Graphic: Selected Australian spin bowling statistics

The following chart maps selected statistics from Australian spinners.

It continues to amaze that Steve Smith is selected for Australia as a quote-unquote spin bowler, while Steve O'Keefe remains in the Test wilderness.  For more discussion, tune in to this week's Short Jabs podcast on the Cricket Couch.

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The Champions League is back!

This blog’s
an unusual place to admit to an unhealthy fascination, but here it goes: I’m a
sucker for competitive cookery.  Iron Chef, Worst Cooks in America, Chopped
… all of ‘em.  I’m not even a bad cook
myself, and have taken a few pointers from my white-hatted idols.  But perhaps the largest lesson I’ve learned
from my obsession with culinary jousting is this: presentation matters. 



Don’

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Graphic: Winter transfer activity by date

There's a reason that Transfer Deadline day in European football is such an event - it completely dwarfs the number of deals done throughout the rest of the window.  In fact, 284 players bowled up at new clubs across England's four-tier league system during the monthlong transfer window; nearly a quarter of those deals went down on January 31.



The following chart tracks transfer activity by

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Beckham's PSG move about more than money

David Beckham has earned a lot of publicity both for his
free-agency and, more recently, for his nascent
move to French gazillionaire-club Paris Saint-Germain.  The fact is that even at age 37, he is easily
the single-most recognizable footballer in the world and still earns his coin
on the pitch with deadeye dead ball delivery and smart, if limited, movement.



Beckham’s
move also earned

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Mario Balotelli joins AC Milan, continues to confuse

Many teams
have improved themselves this transfer window. 
There have been short-term additions like Sporting KC forward Kei
Kamara’s six-month audition with Norwich City, bargains,
as well as deals with a view to a long term future (see Zaha,
Wilfried and Shea,
Brek). 



There has
even been the odd case of addition by subtraction.



The most prominent
deal of this type involves Mario

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Short pitch: Unexpected consequences of rotation

There are many sequelae to Cricket Australia's revolving door selection policy, but one that has gone unnoticed until now is the volume of run-outs seen in all formats of cricket.

It stands to reason: every player has their own style of running.  They might call early or late, be hesitant or direct or pigheaded.  Seeing as batting practice occurs mostly in the nets where partnership running is

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Cricket Australia sits and rotates

Cricket Australia and their coaching staff have come in for
criticism regarding the policy formerly known as rotation, Strategic Player Management
(SPM).   With precocious – but premature
- talents like Steve Smith shunted into the canary yellow as Usman Khawaja is
given his leave, rotation has become another rod with which to beat the
national body.



David Mutton wrote recently that the

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