After a breakthrough IPL, the era of snobbery and suspicion is over

FILLING THE VOID

I’d just woken up and, as you do, checked my phone

THE Top Six

The month in cricket No.1

Australia reverts to the old normal

In his first piece of the Australian summer, returning columnist Adam Collins says the national team are shaping up nicely for the challenge of India, with Sheffield Shield scorecards reminiscent of the glory years

Trolling in the deep

Isabelle Westbury considers the impact social-media abuse can have on cricketers and why most continue to put their head above the parapet

Cricket South Africa seeks to rebuild its battered reputation

Sports administrators should never make headlines, yet South Africa’s have been making the wrong sort for years. Now, finally, the board has been forced to resign. On the eve of England’s limited-overs tour of the country, Neil Manthorp looks back at where the rot started and what the future holds

QUICK SINGLES

The month’s news in brief

The world according to…

The legendary Lord Ted on “the disasters as well as the triumphs and the bits of luck” of a life well led

NEWS CYCLE

Forget The Crown. The real Royals’ drama to be found this month was at the IPL, writes Ben Gardner

John SNOW

The enigmatic, semi-reclusive fast bowler, considered one of England’s all-time greats, speaks to John Stern about the great triumphs and tribulations of his singular career

“BEING THE FASTEST DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE THE BEST”

It’s the best part of 60 years since John Snow first played for Sussex. But the clarity of thought and analysis about his rare skill is arresting

SUPERSTITIONS

Superstition ain’t the way! Or is it?

RE:VIEW

Can India repeat their historic victory of two years ago and defeat Australia in their own backyard, even with Virat Kohli set to fly home after the first Test for the birth of his first child? Three writers predict the outcome of the latest installment in a fierce rivalry, which begins at Adelaide on December 17

MAILBOX

Letter of the month receives a bottle of Declaration Gin, an unmistakably British artisan gin from a brand created by Michael Vaughan. For more information visitwww.declarationdrinks.com. Alternative prizes are available

THE QUICKS

THE REAL QUICKS. THEY LEAVE THEIR MARK EVERYWHERE.

SHOAIB AKHTAR ‘IT FELT GOOD, BUT IT WAS BRUTAL’

THE FASTEST BOWLER IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME TALKS TO TAHA HASHIM ABOUT THE BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS THAT WENT INTO EARNING HIM THAT TITLE

THE RAW TRUTH ABOUT FAST BOWLING

JAMES WALLACE SPEAKS TO BATSMEN AND BOWLERS ABOUT THE VISCERAL THRILL AND INHERENT RISK IN FAST BOWLING

AND NOW FOR THE SCIENCE BIT

WHAT PHYSICAL PROPERTIES ARE REQUIRED TO BE AN EXPRESS FAST BOWLER, AND HAVE WE REACHED THE PACE CEILING?

ISSY WONG & THE NEED FOR SPEED

JO HARMAN SPEAKS TO AN 18-YEAR-OLD ENGLISH TEARAWAY WHO’S ON A MISSION TO BREAK NEW GROUND IN THE WOMEN’S GAME

NOTORIOUS BOMBS

THE MOST DEVASTATING WICKET-TAKING ACTS IN FAST-BOWLING HISTORY

A BRIEF HISTORY OF HELMETS

FROM SPONGE RUBBER PADS AND FAKE-HAIR EARFLAPS TO STEM-GUARDS AND TITANIUM GRILLES

BENAUD & WORRELL’S REVOLUTION

With two attacking, free-thinking captains at the helm, the 1960/61 series between Australia and West Indies is still remembered as one of the all-time great Test match-ups. On its 60th anniversary, Christopher Sandford looks back on a contest which captured the imagination of the public like none before it, elevating the game to a new level

CHASING THE RAINBOW

In the fifth part of our series on cricket’s diversity problem, Tanya Aldred considers why the number of openly gay male professional cricketers in this country still stands at one, and looks to the women’s game for a more accepting environment

The GREATEST XI

Next in our county series, Angus Fraser chooses his team of Middlesex legends

63 BEN HOLLIOAKE England v Australia, Third ODI, Lord’s, 1997

The former England and Surrey all-rounder recalls the pride he felt at watching his younger brother light up Lord’s

Rangana HERATH

The record-breaking Sri Lankan spinner reflects on a career of two halves

The lonely art

Wrist-spin continues to bewitch the game of cricket and provide remarkable value in the age of the white ball. But what about the red? Phil Walker speaks to some of the game’s protagonists about the unique challenges associated with the form

TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP

After a season like no other, there’s no doubt club

Should clubs join forces?

As clubs become ever more stretched, mergers with neighbouring entities become more attractive. In some cases, if a club wants to survive, a merger is the only option left. But they come with pitfalls, as Scott Oliver discovers

NUMBER 43 MIKE PIKE

Scott Oliver meets a dedicated servant of club cricket who’s been scrupulously keeping score for more than 60 years

BOOKS OF THE MONTH

BY TED DEXTER

TWELVE BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS

Stumped for Christmas gift ideas? Jon Hotten, WCM’s reviews editor, picks out his favourite books of the year

THE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

Tales & treasures from cricket’s glorious past 1989

England’s humbling in the 1989 Ashes series provided

JOHN CARR 1994

After quitting professional cricket at the age of 27 to pursue a career in banking, John Carr made a triumphant return to Middlesex with an unorthodox technique which baffled bowlers and spectators alike

AUGUST 2 0 1994 THE OVAL, LONDON

To mark our special issue on raw pace, Jo Harman revisits one of Test cricket’s most electrifying spells

FAST, DEADLY AND LOVEABLE

Alan Butcher recalls playing alongside his misunderstood Surrey teammate Sylvester Clarke, one of the most fearsome quick bowlers the game has seen

My PERFECT DAY

The talkSPORT presenter and host of the Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast transports us to the MCG for a clash between England’s southpaw stylists and the burliest team of Aussies imaginable