The Top Order Cricket Podcast

Shane Deitz joins the show to discuss his journey from the Sheffield Shield to Vanuatu Cricket, and what's next for one of the only live cricket destinations in the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. We chat about becoming an online sensation, the unique challenges faced by Vanuatu Cricket, cricket tourism, World Cup ambitions, seeing off the new ball for Darren Lehmann, keeping to Shaun Tait, his two first-class wickets and plenty more.

For more information about Vanuatu Cricket or live-stream information for the T10 BetBarter Vanuatu Blast, head to: www.facebook.com/vanuatucricketassociation/

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In this episode, the panel speaks with current Black Caps' head coach Gary Stead. We chat about his impressive playing career, which included over 200 games for Canterbury and five Tests for New Zealand, plus Gary's love for Riccarton Cricket Club. We discuss the move into coaching from an early age, progressing to the highest level, first with the White Ferns and now in his current role with the Black Caps. To say that his first 18-months in the role have been eventful is something of an understatement. Starting with the first away Test series win against Pakistan in 49 years, to the most recent ODI game in Sydney without fans, with a few Super Overs in between, there’s been no shortage of talking points.

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This week on the show, the panel take a break from the interviews to discuss This Lockdown in Cricket, covering the NZ Cricket Awards, what international cricket might look like when it returns, the cancellation of The Hundred, Australia's contract list and Baldy's Sheffield Shield team of the year. (27.00)Then we return to a favourite segment: Cricketing Mt Rushmore, this time debating (heartily at times!) the four greatest Sri Lankan batsmen of all time. Did we get it right? Let us know at [email protected]

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Wasim Khan’s cricketing career has taken a pathway of transitions. From being one of the first British-born Pakistanis to play professional county cricket in the UK (for Warwickshire), where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Dermot Reeve, Brian Lara and Allan Donald, to name but a few, he then became CEO of the cricketing charity Chance to Shine. After taking up the reins as CEO of Leicestershire, then being linked with the ECB Director of Cricket role vacated by Andrew Strauss, Wasim moved his family from Leicester to Lahore, where he is now CEO of the Pakistan Cricket Board. In this wide-ranging and open interview, Wasim discusses the ups and downs of his playing career, phone calls with the Governor of the Bank of England, meetings with the Queen, the political nature of Pakistan Cricket and the potential impact of Covid-19 on the cricketing world.

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In a golden era for Australian test cricket, Colin Miller was a standout in more ways than one. A stellar Shield career spanning more than a decade finally earned him an international breakthrough at the tender age of 34. But don’t worry, he more than made up for lost time, amassing 69 wickets in just 18 tests at a superb average of 26. Whether you’re a seamer or a spinner, that’s an impressive average right there. This guy was both - at test level no less. That’s quite an achievement in itself. We talk nicknames, blue hair, becoming test player of the year, smashing Curtly Ambrose all around the park and much more in this candid interview with Colin 'Funky' Miller.

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On this episode of The Top Order Podcast, we speak with Joe Scuderi. Formerly from Ingham, North Queensland, Joe was a member of the inaugural intake at the Australian cricket academy, making an immediate impact on Shield cricket. At one point on the verge of international selection in the green and gold, he went on to have a successful career at first class level both in Australia and England, before making his international debut for Italy, where he later became captain and coach. We spoke with Joe just prior to lockdown in the UK, where he now lives.

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In this bonus episode we speak with Andre Adams, Andre had a playing career that spanned almost 20 years. He took over 1000 wickets, represented the Black Caps in all three formats, played in the 2003 World Cup, joined the ICL and was a star of the English county cricket circuit. Once his playing days were over, Andre moved to coaching, where he spent time with Auckland before accepting his current role as bowling coach of New South Wales.

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In this bonus episode, if you listen very carefully you can hear the Top Order boys pinching themselves throughout this awesome trip down memory lane with Barry Richards, one of the finest batsmen to ever play the game. In an era when South Africa were unable to play test cricket, Barry Richards dominated first-class attacks for over 10 years in both his native South Africa and the UK, scoring nearly 29,000 first class runs at an average close to 55. After playing only 4 tests for South Africa (in which he averaged 70) prior to the apartheid international ban, Barry was once again able to test his skills against the best in Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket. Despite being 34, he averaged nearly 80 with a top score of 207 in his 5 “Super Tests”.

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In this episode of the Top Order Podcast, we speak with former Black Cap Dion Nash. Across a 10-year international career, Dion took 150 international wickets for NZ in addition to a number of handy knocks with the bat. He captained his country in both Tests and ODIs, was involved in two World Cups and plenty of other memorable moments along the way. After his playing days ended, he served as a selector, before starting his own business Triumph and Disaster, who’s products a few of us around the table would benefit greatly from using more often.

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In this bonus episode of the Top Order Podcast, the Panel talk to James Pamment. Currently the fielding coach of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, James gives us great insights into the inner workings of an IPL team and how he can be most effective in the short amount of time he has with the squad assembled. We look at what success looks like for a fielding coach and touch upon his time as head coach of Team USA Cricket.

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