Triggered at Midwicket With Trigger and Posh Girl Sophie

This week on Triggered at Midwicket, Posh Girl Sophie and everyone's favourite No. 11 who's definitely NOT Jimmy Anderson, Rob, are back for another episode packed with cricket debates, controversial decisions and a rant or two guaranteed to get you triggered!

Before getting stuck into the cricketing chaos, Sophie and Rob kick things off by congratulating everyone who has played, volunteered and supported their clubs throughout another cricket season. A special shout-out also goes to everyone who picked up awards at their respective clubs! 🏏👏

Whether you've been scoring runs, taking wickets, coaching, umpiring, scoring or simply keeping the teas flowing, you've all played your part in making this season what it was.

The pair then turn their attention to the latest ECB central contracts announcement.

Who's been handed a one-year deal? Who's secured a two-year contract? Who's been dropped, and who has earned a place in the development central contracts group?

And, more importantly, has the ECB got its selections right?

Posh Girl Sophie certainly has some questions about the decisions, with a few selections raising eyebrows. Rob, however, believes some of the contracts make perfect sense when you look at recent performances.

But what about Ollie Robinson?

Rob highlights Robinson's impressive performances in an England shirt, his bowling figures and the records he's been breaking that have stood for more than 60 years.

Are the ECB rewarding the right players? Have some cricketers been unfairly overlooked? And do central contracts genuinely reflect performances on the pitch?

We want to hear your verdict!

Next up, the conversation moves to the ECB's initiative to introduce more cricket into state schools.

Both Sophie and Rob agree that getting more children involved in cricket is a positive step. But here's the big question:

Will it actually make a difference?

Will county clubs take the initiative seriously? Will schools commit to developing cricket properly? And will more opportunities at school level translate into genuine pathways into county academies?

Rob isn't entirely convinced.

Everyone's favourite No. 11 has concerns about how the current pathways and academies operate, questioning whether the system could remain too restrictive for state-school children while private-school pupils continue to benefit from greater opportunities and access.

Things get particularly interesting when the pair discuss reports concerning Sussex County Cricket's girls' pathway, where applicant numbers reportedly fell from 39 to just 14, with all 14 successful applicants coming from only three private schools.

Is the cricketing pathway genuinely accessible to everyone, or does your school still determine your chances?

Rob certainly has something to say about that — and let's just say the rant is well and truly on!

Are talented state-school cricketers missing out? Is enough being done to identify players who don't have access to the same facilities and coaching? And can the ECB's new initiative address the barriers that have existed for years?

Or are we simply talking about improving access at grassroots level without fixing the problems further up the pathway?

This episode raises some important questions about the future of English cricket.

🏏 Are the ECB's central contracts fair?

⭐ Which players deserved a contract but missed out?

📊 Are England rewarding performances or potential?

🏫 Can state-school cricket compete with the private-school system?

🚀 What needs to change to make county academies more accessible?

💬 And what would YOU do to make cricket a game for everyone?

Get involved in the comments, share your experiences and let us know whether you agree with Sophie and Rob.

Because if there's one thing we've learned, it's that cricket isn't just about what happens between bat and ball — it's about who gets the opportunity to pick up a bat in the first place.

This week on Triggered at Midwicket, Posh Girl Sophie and everyone's favourite No. 11 who's definitely not Jimmy Anderson are back with another special guest — social media creator and cricket umpire 86 John Temperton!

We get to know the man behind the umpire's coat as John takes us through his cricket journey and explains how he made the transition from playing the game to standing in the middle.

Why did John decide to become an umpire?

What made him swap the bat and ball for the white coat and finger?

And what has he learned since making the transition?

The trio also get stuck into the Laws of Cricket, with John sharing some of his more controversial opinions.

Are there laws that need changing?

Are some rules simply confusing?

And, most importantly...

Has John ever made a massive umpiring boo-boo?

Has he ever given the wrong decision during a game?

We find out!

We then move away from the crease and into the world of content creation as John tells us all about his experience at the Content Creator Cup.

Where did the idea come from?

How long has John been involved?

What was the experience actually like?

And who came up with the idea of getting cricket content creators together to compete?

We also get an insight into John's social media content as he reveals where he gets his ideas from and what inspires the videos he posts across his platforms.

Before we let John escape, Sophie and Rob have one final question:

If you could umpire three people in cricket, who would you choose?

Who makes John's ultimate umpiring wish list?

And why?

Finally, we wish John all the best for the upcoming season as he once again takes on his personal challenge of Road to 50 Runs.

Can he finally reach the milestone?

You'll have to follow the journey to find out!

So grab a cuppa, settle in and join Sophie, Rob and John Temperton for another episode of...

Don't forget to let us know your thoughts:
🏏 Which cricket law would YOU change?
👨‍⚖️ Would you make a good umpire?
😂 What's the worst umpiring decision you've ever seen?
🎥 What cricket content do you love watching?
⭐ And who would be in your three-player umpiring dream list?

Everyone's favourite No. 11 is back! After battling illness, Rob returns to the hosting chair as Posh Girl Sophie welcomes a very special guest to Triggered at Midwicket — their coach, Keelan!

And Keelan isn't holding back.

He brings his hot takes, strong opinions and controversial cricket views to the podcast as we get stuck into everything from England's current direction to the future of the game.

What does Keelan make of England right now?

Are they heading in the right direction, or are there problems beneath the surface?

The trio get stuck into England's performances, selection and where the team needs to go next as the big fixtures continue to approach.

We look ahead to South Africa and then the big one...

The Ashes.

Can England compete when the pressure really ramps up? What does Keelan expect from the series? And what does England need to get right if they're going to challenge Australia?

The conversation turns to Ben Stokes' latest media comments, with Keelan giving us his take on what was said and what it could mean for England moving forward.

Do you agree with him?

Then we take on one of the biggest debates in modern cricket:

Is franchise cricket helping the game or taking something away from international and county cricket?

With T20 leagues continuing to grow around the world, where does Keelan think the balance should sit?

Keelan also takes us through his own transition from playing cricket to coaching.

What made him swap the playing side for coaching? What has he learned along the way? And how different is life on the other side of the boundary?

And with Keelan heading down under to Australia for another six months of coaching and playing, we get his thoughts on what lies ahead.

🇦🇺 New country.
🏏 More cricket.
🎙️ More stories.
🔥 Plenty more opinions!

So settle in with Posh Girl Sophie, the returning Teamless Nomad Rob and Coach Keelan for another episode packed with cricket chat, hot takes and controversial opinions.

Do you agree with Keelan?

Let us know your thoughts on England, South Africa, the Ashes, Ben Stokes, franchise cricket and everything else we discuss.

🏴 ENGLAND CRICKET🇿🇦 SOUTH AFRICA & THE ASHES🎙️ BEN STOKES' LATEST MEDIA RELEASE🌍 FRANCHISE CRICKET — GOOD OR BAD?🏏 FROM PLAYER TO COACH

This week on Triggered at Midwicket, Posh Girl Sophie and missing everyones favourite Nomadic No. 11 Rob due to illness is joined by No Contact County Cricket Jack for a proper cricketing deep dive!

Jack takes centre stage as we get to know more about what brought him to the crease, his own cricketing journey, and what keeps him coming back to the game.

We also look back at this year's county cricket season, including Jack's own experiences, his thoughts on how the county game has played out and what he believes could be done differently moving forward.

The conversation then turns towards the England setup.

What does Jack think England are getting right? What needs to change? And what does he make of the current England camp?

The trio also discuss Stephen Fleming, his influence on the game and what his involvement could mean for England cricket.

And then comes the debate that Rob absolutely cannot stand...

Every week we're told England have another "generational talent" coming through.

But are we really seeing a golden generation of cricketers?

Or are we simply labelling players as generational talents far too early?

Rob questions whether England genuinely have the level of talent everyone claims — or whether some players are lazy professionals wasting their own potential.

Jack and Sophie have their say, Rob inevitably gets triggered, and we want to hear what YOU think!

Are England producing genuine world-class talent?

Are players being overhyped?

Are expectations too high?

Or are some players simply not making the most of the ability they've been given?

And unfortunately, it wouldn't be Triggered at Midwicket without another piece of sad cricket news.

This time, the trio reflect on the retirement of Mark Wood.

One of England's modern-day fast bowlers, Woody has given everything to county and country, producing some unforgettable spells and moments throughout his career.

So from all of us at Triggered at Midwicket:

So long, Woody. ❤️

Thank you for everything you've given to English cricket. You've earned the chance to put your feet up, enjoy the next chapter and finally give that body a well-deserved rest!

🏏 What brought you to cricket?

⭐ Who are England's genuine generational talents?

🔥 Are players wasting their potential?

🏴 What should England change?

💬 And what are your favourite Mark Wood moments?

Get involved in the comments and join Sophie, Rob and others for another episode of...

TRIGGERED AT MIDWICKET! 🎙️🏏

Triggered at Midwicket is back! This week, Posh Girl Sophie and everyone's favourite teamless nomad Rob welcome TikTok's SRC Sam Cox, a sports writer from Manchester, for another packed episode of cricket chat, heated debates and some seriously difficult selection questions!

With England looking ahead to their upcoming Test against South Africa, the big question is: who actually deserves a place on the plane?

With Jacob Bethell recovering from injury, could he return and take the No. 3 spot from the impressive Jordan Cox?

Or should England be looking elsewhere?

Could Emilio Gay or Ben Duckett pay the price for underwhelming performances against Pakistan? Will Dan Lawrence make way? Or could England leave Jamie Smith out and hand the wicketkeeping gloves over to Cox?

There are plenty of options — but only so many spaces!

Listeners, we want your England XI:

🏏 Who gets on the plane?

✈️ Who stays at home?

🧤 Who should be England's wicketkeeper?

🔥 Who deserves the No. 3 spot?

Rob and Sam get stuck into one of the biggest debates in English cricket:

Is Harry Brook genuinely a generational talent, or is he simply an incredibly good batter who knows how to swing the willow?

Does Brook have the maturity and consistency required to eventually take over from Joe Root as England's batting leader?

And speaking of Root...

With his incredible run-scoring record continuing, could he actually chase down Sachin Tendulkar's Test run record by the time England head to India in 2028?

That's a HUGE question — and the boys aren't necessarily on the same page!

We then look ahead to England's battles with South Africa and, further down the road, next year's Ashes.

Will England be able to handle the pressure when the Ashes arrive?

Could England dominate the series, or will the weight of expectation become a problem?

And what about Australia?

Will the Aussies arrive fit, firing and ready to defend the Ashes, or will their current crop of underperforming players be replaced before the series begins?

Should Australia stick with experience, or is it time for some fresh blood?

Sam gives us his verdict — now we want yours!

Finally, Rob asks Sophie and Sam one of the biggest questions facing cricket:

Can cricket genuinely become a major sport in America?

Or will baseball always remain the favourite when Americans have grown up with a sport where someone eventually has to win?

Could cricket's longer formats and the possibility of draws hold it back?

And then we get into a fascinating sporting crossover:

Could a professional cricketer actually transition into baseball?

Could someone like Liam Plunkett make the switch?

Or would it actually be easier for a baseball player to pick up cricket?

Different skills, different techniques, different rules — but how much crossover is really there?

And finally, we have something very special to celebrate.

Triggered at Midwicket has hit 500 downloads and plays! 🎉🏏

That's also more than 100 hours of our podcast listened to — something we genuinely couldn't have achieved without everyone who's downloaded, streamed, shared, commented and supported the show.

From Rob, Sophie and everyone involved with Triggered at Midwicket:

THANK YOU! ❤️

And we're only getting started...

🎧 Listen to us on Spotify

🍎 Now streaming on Apple Podcasts

🎵 Also available on Amazon Music

As always, get involved and tell us what YOU think!

Who makes your England squad?

Is Harry Brook a generational talent?

Will Root break Tendulkar's record?

Who wins the next Ashes?

And can cricket really conquer America?

This week on Triggered at Midwicket, Posh Girl Sophie and everyone's favourite teamless nomad Rob are joined once again by left-arm seamer Jack for another action-packed episode full of cricket debates, controversial opinions, questionable decisions and plenty of moments to get you Triggered!

The big news this week is the return of Kevin Pietersen to the England camp as he prepares to take up a mentoring role.

But what exactly does that mean?

When will KP actually join the England set-up? What will his role be? Is he genuinely ready to work within the England structure again, or will he eventually decide that YouTube is the better option?

And perhaps the biggest question of all…

Will England fans actually welcome Kevin Pietersen back?

With his official involvement not beginning until after the October tri-series involving England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Sophie, Rob and Jack ask why the delay — and whether this really is a serious cricketing appointment or simply a clever PR exercise.

Rob then turns to Jack for his thoughts on England's performances against Pakistan so far.

Have England genuinely been impressive, or has Pakistan's dramatic rebuilding process made England look better than they actually are?

With Pakistan sending home seven senior players, as well as changing their coaching set-up, was this a brave decision or a monumental mistake?

And Rob has a particular question for Jack:

Why sack the bowling coach?

Were Pakistan's bowlers really the problem when they didn't perform all that badly against England?

And if Pakistan are struggling this badly, what happens when England come up against a much stronger South African side?

Could the Proteas expose England's weaknesses when the Test series heads to South Africa?

Of course, it wouldn't be Triggered at Midwicket without another controversy!

This time, Hampshire are in the spotlight following their decision to sign fast bowler Scott Kuggeleijn.

Was Hampshire trying to pull the wool over supporters' eyes, or was this simply a rushed decision after Sonny Baker's England call-up left them needing another bowler?

Given Kuggeleijn's legal history and his acquittal, should he have been allowed to play?

Or should Hampshire never have signed him in the first place?

Were they simply desperate for reinforcements?

Honest mistake, desperate signing or completely avoidable controversy?

The trio debate both sides — and we want to know where YOU stand.

Jack then brings some of his latest TikTok opinions to the podcast as the trio start asking:

What would YOU change about cricket?

The LBW law comes under the microscope.

Why can a batter not be given LBW if the ball pitches outside leg stump, regardless of whether it's going on to hit the wickets?

If the ball pitches outside off stump and the batter plays a shot, why can't they then be dismissed LBW?

Make it make sense!

Then things get even more confusing as the trio discuss the laws surrounding the bowler's foot and stumpings.

A bowler can seemingly have their foot on the line and still deliver a legal ball, yet a batter's foot being on the crease rather than behind it can result in them being stumped.

One rule for the bowler and another for the batter?

What if the major counties and minor counties competed in a round-robin tournament?

Could a team such as Suffolk actually find themselves taking on the likes of Lancashire — potentially even facing Jimmy Anderson and the stars of the county game?

Rob immediately asks the most important question:

Has anyone got Jonty Rhodes' number?

Or perhaps someone needs to take the proposal directly to the ECB!

Could one of the minor counties pull off the ultimate upset and win a trophy against the big boys?

Or would the competition simply expose the gulf between the minor and major counties — and leave teams like Gloucestershire wondering why they ever agreed to let Oxfordshire into the competition?

Another episode, another collection of cricket debates — and this time we want YOU involved.

This week on Triggered at Midwicket, everyone's favourite nomadic No. 11 Rob is joined by Posh Girl Sophie for another packed episode of cricket

First up, the pair take a moment to shout out their fellow cricket content creators, celebrating everyone who has spent another season influencing, creating, playing and generally helping to grow the beloved game of cricket. From the people behind the cameras to those out there facing the music in the middle, it's time to recognise the hard work that goes into another cricketing season.

Then Rob finally reveals the truth behind those infamous "rumours" about leaving his old club. What actually happened? Why did he start the rumours in the first place? And why have some people given him surprisingly backhanded farewells, while others have genuinely wished him well? Rob tells all!

Just when you thought the England nightclub saga couldn't get any more ridiculous...

The hosts turn their attention to Brydon Carse, following his arrest and subsequent de-arrest after an incident following Durham's County Championship match against Derby.

when is this going to stop?

With a new England captain and head coach coming into the picture, will the ECB finally take a harder line, or will Rob Key simply sweep another incident under the carpet and carry on as normal?

And what happens to Carse now?

• Will he remain in England's squad for the Test in South Africa?
• Could he face a ban?
• Could his central contract be at risk?
• Should the ECB make an example of him?
• And why are so many England players finding themselves in trouble?

With Carse reportedly becoming the eighth England player in as many months to face disciplinary action over an altercation, Sophie and Rob ask whether something fundamentally needs to change.

The conversation then turns towards England's upcoming cricket, including their clashes with South Africa and Bangladesh, as well as the anniversary fixture against Australia.

After their performances against Pakistan, are England finally firing on all cylinders — or could a weaker competition be making them look better than they really are?

The pair also get stuck into The Telegraph's comparison between England's current bowling options — including Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer — and the legendary 2005 Ashes attack featuring Simon Jones, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff.

Is that comparison fair?

And just how good is England's current attack compared with one of the most iconic bowling units in Ashes history?

Why aren't more men's Ashes Tests played further north than Trent Bridge?

Considering England's impressive record playing cricket in the north, should grounds further up the country be given more opportunities to host Ashes Tests?

And then there's Lord's.

Is the history and heritage of the Home of Cricket so important that we're unwilling to consider major improvements to the ground? Should England really be playing an Ashes Test on a potentially sub-par surface simply because of the prestige attached to Lord's?

Would cricket actually benefit from missing a few Tests there while the ground is properly overhauled?

And then we head back to Pakistan, where things appear to be changing rapidly.

With seven changes to the playing group, senior players affected and the coach being sacked, is this a sensible tactical rebuild — or has Pakistan simply hit the panic button?

Is Pakistani cricket in serious trouble?

Could one of cricket's greatest nations genuinely be in danger of losing its place at the top table of international cricket?

Or is this simply another chapter in Pakistan cricket's famously unpredictable story?

Finally, Sophie and Rob put the controversies and debates aside to look back on their own cricket seasons.

👇 Get involved in the comments and tell us:

🏏 Your best moment of the season
😂 Your funniest cricket moment
😬 Your worst moment
❤️ Your most memorable game
🎥 Your favourite cricket content from the season

This week, Posh Girl Sophie and Teamless Nomad Rob kick things off with a big question: which three cricketers would they most like to meet? Do you agree with their choices? Who would make your own top three? Plus, there are plenty of honourable mentions along the way.

The pair then dive into The Hundred finals, discussing both the women's and men's competitions before moving into the world of Test cricket and England's latest battle with Pakistan. We also head down under to discuss Australia's shock setback against Bangladesh — only for the Aussies to come roaring back and remind everyone why you can never count them out!

Back to England, Sophie and Rob dissect The Telegraph's player ratings and ask the big question: do the fans agree? Should England stick with their current side and fire on all cylinders, or are changes needed? With Jordan Cox producing a decent 70, Dan Lawrence impressing, and Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson sharing five wickets apiece in the first innings, there is plenty to debate.

Could Jordan Cox now make a case to take over the wicketkeeping gloves? Should England consider dropping James Smith following his dip in domestic form and his England performances? And, with the Pakistan series still in the balance, can Pakistan fight back and level things up?

Then there's the bigger picture: should England rest some of their key players before heading to South Africa this winter?

And just when you thought the controversy was over, there's more to discuss as Brydon Carse finds himself in trouble following another drinking-related incident involving England players. What will the ECB do? Could Rob Key's position come under pressure, or will disciplinary action be enough? And are harsher penalties needed for players who repeatedly find themselves in trouble?

Finally, Rob switches from cricket pundit to charity goalkeeper — or wicketkeeper — as he thanks everyone who turned out and donated to his charity game. From a mixed game featuring girls, ladies and coaches to the brilliant surprise appearance of Rob's mum, it was a day to remember.

The episode finishes with an update on the fundraising totals for Evelina London Hospital and Diabetes UK, after the Diabetes UK team comfortably defeated Evelina Hospital by eight wickets.

Who would you want to meet? Who should England pick? Who needs dropping? And what should the ECB do next?

Join Sophie and Rob for another packed episode of cricket, opinions, controversy, laughs and charity.

Listen, debate and let us know what YOU think!

The cricket chaos continues as Farmer Aaron, Posh Girl Sophie and Teamless Nomad Rob pick up where Part One left off.

With England preparing for their first Test against Pakistan at Headingley, we go deeper into the big questions surrounding Stephen Fleming. Will he have any say before officially taking charge in December, or is this England side firmly in Marcus North’s hands for now?

We look beyond Pakistan too. What can England realistically achieve before Fleming’s first major assignment against the reigning Test champions, South Africa, in their own backyard? And what could we learn from the Bangladesh series that follows?

Then we switch from Test cricket to The Hundred — because apparently we weren’t done arguing about cricket yet.

Can the Women’s Trent Rockets finish the job against the Women’s Sunrisers in the final? Could the Rockets pull off a Hundred double? And will Jos Buttler lead his Manchester Super Giants to victory against the Men’s Trent Rockets?

And while we’re there… why exactly is the Manchester Super Giants badge an elephant?!

From pitch safety and grass conditions to England’s batting XI, Fleming’s arrival, Root’s captaincy, Bazball, Pakistan and the battle for Hundred glory, we attempt to predict who will walk away victorious.

Will the Rockets make it a double? Will England beat Pakistan? Will Aaron approve of the pitch? And, most importantly, will anyone ever understand the elephant?

There’s only one way to find out.

Farmer Aaron joins Posh Girl Sophie and Teamless Nomad Rob for a gloriously grass-heavy first part of the cricket conversation!

We get stuck into what it’s really like being a groundskeeper in the UK heatwave, the challenges of preparing pitches in ridiculous conditions, and Aaron’s journey into cricket. There’s also the small matter of discovering what Aaron thinks a VHS cassette actually is — and the evidence of his youth may surprise you!

Then things get serious as we turn our attention to England. What should we expect from the ECB’s appointment of Stephen Fleming? Why doesn’t he take the reins until December? Has Fleming already had an influence from afar, or will Marcus North be calling the shots for England’s first Test against Pakistan at Headingley?

We look at England’s named squad and try to work out who actually makes the starting XI, whether England have a realistic chance against Pakistan, and whether Marcus North can get the big calls right.

And, of course, we have to ask: what does Farmer Aaron REALLY think of Bazball? Did it actually work? Is England’s approach about to change? And is naming Joe Root as captain again a wise move considering his previous stint in charge?

Expect grass, pitches, batting orders, captaincy debates, plenty of opinions — and a healthy amount of nonsense.

Part One is where the groundwork gets laid.