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Do England have any idea what to do with Ollie Pope? He is back in the Test squad, but with Jordan Cox selected at No. 3 and Dan Lawrence at No. 6, is he really any closer to playing?

Sanjay and former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones examine Joe Root’s first squad of the new regime, the selection of seven seamers and the likely attack for the opening Test against Pakistan at Headingley.

Geraint also gives his inside view on Andrew Flintoff’s departure from the England Lions. Did constant player turnover make it impossible for Flintoff to build the team environment he wanted and what should the ECB do next?

Plus: Geraint’s Golden Nuggets, another round of Silly Point, viewer reaction to the proposal of taking The Hundred on the road and Geraint’s eventful return to the cricket field.

Let us know what you think: what exactly is England’s plan for Ollie Pope?

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:43 England’s first squad of the new regime
09:09 What is England’s plan for Ollie Pope?
14:55 New era or the same old squad?
19:42 Our England XI for Headingley
21:58 Geraint’s Golden Nuggets
26:21 Why Andrew Flintoff left the England Lions
31:28 Can the Lions build a culture with constant turnover?
34:40 Does England need more than one Lions team?
39:34 Who should replace Flintoff?
41:11 Silly Point
47:06 Should The Hundred go on the road?
54:04 Geraint’s cricket comeback

#EnglandCricket #OlliePope #CricketPodcast

Stephen Fleming is England’s new Test coach and Joe Root is back as captain — but is this a masterstroke or a safe step backwards?

We discuss whether Fleming can retain the best of Bazball while bringing greater tactical intelligence, control and adaptability to England’s Test cricket.

Plus, crowds at The Hundred are down. Has the novelty worn off, does it need Indian superstars — or is English cricket trying to sustain one competition too many?

Plus a new feature - Geraint's Golden Nuggets.

Let us know what you think in the comments and subscribe to Close of Play.

Can cricket change lives away from the field?

This week on Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy sits down with Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara to discuss The Great Catch — a campaign aiming to reduce prostate cancer deaths across the Caribbean.

We also review England's ODI series victory over India, discuss the Vitality Blast Finals Day, debate the future of domestic cricket, and break down the key decisions from the ICC's Annual Conference.

In this episode:

🏏 Exclusive interviews with Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara

🏏 The Great Catch and cricket's charitable legacy

🏏 England beat India in the ODI series

🏏 Vitality Blast Finals Day review

🏏 Women's Finals Day attendance debate

🏏 Could the Blast and The Hundred coexist?

🏏 ICC AGM: World Club T20, World Test Championship, franchise cricket and more

🏏 Who Am I?

Subscribe for weekly cricket debate, exclusive interviews and analysis.

00:00 Introduction

01:10 Cricket's Greatest Legacy?

02:05 Sir Clive Lloyd Interview

03:25 Sir Viv Richards Interview

05:10 Brian Lara Interview

06:40 Why Cricket Creates So Many Charities

15:25 England Beat India

30:55 Vitality Blast Finals Day

50:55 Who Am I?

57:00 ICC AGM Explained

01:06:45 Wrap Up

Australia are Women's T20 World Cup champions once again, but what does defeat mean for England?

Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones debate whether England should begin a transition, examine the strength of the women's pathway, answer listener questions on England's men's team, and preview the Vitality Blast run-in.

Also featuring Silly Point and the latest county cricket discussion.

Chapters

00:00 Australia win the Women's T20 World Cup

04:10 Does England need another reset?

07:16 Producing the next generation

10:32 Wicketkeepers opening the batting

11:50 Fan vs Institution

20:03 Women's cricket continues to grow

21:54 Listener comments

43:56 Silly Point

50:20 Vitality Blast finals race

54:14 Women's Tier One & Tier Two

57:47 Wrap up

Ben Stokes has quit England cricket, and Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones pick through the fallout.

They discuss the timing of Stokes’ decision, whether the final day against New Zealand exposed the limits of Bazball, and what pressure now falls on Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and the England leadership group.

There is also the major captaincy question: who leads England next?

Sanjay and Jonesy also pick their best England XI from their lifetime, look at who could replace Stokes as an all-rounder, play Silly Point, and preview the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Cricket is changing fast.

This week on Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones discuss the proposed privatisation of the Big Bash, the growing influence of IPL franchise owners, and whether county cricket’s traditional member-owned model can survive in the modern game.

They also look back at England’s heavy defeat to New Zealand, Joe Root’s captaincy, James Rew’s Test debut, Jofra Archer’s reaction to a dropped catch, Jacob Bethell’s red-ball form, and England’s selection questions ahead of the Third Test.

Plus Who Am I? Geraint’s famous rebound catches, the 18-ball over, and the usual Close of Play nonsense.

00:00 The Big Bash privatisation debate

02:00 Why cricket is chasing investment

05:51 Is the traditional cricket model finished?

07:18 Member-owned counties and decision making

09:10 Football's influence on cricket

11:23 Does tradition hold cricket back?

14:20 The Rod Bransgrove effect at Hampshire

16:16 Facilities versus success on the field

18:31 Is cricket becoming a commercial entertainment business?

21:31 England's defeat to New Zealand

22:36 Joe Root's captaincy

23:44 James Rew and England's selection decisions

24:36 Jofra Archer's reaction to Rew's dropped catch

30:14 Should Ollie Pope have been recalled?

34:57 Jacob Bethell under pressure?

36:34 Has the IPL affected Bethell's red-ball development?

40:51 Third Test preview

43:10 Rehan Ahmed's England prospects

45:50 Should England rest Jofra Archer?

47:50 The ECB, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson

49:12 Ben Stokes' relationship with the ECB

52:13 Third Test predictions

53:04 Who Am I?

58:34 Geraint's famous rebound catches

59:57 The 18-ball over

1:01:27 Volunteers: the lifeblood of club cricket

1:04:26 Final thoughts

Ben Stokes' nightclub incident has dominated the headlines, but what are the real consequences for England and their captain?

Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones discuss leadership, decision-making under pressure, the challenge of replacing Ben Stokes, Joe Root's return as captain, Harry Brook's future, Jordan Cox and Harry Crocombe's England opportunities, and England's selection gamble for the Second Test.

Plus:

🏏 Do England trust Harry Brook?

🏏 Can anyone replace Ben Stokes?

🏏 Why Jordan Cox has been called up

🏏 England's no-spinner gamble

🏏 Women's T20 World Cup review

🏏 Sri Mandhana in Who Am I?

Watch, listen and subscribe for weekly cricket debate, insight and stories from inside the game.

00:00 Ben Stokes And Decision Making

01:39 Why McCullum Is Disappointed

04:07 Consequences Of Poor Decisions

07:14 England's Leadership Problem

08:48 Freddie Flintoff & Pressure In Sport

13:12 Fame, Match Fixing & Legacy

15:51 Root Captains England

18:21 Can England Replace Stokes?

20:14 Jordan Cox & Harry Crocombe

24:25 England's Selection Gamble

27:43 Has James Rew Been Hard Done By?

28:54 Second Test Predictions

30:10 Kane Williamson's Retirement

31:10 Who Am I?

35:28 Women's T20 World Cup Review

43:45 West Indies As Dark Horses

#EnglandCricket #BenStokes #JoeRoot #CricketPodcast #TestCricket

In this edition of Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and 2005 Ashes winner Geraint Jones tackle some of cricket's biggest talking points.

The pair debate the controversial Lord's Test pitch and ask whether the Home of Cricket should face consequences for producing a match that lasted little more than two days. Could drop-in pitches be the answer, and what actually makes a great Test wicket?

They also discuss the future of cricket testimonials. Do benefit years still serve a purpose in modern cricket? Why do football testimonials feel like major events while cricket still relies on traditional fundraising dinners? And could players such as Sam Billings completely reinvent the model?

Attention then turns to the Women's T20 World Cup, with predictions, dark horses and discussion around England's chances on home soil. Can Australia cope without Alyssa Healy? Are South Africa being overlooked? And who will lift the trophy?

Plus, another edition of Who Am I? featuring one of cricket's most colourful and surprising careers.

Featuring:

• The Lord's pitch debate

• Should Lord's lose Test status?

• The future of cricket testimonials

• Sam Billings and modern benefit years

• Women's T20 World Cup predictions

• Can England win the World Cup?

• Australia without Alyssa Healy

• Who Am I?

Close of Play — cricket conversations with Sanjay Murthy and Geraint Jones.

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This week on Close of Play, Sanjay Murthy and 2005 Ashes winner Geraint Jones bring together four cricket conversations in one full episode.

First, Jonesy reflects on England Lions duty and asks whether results really matter at that level — or whether the bigger value is giving young players exposure to the next step up from county cricket.

Then attention turns to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the teenage Indian sensation already being talked about as cricket’s next great talent. Is early fame a blessing or a curse? Can senior players learn from juniors? And could his game work in Test cricket?

We also discuss Lord’s, where England begin their Test summer against New Zealand. Are England ready? Has their approach shifted after the Ashes? And how dangerous are New Zealand’s bowling attack?

Finally, it’s Silly Point — with a Who Am I? cricket quiz that sends Jonesy all over the place before the answer is finally revealed.

Watch, like, comment and subscribe for more cricket debate, stories and analysis from Close of Play.

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Life of a Cricket Coach | Inside the England Lions Setup

What does a cricket coach actually do all day?

This week on Close of Play, Geraint Jones takes us inside the England Lions coaching setup and reveals the reality of modern elite cricket coaching.

From selection meetings and analyst data to player management, confidence, pressure and preparation, Jonesy explains what really happens behind the scenes at England Lions level.

We also discuss:

• Fred Flintoff as a coach

• The jump from county cricket to Lions cricket

• Why some young players thrive and others disappear

• Whether the IPL is better development than April county cricket

• Ben Mays & Asa Tribe

• Zach Crawley’s white-ball future

• England women selection dilemmas

• The pressure of elite cricket

🎙️ Close of Play with Sanjay Murthy & 2005 Ashes winner Geraint Jones.

00:00 Intro
00:47 A day in the life of an England Lions coach
03:39 Matchday food & preparation
07:27 How selection decisions are made
09:55 The role of analysts in modern cricket
12:56 Technical vs psychological coaching
17:03 Fred Flintoff as a coach
19:37 What coaches actually watch during games
24:08 Ben Mays & Asa Tribe
28:14 Do Lions runs matter more than county runs?
33:16 IPL vs county cricket development debate
36:47 The pressure jump in elite cricket
38:52 Silly Point – Sophie Devine
45:08 England women selection debate
48:30 Zach Crawley’s white-ball future
54:10 Quickfire questions
59:57 Best food in cricket
01:00:36 Outro

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