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Nicholas Anthony

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Joined January 2020

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I have an unhealthy emotional connection to the fortunes of Steve Smith, Mike Trout and Roger Federer. I write about sport and film and culture things. Would be in heaven writing about cricket for a living. Into pretty much any sport, becomes avid fan of all Olympic events. Loves watching Eurosport late at night.

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New Zealand was ranked second in the world for test cricket hence why they got the prized Boxing Day and New Year’s test, but wilted spectacularly. Pakistan has been a basketcase for a while but at the same time they have a lot of young exciting cricketers that seem to give a damn about test cricket. T20 is the major format in terms of popularity and with good reason. The atmosphere, shots, and plays can be spectacular, it’s just still so new and there’s so much player movement in the domestic competitions that it’s hard to really get an attachment to who’s playing and what they’re playing for. Test cricket has constantly gone through these ebbs and flows, it’s up to the governing bodies around the world to invest smartly in all three formats and create a schedule that helps in showcasing what makes each format so fantastic.

Australia's tour of South Africa is just kinda... there

I agree. The revenue that T20 matches generate is creating these mini tours that are there and gone in the blink of an eye. We’re in England later in the year for some ODI’s and T20’s but that, and basically every other tour the team goes on, is just warm up for the T20 World Cup. Maybe it’s time to start thinking in blocks to give each format an opportunity to shine.

Australia's tour of South Africa is just kinda... there

Don’t forget the ODI’s and T20’s in New Zealand in March with no tests in sight. I get that they have an eye on the T20 World Cup later in the year but the scheduling has been such a mess. If I could do it I would have gone:
New Zealand tour start of Jan/Feb
South Africa tour end of Feb into March
ODI series against India in India

Australia's tour of South Africa is just kinda... there

I would too – his longevity is a big tick for him – but Wawrinka somehow never reached world number one.

The illusion of the 'next big thing'

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