh cricket

Who is Pritam Gandhe? To people who follow domestic cricket - especially the Plate League - through scorecards (there's no other way really), he is a Vidarbha offspinner who is one of only three bowlers to have taken more than one hat-trick in the Ranji T

Series wins in England and Australia - could 2008 have been any better for South Africa?