The Forward Defensive Cricket Podcast

T20 World Champions India have continued their dominant run by brushing aside England at home. Is this the dawn of India's 20-over domination? Despite the change of coach, England's familiar failings against spin and inflexible fast bowling remain. In this episode, Matt looks at what changes they could have made and why they came up short. Get in touch with the show forwarddefensivepod@gmail.com or @forwarddefpod on social media. Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

The dust has settled on one of the most hyped and highly anticipated Test series of all time between Australia and India. Despite it coming down to the final game, is Indian Test cricket at a crossroads? The struggling form of their star batters, new talents failing to pick up the baton, and a bowling attack that relies on an all-world talent. That is the anatomy of a side heading for a rebuild or period of transition. Ben Wylie on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/plottheball.com Jasprit Bumrah is better than ever — but that’s not enough for India: https://www.plottheball.com/p/jasprit-bumrah-is-better-than-ever Follow the podcast on social media: @forwarddefpod or you can email ⁠forwarddefensivepod@gmail.com⁠ Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

England had already won their first series in New Zealand since 2008 and were looking to seal a 3-0 clean sweep but the Black Caps wanted to give Tim Southee a perfect send off. In this episode, Matt looks at how the tourists floundered to their second 400+ run Test Match defeat of 2024, asks is Southee gets the respect he deserves, and ponders what England do with Ben Stokes after his latest injury setback. Get in touch with the show @forwarddefpod on social media or you can email forwarddefensivepod@gmail.com Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

In this episode, Matt looks at how England have secured a first Test series win in New Zealand since 2008 as they hammered their hosts to win the second Test match. Brook, Bethell, and Duckett blasted away, while Root notched his 36th century. The bowlers blew the Black Caps away as Gus Atkinson claimed a hattrick and Brydon Carse continued his brilliant debut winter. Not even a counterattacking hundred from Tom Blundell could stop New Zealand from being defeated inside three days. Is a series clean sweep on the cards? Get in touch with the show and follow on social media; @forwarddefpod Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

Does England have a new superstar? Jacob Bethell made a debut 50 batting put of position as his stock continues to rise. In this episode, Matt analyses the first Test Match between New Zealand and England. The hosts look to continue their hot streak after winning in India, while the tourists aim to bounce back from their own trial by spin in Pakistan. Harry Brook and Brydon Carse gave England an emphatic victory against a sloppy Black Caps. Get in touch and follow the show; @forwarddefpod Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

England bounced back from their ODI series defeat by claiming the T20 series 3-1. In this episode, Matt runs through the impact of a coin toss, the stunning return of Saqib Mahmood, marvels at Jacob Bethell, and wonders what England's best T20 side would be. Get in touch with the show @forwarddefpod on social media. Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

An inexperienced England lost their 3rd successive One Day International series at the hands of the West Indies. Given all the key players missing how much did we learn? In this episode, Matt looks at how England's debutants fared, Liam Livingstone's key role, the West Indian pace attack, and more. Get in touch: forwarddefensivepod@gmail.com Follow on social media: @forwarddefpod Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

When a batter with an average of 25 gets called up to the England Test squad, you have to ask, where are all the batters? In this episode, Matt looks at the inclusion of Jacob Bethell in the squad for the tour of New Zealand and if this means England has reached the bottom of the batting barrell. Will Ollie Pope be dropped? Will Zak Crawley continue to have the backing of Ben Stokes? Or are there just no other choices? Get in touch with the podcast: forwarddefensivepod@gmail.com Follow on social media: @forwarddefpod Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

In this episode, Matt analyses the deciding Test Match between Pakistan and England. The home side came from behind to win the series in Rawalpindi. Trial by spin exposed the same flaws for England as their batting lineup couldn't cope with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. The tourists left this game with plenty of questions. Get in touch with the show; forwarddefensivepod@gmail.com Follow the show on social media; @forwarddefpod Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

In this episode, we are looking back at the 2nd Test Match between Pakistan and England, once again in Multan. For the first time in Test cricket, the pitch was being reused as the hosts hoped that trial by spin would be their way to get back into the series. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali shared all 20 English wickets to fall as Kamran Ghulam scored a brilliant debut century to hand Shan Masood his first victory as captain. Ben Duckett's fourth Test Match hundred was one of the lone bright spots for the tourists. Get in touch with the podcast: forwarddefensivepod@gmail.com @forwarddefpod on X, Instagram, and Threads Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/

For this episode, we delve into the Multan run-fest as England hoped to repeat their performance from two years ago. It was certainly one for the records books. Joe Root became England's leading run-scorer, Harry Brook swashbuckled his way to a triple hundred, and Pakistan threw in a collapse for good measure. Music from Pixabay Audio File Title: Chill Hip Hop Audio File URL: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-hip-hop-248170/