Darren Pattinson: a man for, er, one season. Photograph: Nigel French/Empics/PA
It’s been the most momentous year in cricket since the Spin made 61 for Sidney Sussex College second XI against a startled Selwyn attack, but that doesn’t mean we have to be all serious about it. Oh no. Here are a few gongs to mark [...]

Matt Prior celebrates Engalnd’s victory against South Africa. Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images
England captain Kevin Pietersen has backed Matt Prior to solve England’s long-term wicketkeeping problem after he hit an unbeaten 45 and took six catches in England’s 10-wicket victory over South Africa in the second match of the NatWest Series at Trent Bridge.
The performance equaled [...]

South Africa are left with a mountain to climb. Photograph: Getty Images
1) South Africa need 21 off 1 ball, World Cup semi-final, Sydney, March 22 1992
For such a cerebral game, cricket can be hideously dunderheaded, happy to toss commonsense into a sea of bureaucracy and another word that begins with ‘bu’. The denouements to the [...]

Paul Collingwood in action for England against South Africa: Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
BSkyB and Channel Five have retained the British TV rights to England’s home Test matches, Twenty20 and one-day internationals until 2013 in a £300m deal.
Today’s deal means cricket fans who do not subscribe to Sky Sports will be unable to watch live England [...]

Kevin Pietersen is unveiled as England’s new captain, ahead of his first game as skipper later this week. Photograph: Stephen Hird/Reuters
The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed that Kevin Pietersen has become the new Test and one-day captain of England. Pietersen takes the role, replacing Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood, who stepped down from [...]

Graeme Smith is undergoing treatment but admits his back is causing him pain. Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images
Graeme Smith could face a late fitness test before facing England at Edgbaston tomorrow. The South Africa captain revealed he is suffering from a back injury sustained during his side’s three-day game against Bangladesh A at Worcester [...]

Middlesex celebrate victory at the Rose Bowl. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
This was much more than the elongated highlight of the Twenty20 domestic season, the sixth in a series that started on this ground amid establishment doubts and scepticism. It was also an exercise in naked self-deception, one that none the less promises to reap Kent [...]

Ajantha Mendis bowlng during the Asia Cup final against India. Photograph: Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images
At first glance, this clash of Asian cricket’s titans is a mismatch. On the one side, you have Sri Lanka, second only to Australia in their mastery of home conditions. On the other is an Indian team that increasingly saves its best [...]

Alastair Cook: time for a career-defining innings? No, no apparently not. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Action Images
66th over: England 156-6 (Ambrose 1 Flintoff 2)Kallis takes a spell and Steyn is on. “Only Flintoff’s beard stands between South Africa and victory now” comments Keith Flett, lost somewhere in world of his own. A maiden, Flintoff picking out [...]

Flintoff will replace Paul Collingwood. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images
Andrew Flintoff will make his first Test appearance for England in 18 months in the second Test against South Africa at Headingley, captain Michael Vaughan has confirmed.
Vaughan stated that Flintoff will bat at No7, though he could not confirm who he would replace, as the final [...]