All about the cricket in IPL 8

Shane Watson smashes one through the covers (photo: BCCI)

It has taken just one-quarter of the 67 matches in the eighth instalment of the Indian Premier League to show cricket fans just why it was so highly touted in the lead-up.

Rajasthan Royals have blown everyone off the park, including the vaunted Chennai Super Kings, who have looked something of a shadow on their last season.  Mumbai Indians have finally registered a win, and the Delhi Daredevils have been up and down like a yo-yo on a child’s finger.

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Cricket: Cameron White is a no-brainer for the World Cup

Cameron White in action at ANZ Stadium (photo: Getty Images)

The resurgence of the former Victorian skipper – first at state, and now at national level – over the last two years has been nothing short of sensational.

His last two domestic one-day competitions (accumulated) have seen him pile on 741 runs at an average above 67.  In the Big Bash League (past two seasons), he has 385 runs at an average above 25.

Cricket: World Twenty20: Did Australia blow expectations in Bangladesh?

The expressions from Bailey & Starc sums up Australia’s campaign (photo: Getty Images)

Australian Twenty20 captain George Bailey had big shoes to fill, after the national side won an astonishing 12 of 13 games against England during the recent summer.

Travelling to Bangladesh red hot on form, things took a turn the moment Pakistan wielded the willow in their first group game in Mirpur.

Cricket: The Ashes: Adelaide Day 1: the upper hand lies with England, just

Michael Clarke, not out after Day 1 (source: ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

On a pitch that offered little to the bowlers and plenty to the batsmen, Australia won the toss, and to no surprise, elected to bat first on the first day of the Ashes test in Adelaide.

Cricket: The Ashes: Test 1, Day 1: It’s all England at the Gabba, but Australia fight back

Stuart Broad celebrates the dismissal of David Warner (source: ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

The lead up to the first Ashes test included a lot of media hype from the Australians, trying to throw the English off guard.  Dramatic backfiring ensued on a very sunny first day.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, signs were looking good.  Then the inevitable happened, and the first two sessions belonged to the England bowlers.

Cricket: Five things we learnt from the Ashes

Ian Bell hits one away at The Oval (photo: ESPN Cricinfo)

What we saw across the months of July and August was highly thrilling cricket, yet laced with controversy.

The Ashes provided the ground, TV and radio audiences with some super displays of batting and bowling, along with some very dubious decisions and skill errors.

Cricket: The Ashes: Fourth Test Breakdown

Michael Clarke walks off bowled by Stuart Broad (sourced from ESPN cricinfo)

What was there for the taking ended up in utter disaster at Durham on Monday, the fourth day of the fourth Ashes test.

Set a victory target of 299, Australia tumbled from 2-147, after the fall of Usman Khawaja, to 224 all out, losing to England by 74 runs.  A grim picture after giving themselves every chance to win their first test of the series.

Cricket: More Than The Pitch: Chris Rogers

Chris Rogers (sourced from ESPN cricinfo)

Hard worker?  Check.  Accumulator of runs?  Check.  Australian?  Check.

Chris Rogers has toiled hard for his scores on both Australian and English surfaces.  He has peeled off more than 20,000 runs at First Class level, and has an impressive 60 centuries to his name.

Cricket: The Ashes: when will the calamity end?

Shane Watson – where to now (photo mine)

Carnage. Probably a very apt word to describe what went on during the second Ashes test at Lord’s.

The runs are not coming, the wickets are few and far between – and then along come England, the squad merrily making its way towards its third straight Ashes series victory.

It is, however, not over until the fat lady sings.  That fat lady could be singing as early as Manchester, the venue for the third test.

Cricket: Champions Trophy campaign over, fragile Australia looking to Ashes

David Warner, 2012, currently out of favour with the Aussie side (photo mine)

What is currently going right with the Australian team?

The answer is, not much.  And with the Ashes less than three weeks away, questions are burning hot as to whether the squad will be up to the challenge against England.

Granted, those who come in to the test side means that the line-up becomes different to the recently completed Champions Trophy; but it does not change the fact that, on current form, Australia is falling behind the stronger teams in world cricket.