Most cricketers are outdoors types. We spend most of the summer standing round outside, soaking up the rays, enjoying the long evenings, playing sport like most kiwis only difference is, we are at work.

Last Monday afternoon contained the e-mail saying, “Neil, someone has had to pull out of the school exchange trip. Do you fancy coming to Tokyo on Thursday?” What could I learn about cricket from the Far East?

This week we look at top international batting performances.

The Australian cricket hierarchy still appear unable to take T20 cricket seriously. This article discusses possible implications.

This year will be another challenge for me with a busy schedule coupled with my benefit year and a book launch in the new year. It will be like all the other years before me and the prospect of playing against some very strong teams and a likely chance of representing my country still sits high on my agenda. Consistency has always been every player’s goal and that reality for me was evident last year and even more of a challenge is to back it up this year.

This week we look at George Hirst’s great year, one of the longest-standing Test records, the best ODI spells of recent times, and more.

Sri Lanka’s Tillekeratne Dilshan has reinvented himself in recent times, moving from batting down at six to facing the new ball. Paul looks at whether this new role is just an experiment or whether it will be something that Dilshan continues to do for the rest of his career.

Heroes come in many shapes and sizes, but few are as large as Colin Milburn, who burned bright but for too short a time. Dave Wilson celebrates his short but entertaining life.

This week we look at the ODI bowlers who never conceded a run, the men who were never out of the action, and the times when the captain never had to change.

After struggling for wins last summer, Australia’s one-day side have turned things around recently with a superb run of form. Who were the key players behind this turnaround?