Suddenly everyone is hitting runs. Warner’s 335* — brilliant individual performance by misunderstood genius, or meaningless caveat-laden knock? More neatly compiled runs for Marnus as safety levels soar to new heights... are we “too” safe now? Meanwhile, Payne’s declaration is up for debate — should he have pulled Warner in on 334* as homage to the Don, or plundered 700 against a third grade Pakistan? Either way, like all things it’s dividing us as a nation. Anyway Yasir Shah hit a ton batting at 8 so clearly none of these runs mean anything and should thus be stricken from the record effective immediately.

 

The pleasure is ours as we interview in-person one of the truly “great men” (earnest use of the term) of grade cricket: Richard Chee Quee. Cheeks takes us through 90s grade cricket and copping bumpers from Mike Whitney as a 14-year-old, to Mercantile Mutual Cup glory, to tonning up against Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, before performing a special unplugged version of his Aria chart-topping single, Can’t Bowl, Can’t Throw (featuring Dave on guitar).

 

Then Cheeks sticks around to answer your questions on #AskTGC, which include indoor cricket glove etiquette, being alpha’d by glamorous European gentry, and the inevitable homogenisation of the “rare unit” within Australian cricket.

 

As always, nothing possible without the legendary folks at BudgySmuggler.

 

We’re performing live across Australia in 2019. Our dates:

 

Brisbane – Princess Theatre, Thursday November 21, 7.30pm (with Jason Gillespie)

Adelaide – Rhino Room, Saturday November 30, 12pm (with Shaun Tait)

Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Friday December 27, 7.30pm (with John Hastings)

Melbourne – Corner Hotel, Saturday December 28, 7.30pm (with John Hastings)

Sydney – Comedy Store, Friday January 3, 7.30pm (Guest TBC)

Sydney – Comedy Store, Saturday January 4, 7.30pm (Guest TBC)

 

Tickets at https://gradecricketer.club/upcoming-events

 

***

 

We do events, too. If you have sporting entertainment needs and prefer material sourced after 1975, please talk to us. We’ve performed across Australia and the UK, and love telling stories from clubland, or interviewing those who tell them even better. Contact [email protected] for more details.

 

***

 

We have merch, namely Stubby Holders, and Smugglers. Head to https://gradecricketer.club/shop for the specifics

 

***

 

Big thanks to Jarryd Biviano @thefifthcreative and Julia Dowe for our podcast art, Toby Shain for the voiceovers + fake ad production, and Adrian Leung for our intro tune.

 

***

 

Email the show at [email protected]

 

***

 

We’re able to do all of this thanks to the fit, intelligent, enterprising people at Budgy Smuggler. It either is, or is nearly, summer somewhere in the world. For the entirety of your colourful swimwear needs, head to budgysmuggler.com.au

 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.