That weird India v Australia ODI series has already come and gone since our last podcast, and Mitch Starc bats five for Australia now. What else did we learn from these offshored ODIs, which took place at an ungodly hour behind a paywall, other than what the BCCI wants, it fucking gets?

The BBL rolls on (will it ever end?) and the Brisbane Heat are an absolute myth – as is AB deVilliers, according to three blokes from the internet with a combined test match tally of 0. Meanwhile, the ICC pitch ratings are in for the home summer: the WACA is “good” while the Gabba is “very good." But which is a more intimidating venue/airport/city for India to arrive at: Perth or Brisbane? And how do you get a job judging pitches?

 

It’s obvious now that Ben Stokes is the best player that England has ever produced. And the English cricket media is going wild over Ollie Pope, who’s variously the new Ian Bell/future highest run-scorer for England, depending on which Twitter cuck you’re following. (That is until they ruthlessly tear him down 12 months from now.) Meanwhile, Kagiso Rabada has earned a one-match suspension for yelling really loudly, or some shit, a situation that is perfectly summed up by the frequently cited and watertight speeding analogy. Also, Pakistan has picked a 14-year-old in their U19 World Cup team – more normal stuff from a normal cricketing nation.

 

In a TGC first, we welcome BBL rivals and Tasmanian grade club mates, Clive Rose and Beau Webster, to answer various questions about each other. From personal branding, Dennis Rodman, being called 'Slug', referring to enormous umpires as "The Big Man" and VIP booth circuiting in Hobart at 'Cargo'. You know, all the normal stuff.

 

And #AskTGC deals with a few important issues, including best practice around Friday night circuiting, while responding to a lower grader’s request for career advice via Linkedin InMail, before ruthlessly dispatching a bloke who has the audacity to sign off his question as ‘Chop King’.

Thanks again for the @BudgySmuggler team for backing this podcast week in week out. Great swimwear, great people – get around them and they in turn will get around you.

 

EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketer

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