The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu look back at another busy week of international cricket, which saw the Black Caps and India begin their ODI series, the West Indies take on Bangladesh & some comments from Usman Khawaja that could re-open old wounds for Australian Cricket. We start the show in New Zealand, where rain has been a factor in the first two ODIs between the Black Caps and India. It's been tough going for most with the bat, although Virat Kohli still looks very impressive, but Kyle Jamieson and Gurnoor Brar in particular seem to be enjoying the conditions. We talk about how the Black Caps' injuries are impacting the series, wonder how urgent it is that Shreyas Iyer finds some form and whether New Zealand needs to move on from some older faces. As the conversation continues, we turn our attention to Australia, where quotes from Usman Khawaja have got people talking about Sandpaper-gate once again. Is this a surprise to anyone? How will the current playing group respond? And are their bigger concerns for Australian Cricket in the fall out of the test series loss to South Africa? We also touch on the upcoming white-ball matches against England, which could feature a number of fresher faces such as Mahli Beardman and Jake Fraser-McGurk. In the final segment of the show, we briefly touch on the test series between the West Indies and Bangladesh, which has been very entertaining and featured quality individual performances from the likes of Hasan Mahmud, Amir Jangoo, Brandon King, John Campbell and a record-breaking double hundred from Towhid Hridoy. Are the West Indies showing signs of improvement? Is this a series Bangladesh fans expected to win? Will they bounce back in this second test? We'd love to hear what you think in the comments section. To access the online game referenced on last week's show - The Greats - check out the links below and email [email protected] with "Top Order" in the subject line. The first 5 people who email in will have free access to the full game. Play free in your browser: https://thegreats.cricket/play The full game (Early Access, £9.99): https://montybeau.gumroad.com/l/uamotp We'll be back again soon with more news and views as the Black Caps v India ODI series begins and we look ahead to the tests. Plus we'll discuss any other cricket news that catches our eyes. 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. 0:00 Intro 0:40: Black Caps v India - the visitors are winning in the rain 3:00 Gurnoor Brar and the Indian bowlers on top 7:10 Virat Kohli looking the best of the batters 9:30 Is Shreyas Iyer under pressure? 13:25 Black Caps' batting injuries and struggles 20:35 Black Caps' bowlers 25:05 Usman Khawaja's comments about Sandpaper-gate 33:25 Mike Hussey joins Australia's coaching staff 34:55 Australia's white-ball selections for England series 39:00 West Indies v Bangladesh test series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu look back at another busy week of international cricket, which saw South Africa win the third test to secure a series victory against Australia and move to #1 in the ICC Test Rankings, plus the continuation of the T20 series between the Black Caps and India. We start the show in South Africa, where the home side prevailed by 176 runs in a rollercoaster of a test that concluded a rollercoaster of a series against Australia. The visitors won the toss after a host of changes and sent Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram raced out to a brilliant start. From there, this see-sawing encounter gave us hundreds from Josh Inglis, Ryan Rickelton & Wiaan Mulder, six-wicket hauls for Mitchell Starc & Simon Harmer, and quality contributions from many others, including Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada. We discuss the key moments and wonder what's next for both sides. Is there a world where Australia could 'rest' Pat Cummins? Is Marnus Labuschagne's test career over? Will Simon Harmer remain South Africa's #1 spinning option for the England test series? As the conversation continues, we move to the T20 series between the Black Caps and India, which saw both sides break records in games 3 and 4. We talk about how important it was for New Zealand to finally add a mark to the win column, the brilliant form of Glenn Phillips, plus the incredible hitting from Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi that saw India score 178 from their first 10 overs in Wellington. In the final segment of the show, we briefly touch on England's performances in the ODI tri-series also featuring Sri Lanka and Pakistan, focusing mainly on the bowling options available to England and some positives despite missing out on the final. To access the online game referenced on the show - The Greats - check out the links below and email [email protected] with "Top Order" in the subject line. The first 5 people who email in will have free access to the full game. Play free in your browser: https://thegreats.cricket/play The full game (Early Access, £9.99): https://montybeau.gumroad.com/l/uamotp We'll be back again soon with more news and views as the Black Caps v India ODI series begins along with any other cricket news that catches our eyes. 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. 0:00 Intro 1:45: Aus v SA: South Africa win a rollercoaster series 5:15 Why did Australia bowl first? 9:20 Australia's selection & signs of life for the Aus batters 16:05 Is Pat Cummins under pressure for his spot? 19:30 Ryan Rickelton & Wiaan Mulder partnership 25:55 Kagiso Rabada & Simon Harmer 34:25 Is that the end for Marnus Labuschange's test career? 39:30 Are Australia afraid to make the big selection decisions? 43:35 Black Caps v India: NZ bounce back 49:15 Glenn Phillips's brilliant form & unanswered questions 53:00 India the T20 benchmark & record-breaking 3rd T20 57:45 England's performances in ODI tri-series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Raj and Stu look back at a busy week of international cricket, which saw the New Zealand summer begin with a T20 series against India, as well as South Africa roaring back in the second test against Australia to level that series at 1-1. We start the show with the Black Caps v India T20 series, which at the time of recording had begun with two wins for the visitors, both at Hagley Oval. New Zealand did a lot of things well - there were two excellent innings for Glenn Phillips, positive signs for Bevon Jacobs, success for both Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell with the ball - but India's star-studded batting lineup found a way in both matches to power to victory. There are questions about Daryl Mitchell's role, the fast-bowling combinations, whether it is even possible to stop an Indian batting lineup with Abhishek Sharma & Sanju Samson at the top and the likes of Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir & Nitish Kumar Reddy all the way down at 8, the lively crowds and even NZ A v India A as we review a fun start to the NZ summer of cricket. As the conversation continues, the rest of the show focuses on South Africa's outstanding response in the second test against Australia, which saw them secure an innings victory to level the series. Of course there's plenty of praise for the home side, who were helped by Temba Bavuma's big hundred, lower-order runs (and wickets) from Marco Jansen & Simon Harmer, plus the return of Kagiso Rabada and how that boosted the South African bowling lineup. On the flip side, Australia's batting finds itself under the microscope again, who despite a 3rd innings hundred for Travis Head and plenty of fight from Scott Boland, crumbled to be all out 99 in their first innings and relinquish their grip on the series - a series that looked to be all but theirs after the first two rain-affected days of this test match. We debate what was real about that performance and what the outliers are; we ponder how many changes might make with Cameron Green and Josh Inglis fit again, plus the potential return of Nathan Lyon; and talk generally about the Australian selection process and whether they are moving the team in the right direction. We'll be back again soon with more news and views from the South Africa v Australia series, Black Caps v India and any other cricket news that catches our eyes. 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. 0:00 Intro 1:25 Black Caps v India first two T20s: Missed opportunities? 6:50 Black Caps batting questions 10:20 BJ Jacobs & Glenn Phillips 15:35 India's batters got the best of NZ's seamers 25:00 NZ's focus on the test series 27:30 NZ A v India A 30:00 South Africa v Australia second test 32:10 What's real from this series so far? Australia's batting questions 42:40 Nathan Lyon's non-selection 45:10 Temba Bavuma's heroics with Marco Jansen & Simon Harmer 50:00 Kagiso Rabada's return 51:45 Australia's selection questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu react to team changes for the second test between South Africa and Australia, look ahead to the Black Caps upcoming series against India, and discuss some notable points from England's central contract list. We start the show with news from Gqeberha, where it was drizzling at the time of recording but the South African and Australian playing XIs had been announced. There's surprise at the omission of both Nathan Lyon and Keshav Maharaj, but no doubt that Scott Boland fully deserves another opportunity at test level. We'll have more on this match at the conclusion of the game. As the conversation continues, we move back to New Zealand, where the home summer is about begin with a tour from India. We share our excitement at the prospect of a three-format tour filled with stars on both sides. While Hardik Pandya will miss the series and Jasprit Bumrah is only here for the tests, the visitors still boast the batting firepower of the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as well as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - for possibly the final time on NZ shores. We highlight spin as a key battle, as Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel prepare to take on Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and co. We also discuss the careful approach with Will O'Rourke, potential ODI outings for Finn Allen and Lockie Ferguson, plus a BBL opportunity for BJ Jacobs. To round out the show, we highlight a few talking points from the England Men's central contract list. There's a Rew switcheroo, a potential demotion for Rehan Ahmed, and a return for Mason Crane, before we finish with some coaching chat and a look at how the sons of former England players are moving through the grades. We'll be back again soon with more news and views from the South Africa v Australia series, Black Caps v India and any other cricket news that catches our eyes. 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. 0:00 Intro 1:05 SA v Aus - changes for both sides 8:30 Black Caps v India Preview 11:45 ODI opportunities for Finn Allen/NZ's T20 batting options 16:55 Will O'Rourke injury/NZ bowlers 18:25 India's stars on show/spinners a key challenge for NZ 22:30 BJ Jacobs' BBL opportunity 26:25 England contract news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu review the first test between South Africa and Australia. We start the show with positivity from an Australian point of view after their commanding victory in the first Test. From a tricky position, the visitors turned the game on its head and, led by a near double hundred from Matt Renshaw, they took control of the match and never let go of that advantage. As the conversation continues, we highlight discipline as a key difference between the two sides, with both bat and ball. Australia's incredible bowling unit of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon found the perfect line and length to bowl on the Durban surface, then executed their skills much better than their South African counterparts. For Australia, Renshaw's success, and to a much lesser extent Nic Maddinson's 48 in the second innings, look to have revitalised the strength of the batting lineup, but it also creates more questions. Should Renshaw stay at 5 now? Is Travis Head being wasted at the top? How could Cameron Green slot back in to this side? On the South Africa side, there were positives to take from the match - Aiden Markram's fight, Anrich Nortje's test return, two solid innings from David Bedingham - but how much will they rue not having another seam bowler in their lineup? And with Kagiso Rabada set to return for the second Test, will they take the opportunity to make more changes? We'll be back again soon with more news and view from this series and any other cricket news that catches our eyes. 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 [email protected]. Thanks for listening.   0:00 Intro 1:00 Australia win by 214 runs 6:50 Did we underestimate Australia? 13:45 Matt Renshaw's epic test match 18:45 The discipline of Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood & Lyon 27:50 Nathan Lyon & the impact of spin 31:45 Do Australia have even more batting lineup questions now? 45:15 Positives for South Africa? 48:20 Changes for the second test? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices