The IPL offers players the chance to get one over their compatriots and thus gain the upper hand in dressing-room banter

Unlike the people of the Holy Land, who got aqueducts and sanitation from the Romans, the England players have gained little from their IPL sojourn

At a press conference in Durban, a former captain turns thespian

At Kingsmead the PA was commentator, critic, judge and jury

Finally, the crowd gets in on the act

There is something endearingly surreal about a New Zealand player captaining the franchise that has the highest profile of the lot

Flintoff may have headed home and KP may not exactly be firing, but Bopara has given reason for cheer

In South Africa all the talk is of 2010

If it's Thursday it must be KP in Port Elizabeth. Or hang on, isn't that Freddie in Durban?

If it's Durban, it must be that dratted pair of English statisticians again

Modi and Co have drafted in one of South Africa's most beloved heroes to spread the good word

Cricket's tradition of stoppages for odd reasons is getting a boost with the IPL

Why there's reason to cheer the IPL's move to South Africa

In which a school is won over with a substantial donation. Ground staff, now that's another matter

Last year the cricket provided its own answer to the hype and hyperbole. If it does the same again, the minor inconveniences of the build-up may even be forgotten

What England's domestic set-up can learn from the IPL

Big numbers are chucked about, followed by fake moustaches and an open-top bus parade

Shiny, flirtatious superstar and hard-nosed businessman do Cape Town

England's papers may be cutting back on their coverage of county cricket, but reader interest is still high, and the county game is quite the stubborn old dog

A look back at Surrey's season, which disappeared down a drain of injuries and ill-judged signings, and ended in relegation