In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu react to team changes for the second test between South Africa and Australia, look ahead to the Black Caps upcoming series against India, and discuss some notable points from England's central contract list.

We start the show with news from Gqeberha, where it was drizzling at the time of recording but the South African and Australian playing XIs had been announced. There's surprise at the omission of both Nathan Lyon and Keshav Maharaj, but no doubt that Scott Boland fully deserves another opportunity at test level. We'll have more on this match at the conclusion of the game.

As the conversation continues, we move back to New Zealand, where the home summer is about begin with a tour from India. We share our excitement at the prospect of a three-format tour filled with stars on both sides. While Hardik Pandya will miss the series and Jasprit Bumrah is only here for the tests, the visitors still boast the batting firepower of the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as well as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - for possibly the final time on NZ shores. We highlight spin as a key battle, as Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel prepare to take on Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and co. We also discuss the careful approach with Will O'Rourke, potential ODI outings for Finn Allen and Lockie Ferguson, plus a BBL opportunity for BJ Jacobs.

To round out the show, we highlight a few talking points from the England Men's central contract list. There's a Rew switcheroo, a potential demotion for Rehan Ahmed, and a return for Mason Crane, before we finish with some coaching chat and a look at how the sons of former England players are moving through the grades.

We'll be back again soon with more news and views from the South Africa v Australia series, Black Caps v India and any other cricket news that catches our eyes. 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.

0:00 Intro
1:05 SA v Aus - changes for both sides
8:30 Black Caps v India Preview
11:45 ODI opportunities for Finn Allen/NZ's T20 batting options
16:55 Will O'Rourke injury/NZ bowlers
18:25 India's stars on show/spinners a key challenge for NZ
22:30 BJ Jacobs' BBL opportunity
26:25 England contract news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu react to team changes for the second test between South Africa and Australia, look ahead to the Black Caps upcoming series against India, and discuss some notable points from England's central contract list. We start the show with news from Gqeberha, where it was drizzling at the time of recording but the South African and Australian playing XIs had been announced. There's surprise at the omission of both Nathan Lyon and Keshav Maharaj, but no doubt that Scott Boland fully deserves another opportunity at test level. We'll have more on this match at the conclusion of the game. As the conversation continues, we move back to New Zealand, where the home summer is about begin with a tour from India. We share our excitement at the prospect of a three-format tour filled with stars on both sides. While Hardik Pandya will miss the series and Jasprit Bumrah is only here for the tests, the visitors still boast the batting firepower of the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as well as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - for possibly the final time on NZ shores. We highlight spin as a key battle, as Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel prepare to take on Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and co. We also discuss the careful approach with Will O'Rourke, potential ODI outings for Finn Allen and Lockie Ferguson, plus a BBL opportunity for BJ Jacobs. To round out the show, we highlight a few talking points from the England Men's central contract list. There's a Rew switcheroo, a potential demotion for Rehan Ahmed, and a return for Mason Crane, before we finish with some coaching chat and a look at how the sons of former England players are moving through the grades. We'll be back again soon with more news and views from the South Africa v Australia series, Black Caps v India and any other cricket news that catches our eyes. 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. 0:00 Intro 1:05 SA v Aus - changes for both sides 8:30 Black Caps v India Preview 11:45 ODI opportunities for Finn Allen/NZ's T20 batting options 16:55 Will O'Rourke injury/NZ bowlers 18:25 India's stars on show/spinners a key challenge for NZ 22:30 BJ Jacobs' BBL opportunity 26:25 England contract news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu react to team changes for the second test between South Africa and Australia, look ahead to the Black Caps upcoming series against India, and discuss some notable points from England's central contract list.

We start the show with news from Gqeberha, where it was drizzling at the time of recording but the South African and Australian playing XIs had been announced. There's surprise at the omission of both Nathan Lyon and Keshav Maharaj, but no doubt that Scott Boland fully deserves another opportunity at test level. We'll have more on this match at the conclusion of the game.

As the conversation continues, we move back to New Zealand, where the home summer is about begin with a tour from India. We share our excitement at the prospect of a three-format tour filled with stars on both sides. While Hardik Pandya will miss the series and Jasprit Bumrah is only here for the tests, the visitors still boast the batting firepower of the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as well as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - for possibly the final time on NZ shores. We highlight spin as a key battle, as Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel prepare to take on Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and co. We also discuss the careful approach with Will O'Rourke, potential ODI outings for Finn Allen and Lockie Ferguson, plus a BBL opportunity for BJ Jacobs.

To round out the show, we highlight a few talking points from the England Men's central contract list. There's a Rew switcheroo, a potential demotion for Rehan Ahmed, and a return for Mason Crane, before we finish with some coaching chat and a look at how the sons of former England players are moving through the grades.

We'll be back again soon with more news and views from the South Africa v Australia series, Black Caps v India and any other cricket news that catches our eyes. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter &amp; Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram &amp; 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.

0:00 Intro
1:05 SA v Aus - changes for both sides
8:30 Black Caps v India Preview
11:45 ODI opportunities for Finn Allen/NZ's T20 batting options
16:55 Will O'Rourke injury/NZ bowlers
18:25 India's stars on show/spinners a key challenge for NZ
22:30 BJ Jacobs' BBL opportunity
26:25 England contract news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

This Week in Cricket #215: Black Caps v India white-ball preview, plus England contracts and Aus v SA changes

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy, Raj and Stu look back at the week that was to discuss batting questions for Australia's white-ball side, England's summer performance, the arrival of Stephen Fleming, the retirement of Mark Wood, and the Black Caps' T20 squad to take on India in a few weeks' time.
 
We start the show with a conversation about Australia's recent white-ball performances and the key questions facing the squad a year out from the ODI World Cup. We examine the allrounder position, potential roles for Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw, plus another segment from the Cooper Connolly fan club. Within this section, there's also praise for Marco Jansen and Matthew Breetzke for their roles in the first ODI.
 
As the conversation continues and England's series with Sri Lanka comes to a close, we turn our attention to the English summer as a whole. At times it's felt very tumultuous, with the departure of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum being removed from the test coaching, but on the other hand the white-ball team has performed incredibly well. We discuss some positives, a few work-ons and the arrival of Stephen Fleming after his first few interviews to the British media as test coach. We also pay tribute to Mark Wood, who announced his retirement from international cricket after 250+ wickets for England across all formats.
 
In the final segment of the show, we react to the Black Caps T20 side named to face India in late October. Conversation centres mainly on the strength of the side, and also how the casually contracted players like Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne and Mark Chapman look set to play big roles. We also discuss the inclusion of Bevon Jacobs and why he may have been chosen over other potential candidates.
 
We'll be back again next week, most likely with news from the India v West Indies series and an Australia v South Africa Test series preview. 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 conversations with Mike Hesson, 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 thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening.
 
0:00 Intro
1:00 Australia v South Africa
2:30 Role questions for Australia
11:45 Matt Renshaw & Cooper Connolly
17:50 Matthew Breetzke
20:00 England's home summer review
25:45 Kevin Pietersen joins the English coaching staff
30:35 Stephen Fleming's first interviews
35:00 Mark Wood's retirement
39:05 Black Caps T20 squad v India
50:20 Rachin Ravindra's injury Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy, Raj and Stu look back at the week that was to discuss batting questions for Australia's white-ball side, England's summer performance, the arrival of Stephen Fleming, the retirement of Mark Wood, and the Black Caps' T20 squad to take on India in a few weeks' time. We start the show with a conversation about Australia's recent white-ball performances and the key questions facing the squad a year out from the ODI World Cup. We examine the allrounder position, potential roles for Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw, plus another segment from the Cooper Connolly fan club. Within this section, there's also praise for Marco Jansen and Matthew Breetzke for their roles in the first ODI. As the conversation continues and England's series with Sri Lanka comes to a close, we turn our attention to the English summer as a whole. At times it's felt very tumultuous, with the departure of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum being removed from the test coaching, but on the other hand the white-ball team has performed incredibly well. We discuss some positives, a few work-ons and the arrival of Stephen Fleming after his first few interviews to the British media as test coach. We also pay tribute to Mark Wood, who announced his retirement from international cricket after 250+ wickets for England across all formats. In the final segment of the show, we react to the Black Caps T20 side named to face India in late October. Conversation centres mainly on the strength of the side, and also how the casually contracted players like Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne and Mark Chapman look set to play big roles. We also discuss the inclusion of Bevon Jacobs and why he may have been chosen over other potential candidates. We'll be back again next week, most likely with news from the India v West Indies series and an Australia v South Africa Test series preview. 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 conversations with Mike Hesson, 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 thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:00 Australia v South Africa 2:30 Role questions for Australia 11:45 Matt Renshaw & Cooper Connolly 17:50 Matthew Breetzke 20:00 England's home summer review 25:45 Kevin Pietersen joins the English coaching staff 30:35 Stephen Fleming's first interviews 35:00 Mark Wood's retirement 39:05 Black Caps T20 squad v India 50:20 Rachin Ravindra's injury Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy, Raj and Stu look back at the week that was to discuss batting questions for Australia's white-ball side, England's summer performance, the arrival of Stephen Fleming, the retirement of Mark Wood, and the Black Caps' T20 squad to take on India in a few weeks' time.
 
We start the show with a conversation about Australia's recent white-ball performances and the key questions facing the squad a year out from the ODI World Cup. We examine the allrounder position, potential roles for Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw, plus another segment from the Cooper Connolly fan club. Within this section, there's also praise for Marco Jansen and Matthew Breetzke for their roles in the first ODI.
 
As the conversation continues and England's series with Sri Lanka comes to a close, we turn our attention to the English summer as a whole. At times it's felt very tumultuous, with the departure of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum being removed from the test coaching, but on the other hand the white-ball team has performed incredibly well. We discuss some positives, a few work-ons and the arrival of Stephen Fleming after his first few interviews to the British media as test coach. We also pay tribute to Mark Wood, who announced his retirement from international cricket after 250+ wickets for England across all formats.
 
In the final segment of the show, we react to the Black Caps T20 side named to face India in late October. Conversation centres mainly on the strength of the side, and also how the casually contracted players like Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne and Mark Chapman look set to play big roles. We also discuss the inclusion of Bevon Jacobs and why he may have been chosen over other potential candidates.
 
We'll be back again next week, most likely with news from the India v West Indies series and an Australia v South Africa Test series preview. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter &amp; Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram &amp; 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 conversations with Mike Hesson, 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 thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening.
&nbsp;
0:00 Intro
1:00 Australia v South Africa
2:30 Role questions for Australia
11:45 Matt Renshaw &amp; Cooper Connolly
17:50 Matthew Breetzke
20:00 England's home summer review
25:45 Kevin Pietersen joins the English coaching staff
30:35 Stephen Fleming's first interviews
35:00 Mark Wood's retirement
39:05 Black Caps T20 squad v India
50:20 Rachin Ravindra's injury Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

This Week in Cricket #214: Batting questions for Aus, England summer review & Black Caps T20 squad

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu review the first test between South Africa and Australia.

We start the show with positivity from an Australian point of view after their commanding victory in the first Test. From a tricky position, the visitors turned the game on its head and, led by a near double hundred from Matt Renshaw, they took control of the match and never let go of that advantage.

As the conversation continues, we highlight discipline as a key difference between the two sides, with both bat and ball. Australia's incredible bowling unit of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon found the perfect line and length to bowl on the Durban surface, then executed their skills much better than their South African counterparts.

For Australia, Renshaw's success, and to a much lesser extent Nic Maddinson's 48 in the second innings, look to have revitalised the strength of the batting lineup, but it also creates more questions. Should Renshaw stay at 5 now? Is Travis Head being wasted at the top? How could Cameron Green slot back in to this side? 

On the South Africa side, there were positives to take from the match - Aiden Markram's fight, Anrich Nortje's test return, two solid innings from David Bedingham - but how much will they rue not having another seam bowler in their lineup? And with Kagiso Rabada set to return for the second Test, will they take the opportunity to make more changes?

We'll be back again soon with more news and view from this series and any other cricket news that catches our eyes. 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 conversations with Mike Hesson, 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 thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening.
 
0:00 Intro
1:00 Australia win by 214 runs
6:50 Did we underestimate Australia?
13:45 Matt Renshaw's epic test match
18:45 The discipline of Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood & Lyon
27:50 Nathan Lyon & the impact of spin
31:45 Do Australia have even more batting lineup questions now?
45:15 Positives for South Africa?
48:20 Changes for the second test? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu review the first test between South Africa and Australia. We start the show with positivity from an Australian point of view after their commanding victory in the first Test. From a tricky position, the visitors turned the game on its head and, led by a near double hundred from Matt Renshaw, they took control of the match and never let go of that advantage. As the conversation continues, we highlight discipline as a key difference between the two sides, with both bat and ball. Australia's incredible bowling unit of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon found the perfect line and length to bowl on the Durban surface, then executed their skills much better than their South African counterparts. For Australia, Renshaw's success, and to a much lesser extent Nic Maddinson's 48 in the second innings, look to have revitalised the strength of the batting lineup, but it also creates more questions. Should Renshaw stay at 5 now? Is Travis Head being wasted at the top? How could Cameron Green slot back in to this side? On the South Africa side, there were positives to take from the match - Aiden Markram's fight, Anrich Nortje's test return, two solid innings from David Bedingham - but how much will they rue not having another seam bowler in their lineup? And with Kagiso Rabada set to return for the second Test, will they take the opportunity to make more changes? We'll be back again soon with more news and view from this series and any other cricket news that catches our eyes. 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 conversations with Mike Hesson, 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 thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:00 Australia win by 214 runs 6:50 Did we underestimate Australia? 13:45 Matt Renshaw's epic test match 18:45 The discipline of Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood & Lyon 27:50 Nathan Lyon & the impact of spin 31:45 Do Australia have even more batting lineup questions now? 45:15 Positives for South Africa? 48:20 Changes for the second test? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu review the first test between South Africa and Australia.

We start the show with positivity from an Australian point of view after their commanding victory in the first Test. From a tricky position, the visitors turned the game on its head and, led by a near double hundred from Matt Renshaw, they took control of the match and never let go of that advantage.

As the conversation continues, we highlight discipline as a key difference between the two sides, with both bat and ball. Australia's incredible bowling unit of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon found the perfect line and length to bowl on the Durban surface, then executed their skills much better than their South African counterparts.

For Australia, Renshaw's success, and to a much lesser extent Nic Maddinson's 48 in the second innings, look to have revitalised the strength of the batting lineup, but it also creates more questions. Should Renshaw stay at 5 now? Is Travis Head being wasted at the top? How could Cameron Green slot back in to this side? 

On the South Africa side, there were positives to take from the match - Aiden Markram's fight, Anrich Nortje's test return, two solid innings from David Bedingham - but how much will they rue not having another seam bowler in their lineup? And with Kagiso Rabada set to return for the second Test, will they take the opportunity to make more changes?

We'll be back again soon with more news and view from this series and any other cricket news that catches our eyes. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter &amp; Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram &amp; 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 conversations with Mike Hesson, 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 thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening.
&nbsp;
0:00 Intro
1:00 Australia win by 214 runs
6:50 Did we underestimate Australia?
13:45 Matt Renshaw's epic test match
18:45 The discipline of Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood &amp; Lyon
27:50 Nathan Lyon &amp; the impact of spin
31:45 Do Australia have even more batting lineup questions now?
45:15 Positives for South Africa?
48:20 Changes for the second test? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

South Africa v Australia First Test Review: The Renshaw game, Australia's discipline & what next?

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu quickly hit on a couple of news items out of New Zealand and India before diving into an extended preview of the upcoming Test series between Australia and South Africa, which begins on 9 October.
 
We start the show with news of disharmony among some New Zealand cricket legends, including Sir Richard Hadlee, about the way the NZC board has approached the consultation and communications process that led to the decision to pursue the NZ20. Will it prove to be the best decision for New Zealand Cricket? That's a question we might not know the answer to for a good few years yet. We also briefly touch on the runfest going on in the white-ball series between India and the West Indies, which has seen hundreds galore and a sparkling double-century - the fastest ever in ODI cricket - from Shubman Gill.
 
As the conversation continues we move to the main feature of the show and the much anticipated Test series between World Test Champions South Africa and the visiting Australian side. We discuss the shape of the series and recent performances, and run through a range of squad news including the fitness of Kagiso Rabada and Cameron Green, plus call-ups for Nic Maddinson, Marques Ackerman and Sam Harper.
 
Next we move to the key players and matchups that could define the series. What role will spin play? Will Keshav Maharaj outbowl Nathan Lyon? Can Steve Smith prop up an Australian batting lineup that looks more vulnerable than it has in a long time? Does none of that matter because Australia's seamers are so good? Or can Temba Bavuma go big to lead this South African side to another famous victory? 
 
In the final segment of the show, we make some series predictions so it's all on record to review at the end of what we hope will be a fascinating few weeks of test cricket.
 
We'll be back again soon to discuss the first test of this series and any other news that catches our eyes. 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 conversations with Mike Hesson, 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 thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening.
 
0:00 Intro
1:40 Sir Richard Hadlee's letter to NZC
12:05 India v West Indies
17:40 Australia v South Africa Test Preview
18:50 Squad news & Australia's batters
26:20 Who bats 5 for Australia?
32:10 South Africa's squad/lineup decisions
41:00 Key players/match ups: Lyon v Maharaj
48:00 South Africa's batters v Australia's seamers
53:25 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu quickly hit on a couple of news items out of New Zealand and India before diving into an extended preview of the upcoming Test series between Australia and South Africa, which begins on 9 October. We start the show with news of disharmony among some New Zealand cricket legends, including Sir Richard Hadlee, about the way the NZC board has approached the consultation and communications process that led to the decision to pursue the NZ20. Will it prove to be the best decision for New Zealand Cricket? That's a question we might not know the answer to for a good few years yet. We also briefly touch on the runfest going on in the white-ball series between India and the West Indies, which has seen hundreds galore and a sparkling double-century - the fastest ever in ODI cricket - from Shubman Gill. As the conversation continues we move to the main feature of the show and the much anticipated Test series between World Test Champions South Africa and the visiting Australian side. We discuss the shape of the series and recent performances, and run through a range of squad news including the fitness of Kagiso Rabada and Cameron Green, plus call-ups for Nic Maddinson, Marques Ackerman and Sam Harper. Next we move to the key players and matchups that could define the series. What role will spin play? Will Keshav Maharaj outbowl Nathan Lyon? Can Steve Smith prop up an Australian batting lineup that looks more vulnerable than it has in a long time? Does none of that matter because Australia's seamers are so good? Or can Temba Bavuma go big to lead this South African side to another famous victory? In the final segment of the show, we make some series predictions so it's all on record to review at the end of what we hope will be a fascinating few weeks of test cricket. We'll be back again soon to discuss the first test of this series and any other news that catches our eyes. 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 conversations with Mike Hesson, 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 thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:40 Sir Richard Hadlee's letter to NZC 12:05 India v West Indies 17:40 Australia v South Africa Test Preview 18:50 Squad news & Australia's batters 26:20 Who bats 5 for Australia? 32:10 South Africa's squad/lineup decisions 41:00 Key players/match ups: Lyon v Maharaj 48:00 South Africa's batters v Australia's seamers 53:25 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu quickly hit on a couple of news items out of New Zealand and India before diving into an extended preview of the upcoming Test series between Australia and South Africa, which begins on 9 October.
 
We start the show with news of disharmony among some New Zealand cricket legends, including Sir Richard Hadlee, about the way the NZC board has approached the consultation and communications process that led to the decision to pursue the NZ20. Will it prove to be the best decision for New Zealand Cricket? That's a question we might not know the answer to for a good few years yet. We also briefly touch on the runfest going on in the white-ball series between India and the West Indies, which has seen hundreds galore and a sparkling double-century - the fastest ever in ODI cricket - from Shubman Gill.
 
As the conversation continues we move to the main feature of the show and the much anticipated Test series between World Test Champions South Africa and the visiting Australian side. We discuss the shape of the series and recent performances, and run through a range of squad news including the fitness of Kagiso Rabada and Cameron Green, plus call-ups for Nic Maddinson, Marques Ackerman and Sam Harper.
 
Next we move to the key players and matchups that could define the series. What role will spin play? Will Keshav Maharaj outbowl Nathan Lyon? Can Steve Smith prop up an Australian batting lineup that looks more vulnerable than it has in a long time? Does none of that matter because Australia's seamers are so good? Or can Temba Bavuma go big to lead this South African side to another famous victory? 
 
In the final segment of the show, we make some series predictions so it's all on record to review at the end of what we hope will be a fascinating few weeks of test cricket.
 
We'll be back again soon to discuss the first test of this series and any other news that catches our eyes. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter &amp; Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram &amp; 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 conversations with Mike Hesson, 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 thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening.
&nbsp;
0:00 Intro
1:40 Sir Richard Hadlee's letter to NZC
12:05 India v West Indies
17:40 Australia v South Africa Test Preview
18:50 Squad news &amp; Australia's batters
26:20 Who bats 5 for Australia?
32:10 South Africa's squad/lineup decisions
41:00 Key players/match ups: Lyon v Maharaj
48:00 South Africa's batters v Australia's seamers
53:25 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

South Africa v Australia Test Series Preview, plus NZ20 & the India v WI runfest

In this episode of The Top Order podcast, Binksy & Baldy relive 'The Miracle at Headingley' while Lippy & Raj give the Blackcaps a glowing report from the 2nd test in Sri Lanka. The team also preview the 4th Ashes test and give their predictions on what's going to go down at Old Trafford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

In this episode of The Top Order podcast, Binksy & Baldy relive 'The Miracle at Headingley' while Lippy & Raj give the Blackcaps a glowing report from the 2nd test in Sri Lanka. The team also preview the 4th Ashes test and give their predictions on what's going to go down at Old Trafford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Top Order podcast, Binksy &amp; Baldy relive 'The Miracle at Headingley' while Lippy &amp; Raj give the Blackcaps a glowing report from the 2nd test in Sri Lanka. The team also preview the 4th Ashes test and give their predictions on what's going to go down at Old Trafford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

This Week in Cricket #3 - Trust the Process

This episode of The Top Order podcast features a summary of the Ashes so far, as well as the Blackcaps tour of Sri Lanka. Binksy walks us through soft signals, Lippy and Baldy touch on bowling-action testing and Raj picks apart the concussion rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

This episode of The Top Order podcast features a summary of the Ashes so far, as well as the Blackcaps tour of Sri Lanka. Binksy walks us through soft signals, Lippy and Baldy touch on bowling-action testing and Raj picks apart the concussion rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode of The Top Order podcast features a summary of the Ashes so far, as well as the Blackcaps tour of Sri Lanka. Binksy walks us through soft signals, Lippy and Baldy touch on bowling-action testing and Raj picks apart the concussion rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

This Week in Cricket #2 - He is a Long Boy

In the first innings of The Top Order podcast, the lads chat through the heartbreak and ecstasy of the Cricket World Cup, discuss neutral umpires and preview the upcoming Blackcaps tour to Sri Lanka and The Ashes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

In the first innings of The Top Order podcast, the lads chat through the heartbreak and ecstasy of the Cricket World Cup, discuss neutral umpires and preview the upcoming Blackcaps tour to Sri Lanka and The Ashes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first innings of The Top Order podcast, the lads chat through the heartbreak and ecstasy of the Cricket World Cup, discuss neutral umpires and preview the upcoming Blackcaps tour to Sri Lanka and The Ashes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

This Week in Cricket #1 - How Many Test Matches Have You Played?

A Pom, an Aussie and two Kiwis walk into a bar ... it’s not a joke, it’s The Top Order, a cricketing podcast where good friends mix their own banter and opinion with extended interviews with some of cricket's most interesting characters from the past and present day.

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