The Top Order Cricket Podcast

Explainers, questions, answers and predictions - it's World Cup time!

In this episode of the show we look ahead to the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup, which starts on 16 October.

We set the scene, then deep dive into the key questions facing the teams we each find most interesting, before rounding out the show with players to watch and our predictions for the semi-finals, final and tournament winner.

Keep an eye out for plenty more episodes in the coming weeks - we're planning to catch up with a number of cricketers and coaches from around the New Zealand domestic scene, plus there will be more instalments of our Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, which has now reached the top 10.

We'd really appreciate it if you take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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, and a few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

You can also dip back into our conversations with the likes of Colin Miller, Dion Nash, Shane Bond, Ish Sodhi, Wasim Khan, Sophie Devine, Daniel Beswick and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world.

And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions, guest suggestions or your predictions for the T20 World Cup, get in touch at [email protected] or via any of our social channels.

Thanks for listening.

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Recorded 28 September 2022 (before the Jasprit Bumrah injury news), in this episode of the show we stop at a number of destinations around the world as we look back at a week jam-packed with white-ball cricket.

Australia may have found a solution to Aaron Finch's form slump - but will they find a spot for Cameron Green in their final T20 World Cup squad? Harry Brook is another young star on the rise, but has he done enough to force his way into England's top XI? And India have so many options - how will they choose the right one?

We also touch on the New Zealand A tour to India, the White Ferns in the West Indies and the dreaded Mankad, which reared its ugly head again to overshadow Jhulan Goswami's final international game.

We'll be back in your feed again in a few days with the next instalment of our Hall of Fame series. In the meantime, please give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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 at our website, and a few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including our recent conversation with Sophie Devine, plus chats with Ish Sodhi, Joe Scuderi, Tim Southee, Katey Martin, Niall O'Brien 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.

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In this episode of the show we start by discussing an English summer highlighted by the revival of the men's Test side under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. We talk tactics, bowling attacks, preparation and much more as we reflect on the turnaround of England's red-ball side.

The remainder of the show has a strong New Zealand focus as we try to understand why the Black Caps simply can't seem to beat Australia. There's a rush for Cameron Green stock, concerns about New Zealand's bowling attack, central contract debate, a Mumbai Indians takeover and even a Joe Carter update as we look back at all that's gone on during the past couple of weeks.

We'll be back in your feed next week, most likely with more Top Order Podcast Hall of Fame content. In the meantime, please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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, and a few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including our recent conversation with White Ferns captain Sophie Devine, plus chats with Wasim Khan, Mike Hussey, Ish Sodhi, Katey Martin, Bharat Sundaresan, JP Gavan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world.

If you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at [email protected].

Thanks for listening.

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In this episode of the show, we speak to bat maker and repairer Josh (JP) Gavan about all things bats.

Josh's passion for cricket and bat-making shines during the chat as we discuss his introduction to the industry as a 16 year old, current trends, pernickety customers, working with players like Ellyse Perry and Chris Gayle, what to look for when you're buying a bat, and much more.

Josh encouraged all of us to seek out local bat makers, but if you'd like to find out more about his work and his products, check out his website, You Tube channel, Instagram, Facebook or simply search JP Gavan in your browser.

We'll be back next week to cover the final Test between England and South Africa, the Chappell-Hadlee ODIs and everything else that catches our eye over the next few days. In the meantime, please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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, and a few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including our recent conversation with White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine, plus chats with Mike and David Hussey, Finn Allen, Katey Martin, Bharat Sundaresan, Barry Richards and many more fascinating people from all across the world.

If you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at [email protected].

Thanks for listening.

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In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 15 to 11 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are).

We've got four of the most rhythmical bowlers you could ever hope to see, plus a batter who won more Test matches than anyone in the history of the game. There's two Australians, a West Indian, an Englishman and even a Kiwi (!) so you won't be surprised to hear there was a bit of debate as we discussed these entrants.

Do you agree with our assessments? Or have we got it horribly wrong? We'd love to continue the conversation, so don't hesitate to share your views via email or on social media.

If you haven't already, please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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. A few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

For an even deeper dive on the theory and process behind the Hall, head to our website. You'll find the Preamble, plus the list, which will eventually feature detailed write-ups about every player from 103 to 1 as we make our way through the Hall in the coming weeks and months. We're playing catch-up a little with the written content, but we'll get back up to date as soon as we can.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Sophie Devine, Tim Southee, Mike Hussey, Barry Richards, Dion Nash and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world.

If you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at [email protected].

Thanks for listening.

*SPOILER ALERT*

This episode features players from 15-11 in the following order.

15 - James Anderson

14 - Glenn McGrath

13 - Malcolm Marshall

12 - Sir Richard Hadlee

11 - Ricky Ponting

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On this episode of the show, we discuss the second England v South Africa Test, the confusing events of the BBL draft and the upcoming tours to India and Australia for NZ A and the Black Caps.

England bounced back in a big way after their first Test loss of the home summer, demolishing South Africa in just three days. We talk about Dean Elgar's decision to bat first and play two spinners, the up-and-down nature of the Ben Foakes conversation and whether Ben Stokes is more like Andrew Flintoff or Ian Botham.

As the episode continues, we look back at a BBL draft that became a lot more interesting when the Adelaide Strikers selected Colin de Grandhomme. Has CDG retired from international cricket? How did this happen? We're all very confused.

Then we look ahead to upcoming tours to India and Australia for New Zealand's men's teams and the return of the A programme, featuring the likes of Rachin Ravindra, Joe Walker, Matt Fisher and Ben Lister.

We'll have another episode dropping into your feed later this week - the next edition of our Test Cricket Hall of Fame - but in the meantime, please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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 at our website, and a few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including our recent conversation with Sophie Devine, plus chats with Wasim Khan, Shane Bond, Mike Hussey, Ish Sodhi, Katey Martin, 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

On this episode of the show, we discuss the first Test between England and South Africa and the two Black Caps v West Indies white-ball series.

Topics include:

In the second half of the show, the focus shifts to the Black Caps and their historic series wins in the Caribbean. We discuss:

We'll be back next week to review the second England v South Africa Test, and with another edition of the Test Cricket Hall of Fame. In the meantime, please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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, and a few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including a recent conversation with White Ferns captain Sophie Devine, plus chats with Wasim Khan, Mike Hussey, Tim Southee, Katey Martin, Barry Richards 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 Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 20 to 16 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are).

We've got three seamers with the epic combination of skill and pace, plus two batters who rarely played the flashiest innings on show but so often played the most important one.

Do you agree with our assessments? Or have we got it horribly wrong? We'd love to continue the conversation, so don't hesitate to share your views via email or on social media.

If you haven't already, please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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. A few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

For an even deeper dive on the theory and process behind the Hall, head to our website. You'll find the Preamble, plus the list, which will eventually feature detailed write-ups about every player from 103 to 1 as we make our way through the Hall in the coming weeks and months. We're playing catch-up a little with the written content, but we'll get back up to date as soon as we can.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Sophie Devine, Ish Sodhi, Mike Hussey, Barry Richards, Jacob Oram, Gary Stead and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world.

If you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at [email protected].

Thanks for listening.

*SPOILER ALERT*

This episode features players from 20-16 in the following order.

20 - Waqar Younis

19 - Wasim Akram

18 - Dale Steyn

17 - Alistair Cook

16 - Rahul Dravid

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In this episode of the Top Order Podcast, the panel discuss the medal matches at the Commonwealth Games,. Lippy soaks up the bronze glow of the White Ferns' efforts, before Baldy navigates the choppy water to highlight Australia's gold, further enhancing their status as one of the all-time great teams in any sport.

As we move to the men's game, we talk about what we've learned from the Black Caps' European tour, before Baldy explains why he has prepared remarks and why the ICC needs to act now - before it is too late.

Keep an eye on your feed in the coming days for the next instalment of our Test Cricket Hall of Fame. In the meantime, please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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, and a few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including our recent conversation with bronze medalist Sophie Devine, plus chats with Wasim Khan, Mike Hussey, Matt Henry, Katey Martin, Niall O'Brien 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

On this episode of the Top Order Podcast, the UK takes centre stage as we review the week that was.

Baldy makes up for Binksy's absence with extra levels of enthusiasm, including an unscheduled chat about the England v South Africa series - mainly to delight in everything Jonny Bairstow.

The panel then moves over to Scotland to discuss the recent performances of the Black Caps, which included a first T20 hundred for Finn Allen and Mark Chapman loudly shouting 'Don't forget about me!'

To round out the show it's back to England for reaction to the first few days of the cricket at the Commonwealth Games, highlighted by a crucial win for the White Ferns.

We'll be back next week with more news and views, but please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter and Facebook, & @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram) 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, and a few of our episodes are available on YouTube - we're slowly chipping away at populating this channel.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including our recent conversation with Sophie Devine, plus chats with Wasim Khan, Shane Bond, Mike Hussey, Matt Henry, Katey Martin, 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