Verdict

A much-improved image

Osman Samiuddin considers Mohammad Asif's return to Tests

17-Aug-2006•Osman Samiuddin

Lord's welcomes home the ladies

Jenny Thompson considers England's eighth outing at Lord's

15-Aug-2006•Jenny Thompson at Lord's

England regain their hunger

Today a weight had been lifted off England's shoulders, and the spring in the team's step couldn't have been lighter or bouncier if this match had been played on the moon. After a lethargic 11-month period in which they had won just three Tests and no ser

08-Aug-2006•Andrew Miller at Headingley

Unforgettable last-wicket thriller

The only predictable thing about the nerve-racking final day was its unpredictability. The Test match had ebbed and flowed throughout, refusing to reveal its winner until Lasith Malinga,the last man in, stroked an on-drive and scampered a single victory

08-Aug-2006•Verdict by Charlie Austin

Positive Strauss gunning for victory

Positivity. It's the buzzword of this Test match. Ian Bell reeked of it in his first-innings century, Faisal Iqbal and Kevin Pietersen have been bubbling over with it in their match-long slanging match, and it was the source of Monty Panesar's success in

07-Aug-2006•Andrew Miller at Headingley

A humdinger awaits

A fascinating Test match is now set up for a nail-biting finale

07-Aug-2006•Verdict by Charlie Austin

Panesar bucks the Headingley trend

It's a changed world since the Old Trafford Test last week. For those three heady days, England thought they'd found the cure for their post-Ashes blues, as Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar combined on a springboard pitch to rip the heart, spine and sever

06-Aug-2006•Andrew Miller at Headingley

Relying on the big three

Osman Samiuddin on Pakistan's reliance on the big three: Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq on the third day at Headingley

06-Aug-2006•Osman Samiuddin

Another riveting day

South Africa may not yet be home and dry, but after a classic day of Test cricket - tightly-fought, full of tension, with a dollop of controversy for good measure

06-Aug-2006•Verdict by Charlie Austin

Bell speaks the right language at last

Ian Bell is the mouse that roared. The man who left The Oval last September with a desperate pair to his name is all set for a triumphant return when the final Test gets underway in a fortnight's time

05-Aug-2006•Andrew Miller at Headingley

Finally, a contest

Sri Lanka's record-breaking heroics at the Sinhalese Sports Club seemed a galaxy away at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium on Saturday.

05-Aug-2006•Verdict by Charlie Austin

Never kept quiet for long

Kevin Pietersen has had a quiet time of late. Ever since his appeal for England's "youngsters" to raise their game, he has been shunted unceremoniously into the background, as whippersnappers answering to the names of Cook, Bell, Strauss and Collingwood r

04-Aug-2006•Andrew Miller at Headingley

Down on luck, down on spirit

Oh for the good old days of non-neutral umpires between England and Pakistan. At least then you could - and regularly did - confidently accuse home umpires of bias. Osman Samiuddin reflects on the first day's play at Headingley

04-Aug-2006•Osman Samiuddin

SA cope with the Murali juggernaut

Another match, another five-wicket haul. Muttiah Muralitharan's prolific form with the ball continued at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium, his home turf.

04-Aug-2006•Verdict by Charlie Austin

Destroying with patience

Charlie Austin hails Muttiah Muralitharan, who rolled up his sleeves at the SSC for some good, old fashioned, blue collar labour

31-Jul-2006•The Verdict by Charlie Austin

Grim fight for survival

Sri Lanka will be desperate for early success in the morning because, as Pakistan showed in April when they batted out the final day here, South Africa's self-belief will grow quickly if they reach lunch without major damage

30-Jul-2006•The Verdict by Charlie Austin

From cult hero to national hero

Fifty years ago to the week Jim Laker took 19 wickets by himself at Old Trafford as he destroyed the Australians. It took two bowlers to equal that feat in 2006, but the result was an equally crushing victory, this time over Pakistan

29-Jul-2006•Andrew McGlashan at Old Trafford

Perfection personified

Jayawardene produced a flawless exhibition in batsmanship that possessed an almost unreal quality.

29-Jul-2006•The Verdict by Charlie Austin

Batting battle heats up as youngsters shine

Alastair Cook and Ian Bell continued their fine form on the second day at Old Trafford to confirm the depth of England's top-order batting

28-Jul-2006•Andrew McGlashan at Old Trafford

Gul rises above the expectations

If you look at today in isolation, somehow ignoring Pakistan's first-day horror show, then their bowlers were persevering for much of today, if not ever really menacing. If you consider how many bowlers they are missing, then they deserve a little more ac

28-Jul-2006•Osman Samiuddin

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Verdict

Shashank Kishore

Andrew McGlashan

Valkerie Baynes

Mohammad Isam

Steven Lynch