Glamorgan has been promoted to Division One of the County Championship for the first time in twenty years. Club Chairman Mark Rhydderch-Roberts talks about a future full of opportunity after the new investment from Indian business in Welsh Fire. He spies a global spread for the county as franchise cricket dominates the cricketing landscape. He also talks about what non-host counties need to do to survive and preserve the domestic red-ball and T20 games survive into the future.
Highlights from Thursday's radio show on Phoenix 98FM, where we analyse the deep frustration and disappointing performance of England in the first two Ashes Tests. We compare that to a classic between New Zealand and West Indies, which was a proper example of how test match cricket should be played. Also a round up of the latest news from around the counties.*This is an updated version of the previous podcast which has a music copyright issue.
The 2026 fixtures for the County Championship, the One Day Cup and The Blast have been released and Leicestershire supporter Oliver Hawke joins me to give his thoughts and how he is already busy making arrangements to follow his beloved team across the country next summer.
With the shockwaves still reverberating after England's eight wicket defeat to Australia in the First Test, I got the views of some of the friends and collaborators of "98 Not Out" to try and make sense of what happened. Who is to blame and what have we learned? Indeed, what can we expect from the next Test at Brisbane and what are England's prospects for the rest of the series. Thanks to Mark Pougatch, Annie Chave, Chris Stocks, Ed Warner, Asif Tanvir and Richard Clarke for their participation.#Cricket #England #Australia #TheAshes #Perth
Ahead of the Essex AGM, I caught up club treasurer Neil Faraday to talk about the financial health of the club and how to keep ahead of a fast-changing environment post-Covid. We also talk player budgets - for both the men and the women's teams - as well as an update on plans for the redevelopment of the ground at Chelmsford.#Cricket #Essex #Chelmsford
George Dobell reports from Australia ahead of the first Ashes Test, which begins in Perth later this week..Subscribe to https://www.thecricketer.com for top coverage from Down Under this winter!#TheAshes #Cricket
George Dobell reports from Australia ahead of the first Ashes Test, which begins in Perth later this week. Subscribe to https://www.thecricketer.com for top coverage from Down Under this winter!#TheAshes #Cricket
With the wait nearly over, Paul Newman from The Athletic joins me to assess England's chances Down Under. Has the preparation been enough? Does England's all out pace attack have enough to beat an aging Australian side? What did we learn from the white ball tour to New Zealand and there are questions over the schedule (again??!) as a T20 World Cup follows straight after the conclusion of The Ashes.There's a wider look at the Test landscape and the need to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots..Follow Paul across social media @Paul_newman66 to get all the latest coverage of The Ashes and subscribe to The Athletic too!#TheAshes
With the wait nearly over, Paul Newman from The Athletic joins me to assess England's chances Down Under. Has the preparation been enough? Does England's all out pace attack have enough to beat an aging Australian side? What did we learn from the white ball tour to New Zealand and there are questions over the schedule (again??!) as a T20 World Cup follows straight after the conclusion of The Ashes.There's a wider look at the Test landscape and the need to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Follow Paul across social media @Paul.newman66 to get all the latest coverage of The Ashes and subscribe to The Athletic too!#TheAshes
Derbyshire stalwart David Griffin aka Griff joins me as county cricket enters its low point on the calendar. We talk all things Derbyshire, as the county celebrates its 155th anniversary. Also a look forward to the 2026 county fixtures release later this month, the necessity of wearing shorts whatever the weather and, given Griff is such a huge fan, a chat about the new Bruce Springsteen movie "Deliver Me From Nowhere". Make sure to follow Griff on X at @dgriffinpix, he's very good!#Cricket #Derbyshire #Springsteen
Derbyshire stalwart David Griffin aka Griff joins me as county cricket enters its low point on the calendar. We talk all things Derbyshire, as the county celebrates its 155th anniversary. Also a look forward to the 2026 county fixtures release later this month, the necessity of wearing shorts whatever the weather and, given Griff is such a huge fan, a chat about the new Bruce Springsteen movie "Deliver Me From Nowhere". Make sure to follow Griff on X at @dgriffinpix, he's very good!#Cricket #Derbyshire #Springsteen
As the 2025 season draws to a close, Nick Browne has called time on his first class career with Essex Cricket. Here we chat about where it all began for him st South Woodford CC and how he progressed through the ranks to open the batting for Essex alongside Sir Alastair Cook and winning the County Championship, not once but twice!It's also been Nick's Testimonial Year and we look back at some of the events and look forward to his final dinner at Greenwoods Hotel & Spa on Saturday, 29th. November. Get your tickets now and support Nick's charities The Professional Cricketers Trust and The Ruth Strauss Foundation:nickbrowne25.com
As the 2025 season draws to a close, Nick Browne has called time on his first class career with Essex Cricket. Here we chat about where it all began for him st South Woodford CC and how he progressed through the ranks to open the batting for Essex alongside Sir Alastair Cook and winning the County Championship, not once but twice!It's also been Nick's Testimonial Year and we look back at some of the events and look forward to his final dinner at Greenwaoods Hotel & Spa on Saturday, 29th. November. Get your tickets now and support Nick's charities The Professional Cricketers Trust and The Ruth Strauss Foundation:nickbrowne25.com
The CEO of Essex Cricket Dan Feist joins me for a catch up, as the 2025 season winds to a close on the field, but activity continues a-pace off it, as the club is already starting preparations for its 150th anniversary in 2026. 2025 was a challenging year for the club, but it has emerged better and stronger with the emergence of exciting young talent with much to look forward to next season.among both the Men's and Women's sides plus a mention of club legend Graham Gooch, who was given a special recognition award at the recent PCA Awards Dinner.
Last night, the Leonardo City Hotel in the bustling heart of London hosted the 2025 Essex Cricket Annual Awards Dinner. A glitzy occasion where players from both the Men's and the Women's teams were recognised for their efforts this season. Hosted by Victoria Polley from BBC Essex, it was a particularly good night for the women. I caught up with Victoria and multi award winners Esmae MacGregor and Grace Scriven, as well club legend Kelly Castle, who was awarded the first-ever women's cap by the cub, ahead of her departure pastures new.
A year on from the release of his third album "Always Somewhere", former Surrey and England batter, now better know as a commentator on Sky Sports Cricket, Mark Butcher talks about his successful side hustle writing and recording music and gives us an exclusive preview of his next release. Of course, we also talk cricket and with the domestic season now concluded, we look forward to the winter and England's tour of Australia. Mark gives us his insight into why exactly he thinks there was logic in selecting Will Jacks ahead of Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson for the Ashes squad.
A year on from the release of his third album "Always Somewhere", former Surrey and England batter, now better know as a commentator on Sky Sports Cricket, Mark Butcher talks about his successful side hustle writing and recording music and gives us an exclusive preview of his next release. Of course, we also talk cricket and with the domestic season now concluded, we look forward to the winter and England's tour of Australia. Mark gives us his insight into why exactly he thinks there was logic in selecting Will Jacks ahead of Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson for the Ashes squad.
Leicestershire has won the Division Two title and thus return to the top flight of the County Championship after a twenty-two year hiatus. I caught up with superman Oliver Hawke to celebrate his county's achievement and asked what it meant to the die-hard supporters of the club.If you are not familiar with Oliver, I suggest you join the "County Cricket Matters" page on Facebook, where he provides daily updates during the season of his exploits following Leicestershire up and down the country, even detailing his chosen outfits for each occasion. To quote his favourite phrase, "Let's do it folks!"..
It's been a busy few days at Essex Cricket. On the field as the County Championship returned, the team was fighting hard to ensure its survival in the top flight and as it stands, Division One cricket looks likely to continue at Chelmsford next year.Off the field, at a Members Forum last week the club outlined its stance on proposed changes to the County Championship and has called an SGM for members to endorse the club's position.However, a shadow has been cast over the club with the forced departure of Chair Anu Mohindru after he was disbarred from his day job in the legal profession - nothing to do with cricket - but this has made his position at the club untenable. Very unfortunate, but the club has announced his successor and members should support the new-look board.Richard Clarke AKA "The Grumbler" helps me pick through the detail.Make sure you subscribe to Richard's excellent "County Cricket Newsletter" for free on Substack:https://countycricket.substack.com
It's been a busy few days at Essex Cricket. On the field as the County Championship returned, the team was fighting hard to ensure its survival in the top flight and as it stands, Division One cricket looks likely to continue at Chelmsford next year.Off the field, at a Members Forum last week the club outlined its stance on proposed changes to the County Championship and has called an SGM for members to endorse the club's position.However, a shadow has been cast over the club with the forced departure of Chair Anu Mohindru after he was disbarred from his day job in the legal profession - nothing to do with cricket - but this has made his position at the club untenable. Very unfortunate, but the club has announced his successor and members should support the new-look board.Richard Clarke AKA "The Grumbler" helps me pick through the detail.Make sure you subscribe to Richard's excellent "County Cricket Newsletter" for free on Substack:https://countycricket.substack.com