Features and Columns

This is where you will find all The Cricket Paper’s Features and Columns, opinion and content.

Hayter column: Alastair Cook is still the rock upon which England must build

1 August 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Getty Images) By Peter Hayter Just after a quarter to three on the first day of England’s third Test […]

When Don Bradman and the Oval witnessed one of cricket’s greatest deliveries

31 July 2017 0 comments

The time a special googly wrecked the farewell party of one of the game’s most recognised names

Nixon column: England must learn when to soak up pressure

26 July 2017 0 comments

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) By Paul Nixon While the second Test couldn’t have gone much worse for England, and […]

No more Mr Nice Guy! Bayliss must deliver tougher stance now

25 July 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Getty Images) By Chris Stocks If you were being uncharitable, you could ask whether England’s victory in the 2015 […]

Pringle column: Playing with Botham was something to truly cherish, it was… different

25 July 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Getty Images) By Derek Pringle Ian Botham was in his sixth year as an England super star when I […]

Nixon column: Something has to be done to help protect bowlers too

19 July 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Getty Images) By Paul Nixon Everyone in cricket was shocked by the injury Luke Fletcher suffered almost a fortnight […]

Hayter column: Too much techno is spoiling love for the game

18 July 2017 0 comments

By Peter Hayter Call me a Luddite… No, really, call me a Luddite, please, because if, in the context of […]

Pringle column: Being hit by a ball is often an unavoidable thing

18 July 2017 0 comments

By Derek Pringle For those doubting the destructive power of a cricket ball to damage, both physically and psychologically, look […]

Manthorp column: Faf back to steer Proteas back on course

17 July 2017 0 comments

Welcome return of Faf du Plessis will bring South Africa to the party

Hayter column: It’s time to enjoy Cook’s second coming…

12 July 2017 0 comments

By Peter Hayter While Joe Root and his every move would have been subjected to the minutest scrutiny from the […]

Big Vernon Philander has earned the right to feast at the top

12 July 2017 0 comments

By Neil Manthorp The suburb of Ravensmead in Parow, 20 kilometres from the centre of Cape Town, has no airs, […]

Manthorp column: The Proteas are underdogs but stand-in Elgar won’t make it easy for England

5 July 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Getty Images) By Neil Manthorp There is something desperately missing from this English summer so far, and I’m not […]

Pringle column: I’m all for change, but there is a problem with the pink ball

5 July 2017 0 comments

By Derek Pringle One day’s play in Essex’s Championship match against Middlesex may not be the kind of sample required […]

Pringle column: So long Tonker! A leader you had to follow

28 June 2017 0 comments

By Derek Pringle In the Essex dressing rooms of yesteryear, famous for their characters, none was bigger or more boldly […]

Manthorp column: South Africa the last domino to fall as T20 cricket falls to global cash moguls

28 June 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images) By Neil Manthorp It wasn’t necessary to watch South Africa’s insipid performance in the first […]

Hayter column: Stylish Crane is one who could hit heights

27 June 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Getty Images) By Peter Hayter Mason Crane’s entry into the consciousness of England supporters may not have had quite […]

Nixon column: When the heat is on you have to dig deep – humidity is torture

27 June 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Getty Images) By Paul Nixon I trust everyone enjoyed the heat wave that spread across the UK last week? It’s […]

Yes, Minister – the relationship between cricket and Westminster

21 June 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Getty Images) After a draining election, did Theresa May just need to head to Lord’s? Alison Mitchell examines the relationship […]

Planet Cricket: Black Caps slipping up in the one-day stakes despite Williamson’s invaluable leadership

21 June 2017 1 comment

(Photo: Getty Images) By Tim Wigmore In the 2015 World Cup, New Zealand were intoxicating and unmissable. It was not […]

Manthorp column: Proteas still can’t crack winning code

21 June 2017 0 comments

By Neil Manthrop There is a big difference between not making a decision and making a bad one, or the […]

Viewpoint: Derek Pringle on this England ODI team’s place in history

20 June 2017 0 comments

(Photo: Getty Images) Derek Pringle explains how Pakistan’s gameplan confounded England and how Eoin Morgan’s side should have reacted So, England […]

Martin Johnson column – Will T20 slog fest soon be a thing of the past?

13 June 2017 0 comments

Tuning into the cricket earlier this week, I was so startled by watching some chap in a custard yellow outfit […]

Planet Cricket – Rivalries need fighting spirit

13 June 2017 0 comments

Tim Wigmore says an Indian stronghold over Pakistan in limited-overs cricket makes the rivalry far less intense… When India play […]

Derek Pringle column – Hit-and-hope De Villiers is feeling the pressure

12 June 2017 0 comments

Every cricketer with a lengthy career will experience dips in form, but AB de Villiers appears to be battling more […]

Neil Manthorp column – Why the Proteas are right to count on Kagiso

7 June 2017 1 comment

The big-hitters grab the headlines and attention but it’s equally a fact that the team with the highest wicket-takers – […]