On today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, we discuss some of the major talking points in world cricket that you may have missed.

Firstly we talk about the England squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, and in particular about the decision to cast aside the up-and-coming prodigy Harry Brook, who has been all the English media have been able to talk about in 2023, in order to resurrect the Saviour in Ben Stokes, and how this may affect the teams chances, but also just what kind of message it sends to someone who has probably spent the past 12 months dreaming of playing in the tournament.

Secondly, we discuss the decision by Cricket South Africa to refuse to send any of their international players who are contracted to teams in their domestic T20 tournament, the SA20, on their two Test tour of New Zealand in February next year. Not only will it mean that a virtual 2nd XI will play Test cricket, but it is the first crack in the wall that Test cricket is the number one priority for all cricket countries, and what that means going forward.

Thirdly we discuss Australia's T20 squad to tour South Africa in September, and how the unavailability of so many senior stars could well be the making of Australia going forward, not only in white ball cricket, but into the longer form of the game as well.

All of that is here on this episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast where summer never ends, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.