The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy, Raj and Stu preview the Men's ICC T20 Cricket World Cup 2026. We discuss the key contenders from each group and the questions facing their sides, then make predictions about how the tournament will play out. We start the show with a quick tournament explainer, before moving on to Group A, which features India, Pakistan, Namibia, Netherlands and the USA. The home side comes into the tournament in great form, with runs flowing from the bats of Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav & Ishan Kishan, and the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy with the ball. Pakistan have dealt comfortably with Australia in their most recent games, but will they ever shake their 'mercurial' tag in big ICC events? And can the Kiwi connection help the Netherlands to the Super 8s? Or will the USA be a surprise packet yet again? Group B is home to Sri Lanka, Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe, and could be a bit tougher for batters. Pat Cummins is out for the Aussies and Steve Smith wasn't selected, but can Ashes hero Travis Head power them to another title? On paper the Sri Lankan lineup looks a lot of fun, but will playing at home help or hinder their chances? And can Ireland, Zimbabwe or Oman throw a spanner in the works? As the episode continues, we turn our lens towards England's chances in Group C, which also includes the West Indies, Italy, Nepal and Scotland. With Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer & co., England have plenty of matchwinners - but how many matches will they actually win? The West Indies have power players like Romario Shepherd and Rovman Powell in the lower order, but will the top order set a good enough platform? And will Tom Bruce's Scotland give us a classic World Cup moment? Or will it be the new boys Italy and Nepal? The final group could very well be the most closely fought, with New Zealand's Black Caps, South Africa and Afghanistan battling for two Super 8 spots along with Canada and the UAE. For New Zealand, the batters look in fine touch, with recent runs for Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell, but will it matter if the bowlers can't keep going the distance? South Africa pushed India hard in the 2024 final, and with Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock leading the charge, will they go one better this time around? And you'd be brave to write off any side with Rashid Khan, an opening partnership of Ibrahim & Gurbaz, but the real question is - will Gulbadin fall over again? To round out the show, we make our predictions - semi-finalists, winners, top runscorer, top wicket-taker and some bold predictions that may or may not make us look silly in a month's time. We'll be back in your feed again regularly once the tournament starts - potentially with daily recaps from Day 1. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 2:25 Tournament explainer 6:10 Group A 21:00 Group B 34:30 Group C 47:40 Group D 1:01:55 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu chat about the Black Caps' white-ball series in India, the vibes in the England camp over in Sri Lanka, discuss some future stars at the ICC Under-19 World Cup and finish things off with a big announcement! We start the show by talking about the Black Caps' white-ball tour to India, which at the time of recording was two games into the T20 series. There's been runs for Glenn Phillips and Suryakumar Yadav, along with a host of other players, and we discuss the challenge for bowlers in the powerplay on batter-friendly pitches. [Note there's a brief moment where we lost some audio, so at one point Stu goes from talking about Mark Chapman to highlighting Finn Allen, around the 22:30 mark after the second of silence.] As the episode continues, we turn our lens towards England to see how the mood is over in Sri Lanka a few weeks removed from the disappointment of the Ashes. The conversation inevitably turns to Brendon McCullum's future in the coaching role, and whether the T20 World Cup could be the end of his England tenure. To round out the show, we talk about ICC Under-19 World Cup, which has seen a lot of rain for New Zealand, but impressive performances for both Australia and England. Baldy and Binksy take us through a few names to watch, before there's an announcement about upcoming content from the team in the coming months. We'll be back in your feed again next week with a T20 World Cup preview show, then regularly throughout the tournament. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:30 Black Caps v India: T20 bowlers in the power play 11:00 NZ's seam bowling options 14:05 Runs for Suryakumar Yadav & India 19:05 Glenn Phillips' form a huge positive for NZ 23:10 England v Sri Lanka ODIs 28:15 World Cup or bust for Brendon McCullum? 32:25 Jamie Smith's outlook 35:00 ICC U19 World Cup: Australia & England potential future stars 44:40 Special announcement! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, it's a heavy New Zealand focus as Baldy, Raj and Stu discuss the Black Caps' white-ball series in India, New Zealand's T20 World Cup squad and the potential for the NZ20 - a proposed privately-backed T20 franchise league to replace the Super Smash. We start the show by talking about the Black Caps' white-ball tour to India, which at the time of recording was only two games into the ODI series. At the risk of getting too far ahead of ourselves, we talk about Daryl Mitchell's fantastic form, the additional craft Kyle Jamieson seems to have added to his game and the two debutants, Jayden Lennox and Kristian Clarke. As the episode continues, we turn our lens towards New Zealand's T20 World Cup squad. Were Tim Robinson and Bevon Jacobs unlucky to miss out? What role might Jimmy Neesham play? Should Tim Seifert & Finn Allen be over in India rather than at the BBL? How much will newborn babies impact the seam-bowling rotation? And more! To round out the show, we talk about the NZ20 - a proposed franchise T20 competition that could start as early as January 2027. Is it a good idea? Will it be good for players? Good for fans? Good for New Zealand cricket pathways? We'd love to hear what you think, as the details are still thin on the ground at this early stage. We'll be back in your feed again soon with more from the cricketing world, including the Black Caps' white-ball series in India and the lead-in to the T20 World Cup. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:50 Black Caps v India: the ODI series 3:30 Daryl Mitchell looks in great form 8:45 Kyle Jamieson's variations 11:55 Debuts for Jayden Lennox & Kristian Clarke 19:00 India's performances 21:30 Kuldeep Yadav 24:40 Black Caps' T20 World Cup squad discussion 31:55 Bevon Jacobs 34:50 Should the entire T20 WC squad be in India now? 42:45 NZ20 - potential positives & negatives for New Zealand cricket 1:00:55 ICC Under-19 World Cup begins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, the Top Order Podcast team look back at the final Ashes Test between Australia and England (and the series as a whole), which ended with another victory for the home side to seal a dominant 4-1 scoreline. We start the show with our initial thoughts and reactions at the end of the Sydney Test and Australia's Ashes win in commanding style. In many ways, the game in Sydney reflected themes from the entire series - England showed glimpses of the side they could be if things went well, but Australia won the big moments or the big sessions to swing momentum back their way. Travis Head delivered again, the Aussie bowlers delivered again, while Josh Tongue, Jacob Bethell and Joe Root gave the visitors reasons for optimism. As the episode continues, we dive into the potential fallout from the series from an England point of view. How damaging has this been for Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes and Rob Key? What about the players? Will we see wholesale changes? Or is it just a matter of tweaking a formula that has shown potential in the past, but has taken a big hit in recent times? From there, we circle back to Australia to highlight Travis Head's incredible series, as well as discuss the differences between the two bowling attacks - primarily the consistency and relentlessness of Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Michael Neser & company. To round out the show, we ask a few questions about why spin has played such a small role in this series and what that means for Shoaib Bashir and spin in Australia in general. There's also praise for Beau Webster and Usman Khawaja, who retired from international cricket at the conclusion of this match and series. We'll be back in your feed again soon with more from the cricketing world, including plenty of Black Caps news as they embark on a white-ball series in India. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro: Ashes 5th Test Review 2:20 Australia's win in Sydney mirrors the entire series in many ways 8:00 The knives are out for England 13:30 Does this English side need more accountability? 22:30 Should Bazball be over now? 38:50 Travis Head's outstanding series 45:00 Mitchell Starc and the Australian bowling strength 54: 20 What happened to spin and Shoaib Bashir in this series? 1:09:05 Usman Khawaja's retirement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu look back at the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England, which saw the visitors secure their first victory on Australian soil in almost 15 years. We start the show by talking about our experiences of yet another two-day Test. For Binksy, as an English fan, was this a hollow victory since the series has already been lost? Or a joyous, historic moment since wins have been so hard to come by in Australia? We also discuss whether the narrative needs to change as Test cricket evolves - do two-day Tests have to be a disappointment? If we're given maximum entertainment, is that not enough to satisfy our hunger for the game? As the episode continues, the conversation inevitable turns to the pitch, plus the implications for Cricket Australia of such a short game. Are batters simply not good enough any more? Or did the groundstaff get this one horribly wrong? From there, we move to highlighting individual players, starting with Josh Tongue. What made him so successful on this surface? And did England miscalculate what was needed from a bowling point of view in this series? We also discuss whether Jacob Bethell's bright and breezy second-innings knock could spell the end for Ollie Pope. We also touch on Australia's batting, which, despite the 3-1 scoreline, still appears to have plenty of questions to answer. To round out the show, we look ahead to the options facing both sides for the final Test in Sydney, and what's riding on the match. Gus Atkinson's hamstring means at least one change for England, and will Todd Murphy get another opportunity for Australia? We'll be back in your feed again soon with more from the cricketing world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro: Ashes 4th Test Review 1:45 Initial reaction to England's win inside two days 9:10 Do we need to rethink the way we view & discuss Test cricket? 14:35 The pitch and the impact it had on this game 26:40 Key players - Josh Tongue 38:20 Jacob Bethell 44:50 Australia's batting 49:50 What's riding on the Sydney Test for both sides? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a calamitous episode all around Jamie, Baldy, and Raj wrap up the Ashes far too early in the Southern Hemisphere summer. While England were (more) competitive in the final two days in Adelaide the native South Australians in Travis Head and Alex Carey won the day meaning Australia retained the urn in 11 days. Baldy - ruthless as ever - still wasn't totally satisfied and struggles to come to terms with what to do with Cameron Green, and who replaces the irreplaceable* Nathan Lyon. For England, the questions go much deeper. Given that they looked much more competitive without an all-out attack mindset, what does Jamie think about their style of play? Raj guides Jamie through some delicate waters in assessing where England go from here. Finally, Raj gives us the Cliff Notes version of what caught his eye in the immediate aftermath of the New Zealand x West Indies Test in Mount Maunganui in advance of a deeper dive into that series next week. Merry Christmas to all our listeners and viewers from all of us here at the Top Order. * Feels like a strange statement after leaving him out of the Brisbane Test but I'm fine with it - Baldy... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Jamie and Stu chat with Australian international Pete Handscomb about The Ashes and the ups and downs of his cricket career so far. We start the show by diving into Pete's experience watching the Ashes as someone playing first-class cricket and with a lot of connections on both sides. Has anything come as a surprise so far? How tough is the challenge as a batter of moving from English pitches to Australian pitches? And should we expect anything different from in Adelaide or Melbourne? As the conversation continues, we move to Pete's own Ashes experience and the extra levels of scrutiny that come from playing on the biggest of stages. There's plenty in here about mindset and approach, and how tough times led to a rethink that has paid huge dividends in recent seasons. Along with sharing the tough times, Pete also recalls the moment he first received his Baggy Green from long-time friend and current Cricket Victoria coach Chris Rogers, and the moment he scored his first Test hundred against Pakistan. With the fires still burning for an international recall, Pete talks about how the game has changed since his debut, looks back at the challenge of facing India in India on difficult batting surfaces and shares what he's learned about the leadership style that works best for him, plus a few young players to watch out for on the Australian domestic circuit, such as Campbell Kellaway and Oliver Peake. To round out the show, we run through our quickfire round that hits on a number of topics, such as Pete's favourite innings, the toughest bowler he's faced and the most talented cricketer he's ever encountered. All in all, it was a conversation we really enjoyed and we hope you will too. We'll be back in your feed after the Test matches between England & Australia and New Zealand & the West Indies. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro: Pete Handscomb joins the show 0:55 Pete's experience and thoughts on The Ashes so far 5:55 Challenges for English batters in Australian conditions 7:55 Could moving to Adelaide help England get back on track? 16:20 Pete's own Ashes experience from 2017 21:50 Working through the tough times 31:10 The drive to play international cricket again 35:15 How cricket has changed over the past 10 years 40:05 Baggy Green and first Test hundred 43:50 Leadership 47:15 Facing up to India in India in 2023 54:00 Young players to watch out for in Australia 56:40 Quickfire round - favourite moments and toughest opponents Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Stu and Raj look back at the second Test between New Zealand and the West Indies, which saw the Black Caps take a 1-0 series lead at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. We start with our initial reaction to a game between two teams with a host of changes, that at times looked set to be closely fought but ultimately ended in a comfortable victory for the Black Caps. The New Zealand bowling attack comes in for praise, especially Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy and Michael Rae, and there's also a conversation about the role of spin in the Test team going forward and the role Zak Foulkes can play once the ball stops swinging. As we bounce around a number of talking points, we chat about Mitch Hay's impressive debut, Devon Conway's recent form and how the Black Caps dealt with losing another fast bowler to injury early on in the match. To round out the show, we discuss the level of disappointment the West Indies must be feeling, a potential debut for Kristian Clarke and our hopes and dreams for the third and final Test at Mount Maunganui, starting 18 December. If all goes to plan, we'll be back in your feed in a day or two to bring you a conversation with Australian international Peter Handscomb, which is bound to include a bit more Ashes chat. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro: Black Caps v West Indies 0:40 Injury-enforced changes and nervous moments in the first hour 2:50 New Zealand's bowling performance - Blair Tickner 6:25 How NZ handled another in-game bowling injury 8:55 How does spin fit in to the Black Caps' Test plans? 14:45 Michael Rae and Jacob Duffy 21:20 Any concerns about Zak Foulkes? 25:15 Mitch Hay's impressive debut 30:15 Is Devon Conway back in form? 33:35 A disappointing performance from the West Indies? 38:50 Potential changes & hopes for the third Test Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, it's a full house as we look back at the second Ashes Test between Australia and England, which saw the hosts take a 2-0 lead after a comprehensive win at the Gabba. As per tradition, we start with the victors: first to praise Australia and then to attempt to understand why they've been so dominant so far - and where England have let themselves down. There's talk of key moments, of selection, of game management and much more as we bounce around a number of different talking points. As the episode continues, the conversation turns to individuals: Mitchell Starc's starring role in the series and his overall status in the Test game; Is Jake Weatherald looking like the long-term solution for Australia at the top of the order?; Joe Root's first hundred on Aussie soil; Alex Carey's performance with the gloves; criticism of Jofra Archer and whether England are actually learning from their mistakes. To round out the show, we look ahead to the options facing both sides for the third Test in Adelaide as injury ins and outs seem set to play a major role: Mark Wood and Josh Hazelwood out for the series, but Pat Cummins is on track to return. We'll be back in your feed at the end of the week with more from the cricketing world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro: Ashes 2nd Test Review 1:45 Australia's dominant victory: more impressive than the first test? 3:15 Did we underestimate Australia before the series started? 7:00 Why are England not performing up to expectations? 19:40 Key performers: Mitchell Starc stars again 23:40 Nathan Lyon's exclusion & stats-based decision-making 27:20 Are England making tactical errors? 34:35 How much is the Bazball mindset contributing to these results? 37:35 Alex Carey's performance with the gloves 42:45 Joe Root's first hundred in Australia 44:40 Is Jake Weatherald a long-term solution at the top for Australia? 49:30 Selection questions for the third Test: Australia 53:20 Selection questions for the third Test: England 57:15 Quick predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Stu and Raj look back at the first Test between New Zealand and the West Indies, and give a brief shout out to Virat Kohli and a live reaction to the goings on in the second Ashes Test. With England and Australia still on the field at our regular Sunday recording time (check back in a day or two for our wrap of that match), we dedicated the majority of this episode to unpacking the West Indies' impressive rearguard action against the Black Caps at Hagley Oval. We start with a round-up of emotions after what proved to be a draining final couple of days in the first Test of the New Zealand summer. The Black Caps looked set for victory with the West Indies at 72-4 chasing 500+, but injuries to Matt Henry, Nathan Smith & Tom Blundell and an outstanding fighting effort from Shai Hope, Justin Greaves & Kemar Roach took the game into the final overs and secured a draw for the visitors. As we bounce around a number of talking points, there's also praise for Jacob Duffy, Tom Latham & Rachin Ravindra, we discuss the pitch and umpiring decisions, and debate whether the Black Caps still had enough chances to win or whether the West Indies should have put the accelerator down in the final session in an attempt to chase down the target. In amongst all of that, we speculate on the New Zealand lineup for the second Test and the prospect of potential Test debuts for Mitch Hay and Michael Rae or an SOS call-up to Kyle Jamieson. To round out the show, we there's a shout-out to Virat Kohli for his stacks of runs in the ODI series against South Africa, plus Baldy's live reaction to the news that Australia were on the verge of victory against England under lights in Brisbane. We'll be back in your feed in a day or two to review that second Ashes Test, then again next week with more from here in New Zealand and around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro: Black Caps v West Indies 1:00 West Indies fight back to secure a draw 3:05 Black Caps injury crisis 4:20 Shai Hope, Justin Greaves & Kemar Roach dig in 9:25 Thoughts on the Hagley Oval pitch 13:00 Jacob Duffy's lion-hearted effort 16:10 What will NZ's bowling attack look like at the Basin Reserve? 23:15 Are New Zealand still favourites for the second Test? 24:10 Missed opportunities and DRS decisions 27:30 Rachin Ravindra & Tom Latham's big partnership 31:20 Should the West Indies have gone harder for the win? 34:20 India v South Africa ODIs - Virat Kohli is still good at batting 37:45 Baldy's live Ashes reaction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu look back at South Africa's 2-0 sweep of India, and look ahead to the upcoming series between the Black Caps and the West Indies, as well as the second Ashes Test. We start the show by discussing South Africa's dominant victory against India in the second and final Test of that series, which saw lower-order runs from Senuran Muthusamy and Marco Jansen backed up by impressive performances from Jansen and Simon Harmer with the ball. There's plenty of praise for the visitors, but why were they able to be so successful? Are they better than we thought? Was Shubman Gill's injury that impactful? And how much pressure does another home sweep pile on Gautam Gambhir? Next we head back to New Zealand, where we look forward to the Test series against the West Indies, which starts at Hagley Oval on Tuesday. It's a matchup that favours the Black Caps on paper, but how much have injuries impacted the strength of this Kiwi side? We talk through possible lineups, what's at stake for the likes of Devon Conway and Tom Latham with a big 12-18 months ahead, and the role Mitchell Santner could fill at number 7 in the batting order. To round out the show, we chat about the Ashes, with team selection in focus. Mark Wood is out for England, Pat Cummins isn't yet back for Australia and the Travis Head or Usman Khawaja to open the batting question still remains. Plus: could Nathan Lyon miss out, and should we even have pink-ball Tests at all in the Ashes? We'll be back in your feed next week to review the Tests and anything else that catches our eyes from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:10 India v SA Test series review: South Africa's statement win 10:50 Jansen, Stubbs, Muthusamy all step up 13:45 Simon Harmer's performance & do Indian batters have a weakness against spin? 22:25 How much pressure is on Gautam Gambhir? 30:30 Black Caps v West Indies Test series 32:15 Injuries and absences for NZ 34:35 Black Caps bowling attack 37:50 What's at stake for New Zealand as a team and individually? 48:00 Will this be Kane Williamson's last Test series at home? 52:00 The Ashes 2nd Test preview: will Travis Head open for Australia? 1:00:00 England selection questions and build up 1:03:30 Do we need a pink-ball Test in the Ashes? 1:07:10 Could Cummins still play? Would Nathan Lyon miss out? 1:12:45 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy, Jamie and Stu look back at the first Test between Australia and England, which was action-packed but was finished within two days. There was plenty of drama in the lead-up to The Ashes, but that was nothing compared with the rollercoaster we saw on the field. Mitchell Starc started with a bang, England's pace battery hit back and it seemed like things were about to settle down by lunch on the second day with England one wicket down and leading by 99. But instead the action resumed, with the visitors crumbling and Travis Head's hundred powering Australia to victory within two sessions. We react to the emotion of the two days, then discuss the lineups and the pitch before highlighting key performers like Starc, Head, Ollie Pope, Jofra Archer and Marnus Labuschagne. We ask where it all went wrong for England, debate whether Travis Head's success could bring an unexpected end to Usman Khawaja's Test career, talk through potential changes for the second Test and plenty more as we try to process a game which moved through the gears at a rapid pace. We'll be back in your feed soon with more news and notes from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:45 Initial reactions to a wild two-day Test 8:35 Toss and lineups 14:00 Pitch conditions - too spicy or poor batting? 17:00 Key performers - Mitchell Starc's 10-wicket haul 21:30 Did England miss a leader in their bowling attack? 29:00 England's superb bowling on day 1 32:20 Travis Head's outrageous hundred 43:20 Was Jamie Smith out? 47:00 Is Usman Khawaja's future in doubt? 56:45 Do England's tactics need a rethink? 1:11:05 TNT coverage in the UK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu look back at the first Test between India and South Africa, which saw the hosts take a 1-0 series lead at Eden Gardens. A quickfire Test but plenty of talking points as seam dominated day 1 and then spin took centre stage on days 2 and 3. Jasprit Bumrah's remarkable skills were on display yet again, Simon Harmer continued his good form and Ravindra Jadeja tore through South Africa's batting lineup in the third innings as the game sped to a conclusion. It all looked to be on track for an Indian win - until it wasn't. We talk about the quality bowling on show, what made batting so tough, the impact of the injuries to Shubman Gill and Kagiso Rabada, and whether India can bounce back at Guwahati. Plus plenty more! We'll be back in your feed later in the week with more news and notes from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:00 South Africa pull off a stunning victory 5:25 Simon Harmer's impressive performance 9:30 Were India's spinners outbowled? 13:15 Was that style of pitch the optimum surface for India? 20:25 Shubman Gill's injury & the pressure on India 31:00 Can South Africa make it 2-0 or will India bounce back? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy, Jamie, Raj and Stu look ahead to the 2025-26 Ashes series between Australia and England. As usual, the Ashes hype machine has been in overdrive in recent months, but the cricket is finally (almost) here and the Top Order team are fizzing. We talk squads and potential line ups, key players and matchups, grounds and conditions, storylines to watch for and make our predictions for the series. How much will the Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood injuries hurt Australia? How excited are the English to unleash Jofra Archer and Mark Wood on an under-pressure Australian top order? Will Joe Root and Steve Smith imprint their class on the series? Will Nathan Lyon have an impact? Is it Scott Boland's time to shine? Can Harry Brook Bazball Australia to dust? Or will Marnus Labuschagne bounce back in a big way? And can Ben Stokes' boys etch their name into history on Aussie soil? Or will Steve Smith, Pat Cummins & co. inspire another victory for green-and-gold? There's all that and plenty more as we preview a series that's set to provide entertainment galore over the coming weeks. We'll be back in your feed regularly throughout this series to review/preview games and catch up on what's happening elsewhere in the world, including India v South Africa and Black Caps v West Indies. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 2:00 Potential lineups for first Test - questions for Australia? 14:55 How will England manage their seamers through the series? 23:55 Has Australia won the preparation battle? 36:25 How will Australia's top order respond to pressure? 48:50 Key matchups: Nathan Lyon v England's middle order 54:20 Jofra Archer, Travis Head, Harry Brook, Joe Root 58:10 Mitchell Starc, Ben Duckett, captaincy 1:02:20 What can we expect from the pitches? 1:09:20 Predictions: Who will win The Ashes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Raj and Stu look back at the cricketing week that was, which saw NZ in T20 action against the West Indies, India win the Women's World Cup and Australia name their squad for the first Ashes Test. We also look ahead to an intriguing Test series between India and South Africa. We start the show by congratulating India on their Women's World Cup win, before moving back to New Zealand where the Black Caps are 2-1 up in their T20 series against the West Indies. There's praise for Matthew Forde, Ish Sodhi and Mark Chapman, plus questions about NZ's death bowling and what the T20 World Cup squad might look like if - and it's looking like a bigger 'if' with each passing day - injured players like Glenn Phillips, Finn Allen, Will O'Rourke and Lockie Ferguson do return. Next we head to India, where Rishabh Pant returns for the home side as they prepare to take on South Africa in what shapes to be the toughest challenge to date for the current World Test Champions. Can Pant and Dhruv Jurel play in the same XI? Is Keshav Maharaj the best spinner in the world? And will India simply be too strong on home soil? We round out the show with the latest Ashes news, which mainly involves asking Baldy his thoughts on the Australian squad for the first Test. Jake Weatherald's inclusion has generated most of the headlines, but will he actually play? And if so, what might that mean for Marnus Labuschagne, Beau Webster, Cameron Green - and even Sam Konstas? We'll be back in your feed next week with a full preview of The Ashes, plus some more news and notes from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 0:45 India win the Women's World Cup 3:10 Black Caps v West Indies: Matthew Forde impresses 6:00 Do NZ have a death-bowling problem? 8:00 Ish Sodhi bowling well 11:20 Is NZ's T20 World Cup squad any clearer? 23:15 India v South Africa Tests: Rishabh Pant returns 26:40 Will India be too strong? 37:35 The Ashes: Australia name their squad 39:10 Will Jake Weatherald make his Test debut? 51:45 What next for Sam Konstas? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Binksy and Stu look back at the past two weeks, which saw NZ sweep England in an ODI series, Rohit & Virat roll back the years, Women's World Cup upsets & South Africa win a Test away in Pakistan. We start the show in New Zealand, where the Black Caps beat England 3-0 in the ODI series after a rain-affected false start to the international summer. There were plenty of positives for New Zealand - Daryl Mitchell, most of the bowlers and Mitchell Santner's bat, to name a few - as they chased down the visitors' modest totals on three separate occasions. We talk about Zak Foulkes's composure, Kane Williamson's retirement from T20 internationals and ask if there's anything to worry about from an England point of view. Next we head to Australia, where the home side has been playing white-ball cricket against India, but inevitably the conversation turns towards The Ashes. Has Marnus done enough? Would they actually leave out Beau Webster? And is Josh Hazlewood the first name on the Australian teamsheet? There's also praise for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's unbeaten partnership in the 3rd ODI, which could well be the last time the two of them stride to the middle on Australian soil. Then it's off to the Women's World Cup, where we saw India end Australia's incredible run and South Africa reverse their opening-match loss to England on their way to the final. Batting was in the spotlight once again in our discussion of this tournament, with the hundred from Jemimah Rodrigues taking top billing. To round out the show, there's a brief shout-out to the South African men's side for defeating Pakistan in the second Test of their series, thanks in no small way to Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer as the latter brought up his 1000th first-class wicket during the match. We'll be back in your feed next week to discuss more cricket from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:40 Black Caps v England: slow start to the NZ summer 5:05 Plenty of positives for NZ - Daryl Mitchell 7:10 Anything to worry about for England? 12:20 Black Caps bowlers - Foulkes, Duffy, Tickner 20:25 Kane Williamson retires from T20s 24:00 Australia v India white-ball series/Ashes build up 44:25 Women's World Cup: Jemi Rodrigues ends Australia's run 56:20 South Africa v Pakistan Second Test Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Binksy, Jamie and Stu look back at a rainy week on the cricketing calendar, which saw England begin a T20 series against the Black Caps, Australia hosting India, Pakistan defeating South Africa, rain dent the White Ferns' chances at the Women's World Cup and the advent of a new format (that looks somewhat similar to an old format and a current one). We start the show at Hagley Oval, where the Black Caps hosted England in an incomplete T20I to start off the series with a stutter. There was talk about the return of Mitchell Santner, Jimmy Neesham's ability to make things happen, whether Tom Banton can turn domestic form into international success - and more moustache-related praise. Next we head to Australia, where at the time of recording it was also raining in Perth, as the home side welcome India for 3 ODIs and 5 T20s. We talked about what's at stake for the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, there was some Ashes-based discussion and we asked for listener feedback about what Indian fans - and Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli - would like to see in this series. After a quick detour to Pakistan to talk about Noman Ali's pearler to Dewalt Brevis and Shaheen Shah Afridi's yorkers, it's off to the Women's World Cup, where rain has put a dent in the White Ferns' semi-final hopes. Alyssa Healy and Laura Wolvaardt continue to pile on the runs for Australia & South Africa, but are England going under the radar? Or is their potential challenge about to drop away? To round out the show, we debate the merits of a proposed new cricket format - Test Twenty - which will see young players from around the world test its merits in January 2026. Is this format a gimmick? Or could it actually stick? Does it actually blend Test cricket and T20? Or is it just two T20 games in a row? We'll be back in your feed next week to discuss more cricket from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 2:10 Black Caps v England T20 series - key questions 17:45 Australia v India ODIs - what's at stake? 35:40 Pakistan v South Africa - home side takes 20 wickets again 39:05 Women's World Cup - England about to be tested 51:00 Test Twenty - what do we think? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, the Raj, Baldy and Stu look back at a busy week on the cricketing calendar, which saw India wrap up a 2-0 Test series victory against the West Indies, Australia's women continue to roll on in the World Cup and Sean Solia keep Samoa's T20 WC chances alive. We also look ahead to the upcoming series between the Black Caps and England, and provide a live update as South Africa take on Pakistan in the first Test of that series. We start the show in India, where the home side made the West Indies follow-on and looked set for another innings victory, before John Campbell and Shai Hope, with help from Roston Chase, Justin Greaves and Jayden Seales, dug in to make it much more of a contest this time around. We give credit where it's due to both Campbell and Hope, talk about Kuldeep Yadav's performance with ball in hand, take stock market updates on Dhruv Jurel and Sai Sudharsan, dish yet more praise on Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, and look ahead to what's next for both sides. Next up we talk about the Women's World Cup, where the White Ferns have stumbled, Team India have lost two nail-biters and South Africa are charging again after their first-up loss to England. And yet again, Australia, thanks to contributions from almost everyone - including a fantastic hundred from Alyssa Healy - keep marching on. Back on NZ shores, we look forward to the Black Caps taking on England in three T20s and three ODIs - although injuries continue to linger. How will the bowling attack take shape? Can Jimmy Neesham take another step towards World Cup selection? Will Devon Conway find form? And how will Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra slot back into the side? To round out the show, we give a shout out to Sean Solia and Ross Taylor for their efforts for Samoa in the T20 World Cup qualifiers, as well as discussing the in-progress Test between South Africa and Pakistan - another home Test for Pakistan that looks to be dominated by spin. Will this prove to be their best path to the World Test Championship Final? Or is it actually doing more harm than good? We'll be back in your feed next week to discuss more cricket from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:30 India v WI: West Indies show some fight as Hope & Campbell make 100s 13:50 Stock market check on Dhruv Jurel & Sai Sudharsan 20:50 Siraj, Gill & Jaiswal 28:45 Women's World Cup playoff race heating up 41:15 Black Caps v England 48:30 Samoa make the Super Sixes 52:00 Pakistan v South Africa update Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, the team look back at a busy week on the cricketing calendar, which saw Australia's men and women get the better of their New Zealand counterparts, India secure an innings victory in their first Test against the West Indies and Chris Woakes call stumps on his Test career. We start the show in India, where the home side demolished the West Indies by an innings in the first Test. An all-round bowling performance was backed up by hundreds from KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel & Ravindra Jadeja and some nice catches in the field as India proved they are currently a class above the West Indies. There's talk of the visitors' batting woes, Jurel's future and some spin chat. Next up we talk about the Black Caps v Australia T20 series, which was disrupted by rain but saw Mitch Marsh steal the limelight as the visitors secured a 2-0 series win to retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. There's praise for Tim Robinson's batting, Matt Henry's moustache and plenty of discussion around what we learned from this short series. At the Women's World Cup, Australia inflicted another defeat on New Zealand, but not without a few wobbles along the way. The White Ferns made inroads into the Aussie batting lineup, but it was Ash Gardner's quickfire century that proved to be the difference despite Sophie Devine's impressive response. We also talk about England's big win against South Africa and how that positions them for the remainder of the tournament. To round out the show, there's a quick word of farewell to Chris Woakes, who announced his retirement from Test cricket. We'll be back in your feed next week to discuss more cricket from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:25 India v WI: West Indies' batting woes 15:20 Plenty of positives for India 25:00 Black Caps v Australia: Mitch Marsh stars & Kiwi questions 43:40 Women's World Cup: Big wins for Aus & England 58:00 Chris Woakes announces international retirement & Baldy's black book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu recap the India v Pakistan Asia Cup final and take a brief look at all the cricket to look forward to over the next few months. We start the show by talking about Pakistan's impressive start, with Farhan and Fakhar combining to reach a score of 113-1. And then the wheels fell off as a mixture of excellent spin bowling and poor shot selection led to the collapse of all collapses, which saw Pakistan crumble to be all out for 146. It wasn't all smooth sailing for India, though, who found themselves in trouble at 20-3 before Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube played their part in what proved to be an exciting final and one which saw India crowned as Asia Cup champions in 2025. Do Pakistan have enough building blocks for a 2026 T20 World Cup challenge? And is SKY's spot under threat? To round out the show, we make quick mention of a few things we're looking forward to in what shapes as an exciting finish to the calendar year in the world of cricket. We'll be back in your feed again soon to discuss the week that was, which should include India v West Indies, the Chappell-Hadlee T20 series and the Women's World Cup, among other things. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:25 Asia Cup Final: Pakistan's brilliant start 5:30 Did Pakistan show a lack of game awareness? 13:30 India in trouble early - enter Tilak, Samson and Dube 21:00 Is Suryakumar Yadav's India spot under threat? 26:20 An exciting few months of cricket ahead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices