Searching For An Edge

When you can make a ball talk like Kagiso Rabada can you don't really need any extra help from the pitch.

Short And Low

Even the great ones can be undone by the vaguaries of a cricket pitch.

The Long 22

This one is based on a great photo contributed by a fan to the Cricinfo gallery - see the original here. Something very soothing about a late afternoon game played for fun.

One Man One Pitch

Mushfiqur Rahim channels his inner Matthew Hayden and considers the 22 yards of pain and glory.

The Dirty Lowdown

Rohit Sharma experiences one of the batsman's worst nightmares - the one that keeps low!

The Old Enemy

Be it the West Indies or the stadiums of India, rain remains cricket's greatest foe.

This image was adjusted using Photoshop CS5 and Pixlromatic.

Just Not Comfortable

Zaheer Khan's body language seems to sum up how the Indians are feeling about batting at present. They haven't figured out the bounce or the pace as yet, which is kind of strange given that it should come as no surprise. Makes you wonder what all those coaching staff have been doing in the last few weeks?

Lucky for Zaheer he gets to come out and bowl away some of his frustration.

Unsung Heroes Of Cricket

The groundsman - fiery, intense, hardworking, passionate, grumpy and tough.

I dare any bored teenage punk in Birmingham to try and set fire to (and loot) this mans patch.

Tired Old Thing

Danny, if the sad old pitch is the biggest challenge you end up having it will be a good day out. You only win this with a positive attitude and more aggression than is good for a man over 30. No whining, just grab the chance by the throat and strangle the shit out of it.

Great Cricket Statements

"There will be few demons in the pitch"

Prophetic Signs

I warned you.
I did warn you.
"Beware the earthworm" I said.
And so it has come to pass.
Somewhere there is a smiling pitch wizard who has just earned a new silver top for his magic staff.

This Oval pitch shall hence forth be known as The Brown Bomber.

Road Works

Some of the best roads in the West Indies are short stretches found in the middle of large green ovals. No pot holes in this baby but a whole lot of heartache for some poor bowler. If any one is used to such conditions the Sri Lankan boys are.

Who can tell me whether WACKER is an aptly named brand of roller or a slightly strange name for a company?