Peter Roebuck

Things don't seem as dismal as they did in January. And that's because some tough and necessary decisions have been taken

Their second generation of players is setting about the task of building a side strong enough to challenge the world, but it's not just about notching up the results

They have the players and the leadership, but the board needs to get its house in order

They'll lose more of their top players soon, and political interference in the game is rife. What does the future hold?

Balanced yet intense, ruthless in his need to succeed, always contributing to his team's cause, he is among the finest cricketers Sri Lanka has produced

While players have become professional on and off the field, those who govern them have largely remained amateur in their attitudes. That needs to change drastically

On their way to No. 1 they revived swing bowling, didn't let Twenty20 affect their batting, and showed that execution matters more than content

The panel seems to be acting without rhyme or reason, mainly on the idea of shaking the tree until Test players emerge

The 300-run milestone is unique to Test cricket, calling on the batsman to express the work of a lifetime in a single innings

His speech at Lord's should serve as a wake-up call to administrators to use the game to serve people, and not for selfish gains

The game's essential match-up, of batsman against bowler, finds its best expression in Test cricket

Are there batsmen and bowlers to replace Tendulkar, Kallis, Sangakkara and Steyn? And will they give rise to great teams as well?

Shane Watson has transformed the fragility of his body into solidity and become perhaps the most valuable player in the game at the moment

The back-room team that guided New Zealand at the World Cup would not be a bad bet for the former champions as they look to rebuild

Sri Lankan cricket has its problems, but it is overall a success and born of a system worth emulating

The ICC board talks a lot about cleaning up the game. They might consider starting with themselves

It may be only a cricket match, but try telling the millions who'll watch India v Pakistan in the World Cup semi-final that

The enthusiasm of the crowds, the organisation, the number of competitive matches, and the fact that three countries are sharing the load, has made this one a tournament worth watching

The team's World Cup chances are better this time round because many of their players don't carry the baggage their predecessors did. But they will be challenged by an underrated England

Every sport requires a tournament that marks its pinnacle, that provides the ultimate testing ground for players and teams, that is a fitting shop window for the game