The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In the first of two short bonus episodes this week, we discuss reports of the MCC proposing potential rule changes to the ICC.

We had our say, and would love to hear what you think via any of our social channels or via [email protected].

Keep an eye on your feed for one more of these debates, in which we discuss the proposed changes to the umpire's call ruling on DRS.

If you enjoyed the show, one way you can support us is to check out http://manscaped.com/. As a listener of the show, you'll get 20% off + free shipping on all of their products with the code: TOPORDER.

Thanks for listening.

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It's been another busy week in the world of cricket and we start the show in Aotearoa to discuss the series of Conway and two impressive performances from the Black Caps. We praise Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham, discuss Kyle Jamieson's struggles for the first time in his international career and Baldy is left with more questions than answers when looking at this Australian T20 squad.

As we move to the White Ferns v England ODI series, we ponder what changed from games 1-2 to game 3 and Lippy highlights the impressive debut of Brooke Halliday and a match-winning partnership as reason for optimism heading into the T20 fixtures despite a 2-1 series loss.

We finish the New Zealand segment of the show with the Ford Trophy, where hundreds galore find Canterbury and Wellington in finals contention once again.

After Raj's favourite noise, we head to Ahmedabad to debate the pitch and the ball, Binksy talks about bikinis and eventually we even talk about the cricket that was played during a Test that didn't last much longer than the podcast.

Keep an eye on your feed over the coming days, as we'll have a few extra episodes this week, in which we discuss potential rule changes to our great game.

If you enjoyed the show, one way you can support us is to check out http://manscaped.com/. As a listener of the show, you'll get 20% off + free shipping with the code: TOPORDER.

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

Thanks for listening.

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In Part B of our bumper 100th episode, the discussions get heated as we look back at the second Test between India and England. Binksy questions the value of the ICC pitch guidelines, while Raj questions the English tactics and praises Lippy for messages he sent to Virat Kohli and the India squad in our previous podcast. There's spin chat from Baldy, Binksy gets very very excited about Ben Foakes, we talk the Moeen Ali situation, there's praise for Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma, and much more as we deep dive into this fascinating series before looking ahead to the pink-ball Test.

Later in the show, we weigh in on the IPL vs country debate and run through the notable points of the IPL auction, including a life-changing moment for Kyle Jamieson and a few curious absentees.

Long-time listeners of the show will remember our podcast partnerships with prestigious products such as Sticky Hands and Rain Card. In this episode, you'll also hear Baldy back on the ad reads, discussing more quality products from the team at Manscaped. As a listener of The Top Order, go to http://manscaped.com/ and get 20% off + free shipping with the code: TOPORDER

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

Finally, a massive thanks to you as a listener - it's been a real treat for us to put these 100 episodes together and it certainly means a lot to raise the bat with all your support.

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It's our 100th episode and it's so packed full of content we've split it into two parts for your listening pleasure. Plus there's a new sponsor (see discount code below)!

In the first part of the show, we touch on West Indies v Bangladesh, Faf Du Plessis' retirement, Super Smash finals day and the upcoming series for the Black Caps and White Ferns against Australia and England.

To round out Part A of episode 100, we indulge in a segment for ourselves, discussing our favourite hundreds of all time. In Part B, which you'll find in your feed shortly, we discuss the India v England series and the IPL auction.

Long-time listeners of the show will remember our podcast partnerships with prestigious products such as Sticky Hands and Rain Card. In this episode, you'll hear Baldy back on the ad reads, with more quality products from the team at Manscaped. As a listener of The Top Order, go to http://manscaped.com/ and get 20% off + free shipping with the code: TOPORDER

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

Finally, a massive thanks to you as a listener - it's been a real treat for us to put these 100 episodes together and it certainly means a lot to raise the bat with all your support.

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

It's a Test cricket bonanza!

Test cricket is on fire at the moment and this episode was especially fun to record as we looked back at three quality games in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as a match-winning partnership by muscle man Cam Fletcher and Black Cap Daryl Mitchell in the Super Smash eliminator.

We talk incredible double hundreds from Kyle Mayers and Joe Root, feel vindicated about our optimism towards the Pakistan Test side, analyse the spin bowling tactics from India and England, and Binksy can't stop smiling after a famous English win.

We weigh in on why Joe Root didn't receive a signed India shirt for his 100th Test, talk about the role of Joshua Da Silva in one of the West Indies' best away wins in recent memory, Raj gives us an update on the ongoing Virat Kohli leadership debate, Lippy steals the Shaheen Shah Afridi chat away from Baldy and we all make predictions for the rest of the India v England series.

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

Thanks for listening.

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No Raj this week but Binksy and Baldy are together in the studio as Lippy dials in from the boot of his car (it's a long story, but the resulting audio quality is great!) to review another eventful week.

We start in New Zealand, where Finn Allen and Devon Conway have been on fire to propel Wellington into the Super Smash final. On the women's side of the draw, it's the Canterbury Magicians who are one win away from glory.

Lippy squeezes in a shout out to the Nelson Griffins after they lift Hawke Cup, then we move across the Tasman to discuss the Sydney Sixers' BBL win, James Vince, player name pronunciation and the Aussie T20 squad.

Things take on a serious tone as we chat through the Covid postponement of the South Africa v Australia series and the implications for the World Test Championship. No permutations this week, but all eyes are on India v England as we wait to see who will face the Black Caps in the final.

Binksy gives us a live update from Chennai and reminds us all that Joe Root is quite good at batting, before we finish the show by discussing Justin Langer in light of recent comments from Steve Smith.

And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at [email protected] or on any of our social channels.

Thanks for listening.

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On this episode of the show, we take a look back at the epic Australia v India Test series.

India won 2-1 on the scoreboard, but which individuals saw their stock rise throughout the series?

We start the show with captaincy and leadership by contrasting the actions and fortunes of Ajinkya Rahane and Tim Paine, before discussing a host more key figures including:

And plenty more as we re-live a fantastic advertisement for Test cricket.

Finally, we give our verdicts on whether it was, as some people have called it, the greatest Test series of our lifetime.

And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at [email protected] or on any of our social channels.

Thanks for listening.

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After a few special guests lately, the crew are back to the debating table but not quite as a minor Covid scare in NZ had us recording remotely to review the cricketing week that was.

There's plenty of action going on around the world, but we start the show at Lippy's old stomping ground, Hagley Oval, where he hopes the Black Caps selectors were watching Dan Vettori's clutch display in the Black Clash.

It's to the T20 leagues we head to next, updating the Super Smash, BBL10 and a host of Aussies being cast aside in the IPL, before we touch on Ireland v Afghanistan and West Indies v Bangladesh, where two 3-0 ODI series wins could have big implications for 2023 World Cup qualification.

During the second part of the show we turn our attention to England's recent series in Sri Lanka and their upcoming tour to India. Binksy is delighted with Joe Root's return to form, Raj is angry with Mickey Arthur, and Lippy enjoyed Lasith Embuldeniya's magic balls. It was a comprehensive victory for England, but do the boys give them any hope against India?

Baldy wraps the show by running through the World Test Championship permutations, which became so confusing that Raj accidentally forgot he was a Black Caps' fan.

And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at [email protected] or on any of our social channels.

Thanks for listening.

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There’s been a lot going on in South African cricket circles lately, both on and off the field, and who better to help us make sense of it all than ESPN Cricinfo’s Southern Africa correspondent Firdose Moonda, who’s been leading the cricket coverage in the region during this challenging time.

In this fascinating deep dive into all things cricket in South Africa, we start by discussing the men's side's most recent series, and how difficult it was to assess the team's performance against a Sri Lankan squad decimated by injuries. We talk promising debutants, Quinton de Kock's leadership, the search for a Test captain, changes under Mark Boucher and why Faf du Plessis can't keep his shirt on.

As we transition to the boardroom, Firdose takes us through the fallout from the Fundudzi report and we learn how close South Africa was to losing official international status. She frankly discusses communication breakdowns and a lack of cohesion as we explore transformation targets, the Black Lives Matter response, next steps, and the impact of the boardroom on the players and fans. Firdose's in-depth insight into the challenges South African cricket governance have to face, and how well they are currently navigating that path, is absolutely fascinating.

We finish the show by taking a look at what's next on the field, starting with the women's team hosting Pakistan as the men head in the opposite direction for two Tests and three T20s - their first tour to Pakistan in 14 years and one that's shaping as a very interesting series as we assess where both sides fit in the Test hierarchy.

You can find Firdose's work at Cricinfo at https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/author.html?author=315 - her back catalogue includes further details about many of the topics we discussed on the show.

And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, email us at [email protected] or reach out to us on any of our social channels.

Thanks for listening.

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Former Blackcaps' all-rounder and current White Ferns bowling coach Jacob Oram joins the show to chat about New Zealand's home summer, his playing days, the move to coaching and the Black Clash.

In the first part of the show, Jacob talks about being back in the commentary box with Magic Talk, the Blackcaps' #1 Test ranking, what he finds most impressive about Kane Williamson and the rapid rise of fellow tall timber Kyle Jamieson.

As we take a walk down memory lane, we bounce around some of the up and downs of Jacob's career, which included six international hundreds, two five-wicket bags, a hat-trick, three World Cups, the IPL and plenty more highlights in between, and how his cricketing education has prepared him for his current role with the White Ferns.

We wrap up by discussing Jacob's upcoming challenge - taking on Team Rugby under lights at Hagley Oval on 22 January in the Black Clash. In case there was any doubt, he's predicting a win for Team Cricket, and is already throwing a few jabs at the likes of Israel Dagg and Jordie Barrett.

If you'd like to find out more information on the Black Clash, check out https://www.blackclash.co.nz/. The first ball will be bowled at 6:30pm NZ time, broadcast live and full on TV1 here in New Zealand.

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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