The Standard Bearers collects some of Gideon Haigh's previously published writings over the course of 2018-19, mainly for The Australian, as well as for The Times, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and Wisden India. It's a real-time record where you'll read how Gideon narrowly favoured Australia coming into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in addition to getting one or two things right. It's also a study of writing's daily struggles, of finding something fresh to say, a new angle, a different perspective, a challenge that Gideon continues to enjoy rising to.The mood was one of introspection in Australian cricket, and at Cricket Australia, as a new season commenced, certain only in its dimensions: eight Tests, eleven one-day internationals and ten T20 internationals at home and abroad. Otherwise, everything was up for grabs, still, many months after the crisis of Cape Town, and the suspensions imposed on ball tampering conspirators Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. At best, 2018-19 was going to be a two steps forward and one back sort of season.