The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu look back at the first two days of the final India v England Test, and day one of the Black Caps v Australia at Hagley Oval.

Ravichandran Ashwin took 4 wickets in the first innings of his hundredth Test, but it was Kuldeep Yadav who stole the show with 5 delightful dismissals as he ripped out England's top order.

When it was India's turn to bat, centuries for Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, plus fifties for Sarfaraz Khan, Yashasvi Jaiswal and debutant Devdutt Padikkal have put India right on top at the end of day two.

At Hagley Oval, the Black Caps won the first hour, but then Josh Hazlewood's relentless pressure took its toll and New Zealand crumbled to 162 all out. Matt Henry showed his class again, and Ben Sears bamboozled Steve Smith, but a return to form for Marnus Labuschagne edged Australia towards parity with six first innings remaining at stumps.

We'll be back again in the next day or two with more news from both tests, but 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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars 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

0:35 Day 1 at Hagley Oval - Black Caps skittled again

1:45 First hour of the day - Tom Latham looking fluid

3:55 Quality seam bowling, led by Josh Hazlewood

5:35 Australia's relentless pressure with the ball

7:50 Is Marnus Labuschagne back?

9:05 Ben Sears debut, a good selection?

11:20 Baldy's high standards

13:00 Hopes for day 2

15:55 India v England

16:55 Which of these English spinners will stick?

20:05 How many of the young Indian batters will be there once Kohli and Rahul return?

23:00 Kuldeep Yadav's fab five

26:40 Hopes for day 3

29:05 Natural variation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the show, we're all back in the same room to discuss the Black Caps' demoralising loss to Australia at the Basin Reserve, as well as a preview/review of the 4th and 5th Tests between India and England.

We start the episode with some initial thoughts from the Kiwi contingent about the pain of another Test loss to Australia - a game where New Zealand showed signs they could compete on days 1 and 3, but crumbled on the even days on their way to a very familiar scoreline against their Trans-Tasman neighbours.

There's plenty of praise for Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon, as well as Matt Henry and Glenn Phillips who provided the positives from a New Zealand point of view. We also discuss the make up of a Black Caps bowling attack in transition, a seemingly indestructible quartet of Australian bowlers, the impact of injuries and the form of Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey.

In the second half of the show, we look back at the 4th Test between India and England, which saw India secure a series victory in Ranchi. Was it a missed opportunity for England? Or do India deserve all the credit for winning the biggest moments of this series.

We touch on crucial performances from Dhruv Jurel and Shubman Gill, highlighting their composure under huge pressure. Joe Root's hundred demonstrated his class, but India's spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav made life difficult for England in the third innings and turned the match back India's way.

Finally, we preview the 5th Test in Dharamasala - potentially the hundredth for Jonny Bairstow and Ravi Ashwin - with an eye to conditions and how England may look back on this series when all is said and done.

We'll be down at Hagley Oval in a few days' time at the second Test between the Black Caps and Australia, so expect plenty of content from that match and also the final India v England Test. As always, we really appreciate everyone who takes 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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars 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

0:55 A demoralising loss for the Black Caps

3:50 Do New Zealand have a mental block against Australia?

5:10 Why is it so hard to clean up the tail?

6:50 Cameron Green delivers under pressure

9:25 Nathan Lyon - the GOAT gets even GOATier

12:40 Australia's bowling group

15:55 Glenn Phillips - better than a part-timer?

17:00 Selection questions

19:35 Ben Sears in line for a Test debut

25:35 Concerns about the form of Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey?

28:35 Changes for the second Test?

32:20 India v England 4th Test review

33:50 Missed opportunity for England?

37:20 England's bowling attack

40:00 Let's talk about the Ollies

43:30 Dhruv Jurel and Ben Foakes

47:35 Shubman Gill answering questions

48:38 India's spinners

50:15 What's going to happen in the 5th Test?

56:30 Outro

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Stu and Baldy look ahead to one of the most anticipated Test series of the year - at least here in New Zealand - the Black Caps v Australia. We also discuss the Neil Wagner's retirement from international cricket in the lead up to the first Test, which starts on Thursday at the Basin Reserve.

We start the show with a tribute to Neil Wagner, who announced his retirement on Tuesday here in New Zealand. His impressive record and statistics speak for themselves, but with Wagner it was always the things that don't show up on the scorecard that spoke the loudest. We discuss his outstanding spell as a Test cricketer and how he'll be remembered in the coming years.

Attention then turns to the upcoming series.

Plus we make our predictions as we look ahead to this rare occasion on the eve of the first Test.

We'll be back again soon with more news and views, including a review of the 4th Test between India and England, but 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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Finn Allen, 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

1:10 Neil Wagner retires!

3:50 Will Neil Wagner go down as an NZ Cricket great?

7:25 Squad news - Black Caps bowling attack

10:05 Mitchell Santner or Scott Kuggeleijn for the final spot in the XI?

11:35 Australia's settled lineup

12:45 Devon Conway ruled out of the first Test with thumb injury

13:55 What does this series mean for both sets of fans?

21:55 Why do people still doubt this Australian side?

25:45 Key matchups - Black Caps' seamers v Smith, Labuschagne and co.

32:25 Key matchups - Can New Zealand's batting lineup stand up to this experienced Australian attack?

34:00 Will Nathan Lyon be a factor in this series?

36:40 How important is Kane Williamson's performance for New Zealand's chances of victory?

41:15 Prediction time!

47:30 Outro

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, there's plenty of ground to cover as the cricket calendar continues apace. We recap India's big win against England in the third Test and look back at the Black Caps' first-ever series win against South Africa - with one eye on the upcoming Tests against Australia.

There were many impressive performances during the third Test between India and England:

Which all led to a big win for India as they defeated England by a record margin.

We discuss the key moments and the aftermath and reaction to Bazball's biggest defeat, as well as potential changes for the 4th Test, which will see Jasprit Bumrah left on the sidelines.

In the second half of the show, we return to New Zealand to look back at a historic Test series for the Black Caps, which saw them win the Tangiwai Shield and secure a series win against South Africa for the first time in their 92 years of trying.

There was a record-breaking debut for Will O'Rourke, Kane Williamson gave us another demonstration of his greatness, while Dane Piedt and David Bedingham combined to make it a much tougher assignment than many people predicted.

To round out the show, we touch briefly on a last-ball thriller in Wellington, which saw Tim David steal the show, as well as an Annabel Sutherland masterclass against South Africa.

We'll be back again next week with more news and views, but 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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars 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

0:48 India v England 3rd Test review

1:31 Yashasvi Jaiswal breaks records on his way to another double century

5:55 The topsy turvy nature of the game

8:07 Does Joe Root need to dial back the gears?

11:55 Was the backlash to Bazball justified after this heavy defeat?

16:00 England's batting collapses - can Jonny Bairstow return to form?

18:00 Ben Duckett's highlight-filled hundred

21:35 Sarfaraz Khan's impressive debut

26:45 Should substitutes be allowed during a Test?

29:22 4th Test Preview: Will the pitch spin big from ball one?

30:40 Any changes to the two sides?

32:22 Binksy's breaking news: England names their XI

34:05 How can England bounce back?

36:35 Black Caps v South Africa Test series review

39:32 Worries for New Zealand: are Tom Latham and Devon Conway under pressure?

46:35 What will the Black Caps do at 5/6/7/8?

50:00 Will O'Rourke's record-breaking debut in the shadow of Kyle Jamieson's injury

52:50 Is Kane Williamson NZ's GOAT?

59:55 Dane Piedt and David Bedingham shine for South Africa

1.02:05 Australia win the first T20i against the Black Caps

1.04:25 Tim David's heroics

1.06:20 Black Caps to watch in games 2 and 3

1.09:05 Annabel Sutherland shines in Australia's big Test win against South Africa

1.13:00 Outro

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Stu and Binksy discuss the recent Test matches between India and England, and New Zealand against South Africa.

India levelled the series, and the pitches so far have made for two excellent Tests - but why are England proving such a tough opponent for the home side and their star-studded spinners?

There's plenty of chat about England's approach, the young spin trio of Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, Yashasvi Jaiswal's double hundred, Shubman Gill performing under pressure, Ben Foakes' wicket-keeping and of course the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah.

As we move to New Zealand shores, there's praise for the likes of Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner, but is there anything to be learned from a series against a clearly under-strength South African side? And should the points even count towards the World Test Championship?

We also gaze ahead to the next Tests in both series, with Daryl Mitchell looking at an extended absence for the Black Caps, plus Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja likely to return for India.

We'll be back again next week with more news and views, but 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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy and Baldy look back at 2 epic test matches.

Starting at The Gabba we discuss Shamar Joseph’s heroics in an historic win for the West Indies, which brought both Baldy and Brian Lara to tears but for different reasons.

We then crossover to Hyderabad to review an amazing 1st test between India and England, which saw England’s debut spinner Tom Hartley go from zero to hero with his 1st ball disappearing for 6 off the bat of Yashasvi Jaiswal but his final ball winning the game and seeing him finish with figures of 7-62.

We also discuss selection permutations for the 2nd Test. Who will replace KL Rahul and Ravi Jadeja and will England hand a debut to Shoaib Bashir to replace the injured Jack Leach? Will we also see a return for Jimmy Anderson and when will Virat Kohli be back?

Finally, in true Top Order Podcast fashion, we make our predictions for the 2nd Test, which will be out of date at the hint of a tweaked hamstring.

We'll be back again next week with more news and views, but until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels  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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars 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 watching

0:00 Intro

5:14 How big is the hole that David Warner leaves?

10:30 Introducing Shamar Joseph

17:07 Are Aussie carrying Cam Green?

21:00 India V England

24:00 Were Abu Dhabi preparations vindicated?

29:25 Should India have batted England out of the game in 1st Innings?

30:52 Tom, Jack, Joe and Rehan, England's spin quartet

39:20 India changes for 2nd test?

43:40 England changes for 2nd test?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Stu and Baldy journey from Hyderabad to Adelaide and East London before we return to Aotearoa New Zealand while we review the week that was and look ahead to a full schedule of Test cricket just around the corner.

We start the show with the recent news from the India v England series, which has seen the withdrawal of both Virat Kohli and Harry Brook from at least the first two Tests, and the visa concerns for Shoaib Bashir, which may well have cost him a Test debut. We also discuss reports suggesting England might line up at Hyderabad with Mark Wood as the only seamer in the side.

It's off to Australia after that, to discuss the home side's victory in the first Test against the West Indies. We saw runs for Travis Head, wickets for Josh Hazlewood and a comprehensive win for Australia, but it was a West Indian debutant, Shamar Joseph, who earned at least some of the limelight after his performance in Adelaide. There's also a nod to Jake Fraser-McGurk's selection for the upcoming ODIs, plus praise for Josh Brown and his exploits for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL.

After a quick detour to South Africa to talk about Matt Rowe, Mankads and the under-19 World Cup, we return to New Zealand to talk through selection options for the Black Caps as they prepare for the Proteas' Test tour. How much does South Africa's squad diminish the interest levels? Who should keep wicket for New Zealand if Tom Blundell isn't fit for the first Test? Should the Black Caps also give opportunities to fringe players? Is Devon Conway human after all? And is this a big series for Neil Wagner?

We'll be back again next week with more news and views, including recaps of the India v England and Australia v West Indies Tests, but 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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Finn Allen, Sophie Devine and Rachin Ravindra, 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Stu and Baldy look ahead to the five-test series between India and England, which starts on 25 Jan and takes us right through to March.

We open the show by discussing how much has changed since the previous series between these two sides in India in 2021, when a struggling England side won the first Test convincingly, before the hosts bounced back in a big way to secure the Anthony de Mello Trophy.

We analyse the squads and the biggest selection questions - Bairstow or Foakes? Bharat or KL Rahul? - plus outline the key battles that could determine the series. Can Joe Root improve his already impressive numbers in India? Will Axar Patel destroy England once again? How will Rohit Sharma react to Bazball?

[Note: This was recorded before the news broke that Harry Brook and Virat Kohli would miss at least part of the series for personal reasons]

Finally, in true Top Order Podcast fashion, we make our predictions for the series result and individual performances.

We'll be back again next week with more news and views, but 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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Baldy, Binksy and Stu look back at the week that was, including the T20 action between the Black Caps and Pakistan, and India v Afghanistan. They also share their thoughts on Day 1 of the Australia v West Indies Test match, which saw the first glimpse of Steve Smith as an opener.

After three games of the T20 series between New Zealand and Pakistan, the Black Caps have already secured the silverware, thanks in large part to consecutive displays of batting carnage from Finn Allen. We discuss the enormous sixes, his game-changing potential and whether this run of consistent performances can be the start of a breakthrough year. We also chat about New Zealand's fast bowling stocks, after impressive performances from Adam Milne and Ben Sears alongside Tim Southee, plus the injury to Kane Williamson and the criticism directed towards Babar Azam despite three consecutive 50s.

To round out this short episode, Stu admits his Shivam Dube error, Baldy gets angry about Australia despite a dominant first day against the West Indies and we get our first look as Steve Smith the opener.

We'll be back again in a few days with an extended preview of the India v England Test series, but 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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Binksy and Stu look back at the Australia v Pakistan Test series, as well as the Black Caps white ball squad to face Pakistan with one eye on the T20 World Cup later in the year.

David Warner's long farewell to Test cricket came to a conclusion with at least some parts of the fairytale playing out as scripted at the SCG, but what now? Baldy's fired up about the decision to move Steve Smith to the top of the order and the omission of Cameron Bancroft, but aren't we headed for another Test series sweep as the West Indies begin their Australian tour?

There's praise for Aamer Jamal, Shan Masood and the Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, plus we try to unpack why the Aussies are so dominant on home soil.

As we return to New Zealand, we discuss the Black Caps' T20 squad to face Pakistan, which has a much more experienced look to it than the recent series against Bangladesh. Will that lead to more convincing performances on the field? And what questions are still to be answered in the coming months as Gary Stead and the selectors look ahead to the T20 World Cup in June?

There's mentions for Super Smash standouts like Nathan Smith and Tim Robinson, discussion about where Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra currently fit in the Black Caps' T20 plans, plus Binksy's food and beverage recommendations for Eden Park.

We'll be back again next week with more news and views, as well as a preview of the England v India Test series, but 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 a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with the likes of Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Andre Adams, 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices