• England Vs India 1st Test Review, Leeds 2025
    Jun 24 2025
    In this episode of the show Binksy and Jamie discuss a captivating 1st Test at Headingley where a brilliant 4th Innings hundred from Ben Duckett saw England chase down 370. If you enjoy our content, please vote for us as the Best Cricket Podcast in the Sports Podcast Awards. We’re delighted to be shortlisted and really appreciate your support:https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-cricket-podcast/We'll be back in your feed again next week with more news and views from the cricket world. 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 2:53 England's Historic Chase 6:07 Key Players and Strategies 8:54 India's Batting 11:58 England Bowling effectiveness? 15:00 Fielding standards and Catching 18:03 Looking ahead to the next test Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • Australia v West Indies Test Series Preview
    Jun 22 2025
    In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu look ahead to the upcoming Test series between the West Indies and Australia. Fresh off a loss in the World Test Championship Final, Australia head to the West Indies with very little time to lick their wounds and a lot of questions hanging over their heads, particularly the batters. Steve Smith is injured (at least for the first Test), Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped and Sam Konstas looks set to return to the top of the order. We start the show with an explainer, then touch briefly on the West Indies side and what we might expect as a formula for victory over the course of the series. We talk about comments from Daren Sammy, the fast bowling trio of Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, the inclusion of Shai Hope and Brandon King and non-selection of Alick Athanaze and Joshua da Silva in what could be a much changed batting lineup. From there on, it becomes an Australian deep dive as we try to figure out what the selectors are thinking and whether the batting collapses against South Africa at Lord's were an anomaly or a sign of things to come. Will Sam Konstas get a consistent run of games? Can Josh Inglis take his opportunity and become a Test regular? And where should Cameron Green bat? We also discuss the Australian bowling group with an eye to the future - can Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon make it through the full WTC cycle? Who are the next players in the pecking order? And does that even matter at this point? To round out the show, we make tentative predictions and then look at the World Test Championship fixture list to talk about who should be favoured and who has the best chance to be in that final in 2027. We'll be back in your feed soon to review the first Test between India and England, then again to recap Australia v West Indies. 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 2:00 Dates and venues 3:25 West Indies squad news 10:30 Fall out after Australia's WTC Final loss - Labuschagne dropped 17:00 Has Beau Webster secured his spot? 20:55 Australia's top 4 - Konstas and Inglis come in, but for how long? 30:55 Other batting options for Australia in future 36:10 Australia's bowlers - how long can this fantastic group continue? 43:00 Series expectations 47:30 World Test Championship fixtures - who has the best draw? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • England v India Test Series Preview: England's strength at home, new-era India & predictions!
    Jun 17 2025
    In this episode of the show, Raj, Baldy, Binksy and Stu look ahead to the upcoming Test series between England and India. We start the show with a short summary of what's ahead of us in this five-match series, before sharing what excites us most about India's tour to the UK. We discuss the unknown quantities of a visiting side led by Shubman Gill and missing the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, plus England's strength at home in recent times. There's also talk about potential lineups, whether we might see a debut for Sai Sudharsan, a return for Karun Nair and the make up of England's bowling attack. We ask if India really need two allrounders in the side, whether they can they find room for Kuldeep Yadav, if Jacob Bethell will be in England's best XI and discuss our expectations for this new-look Indian batting lineup. To round out the show, we give our predictions for what we hope will be a series that makes for fascinating viewing over the next six weeks. We'll be back in your feed next week to review the first Test 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 1:00 Venues and build up 2:50 What makes this series so interesting? 9:50 England's recent strength at home 12:20 England's potential playing XI for the first Test 14:55 India's lineup and selection questions 20:00 Preparation for both sides 25:15 Expectations for India in this WTC cycle 28:40 Series predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • This Week in Cricket #179 - South Africa win the World Test Championship Final
    Jun 15 2025
    In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy, Raj and Stu relive the rollercoaster ride that was the 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final, which saw South Africa crowned champions as they defeated Australia by 5 wickets at Lord's. We start the show with our thoughts, feelings and emotions from a game that swung back and forth and up and down across the three and a bit days of cricket. We talk South Africa's reaction, the mood after the first couple of days and the pitch conditions for this showcase event. As the discussion continues, we focus on the standout contributors, such as Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Temba Bavuma, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. We also look ahead to the next WTC cycle to ponder the big questions facing Australia and whether this title will propel South Africa to more and more success over the coming years. We'll be back in your feed very soon with a full preview of the India v England Test series, and then regularly as that series progresses alongside Australia v West Indies and other news. 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 1:30 South Africa are the World Test Champions 5:00 State of play after Day 2 - Australia with their noses in front 8:20 Lord's surface and conditions 17:30 Kagiso Rabada, Pat Cummins & Co. show their class 22:10 Australia's batting fragility 25:10 Aiden Markram's heroics and how South Africa build on this win 31:20 Big questions for Australia for the next WTC cycle 37:30 Final words on South Africa's future and Temba Bavuma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • This Week in Cricket #178: World Test Championship Final preview, RCB wins IPL 2025 & NZ's new coach
    Jun 8 2025
    In this episode of the show, it's a full house and a packed runsheet with RCB winning IPL 2025, the Black Caps naming a new coach and an updated central contract list, England announcing their squad for the first Test against India and preview of the World Test Championship Final between Australia and South Africa. We start the show by talking about the IPL final, which saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeat the Punjab Kings to take out the title for the first time in 18 years. There's praise for Krunal Pandya's match-defining spell, RCB's middle order and a generous backyard cricket invitation for Virat Kohli now that he's ticked another item off his bucket list. Next we move to New Zealand to talk Black Caps announcements, with Rob Walter named as the new head coach with the latest batch of central contracts offered shortly after. There's talk about the faith shown in Walter by NZC, Gary Stead's legacy, the uncharacteristically youthful look to the contract list and Devon Conway's future. We swing back to the UK to discuss another announcement - this time the England squad for the first Test against India. Gus Atkinson is out with injury and Jofra Archer's not quite ready, so does that leave England with enough bowling quality to take 20 wickets? And will there be a spot in the starting XI for Jacob Bethell? To round out the show, we discuss the upcoming World Test Championship Final between Australia and South Africa at Lord's. Who will open for the Aussies? Where will Cameron Green slot in? Can South Africa score enough runs to challenge? What should we expect from the pitch? Does the WTC have a scheduling problem? And who will win? We'll be back in your feed next week to review the WTC final and preview the India v England Test series. 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 1:55 RCB wins IPL 2025 8:10 Where to now for Virat Kohli? 10:10 A word on the Punjab Kings 14:50 Rob Walter appointed Black Caps' coach 21:10 Gary Stead's legacy 27:00 Youthful look to NZ's central contract list 28:45 Devon Conway's international future 33:45 Adi Ashok in, Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi out 36:15 England's bowling stocks to take on India 43:15 Is there room for Jacob Bethell? 47:50 World Test Championship Final Preview 48:45 Australia's batting selection questions 59:55 Is South Africa's batting lineup a concern? 1:05:25 What should we expect to from Lord's? 1:08:55 Does the WTC Final have a scheduling problem? 1:11:45 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • This Week in Cricket #177: RCB into the IPL Final, England crush Zimbabwe & Gill to captain India
    Jun 1 2025
    In this episode of the show, Binksy, Raj, Baldy and Stu discuss an eventful couple of weeks, which have seen RCB win their way to the IPL final, England demolish Zimbabwe, Karun Nair strengthen his case for a Test recall, Shubman Gill named India Test captain and Copilot names its favourite podcast host. We start by talking about IPL 2025's most recent game, which saw the Mumbai Indians advance, ending Gujarat Titans' season in the process. Sai Sudharsan was brilliant once again, but ultimately it was another stunning delivery from Jasprit Bumrah that turned the match. We also discuss Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first appearance in a final since 2016, with Josh Hazlewood and Virat Kohli leading the way with ball and bat respectively. But will they face Mumbai or the Punjab Kings in the big dance? Next we head to England to discuss their recent victory against Zimbabwe. Was it the perfect way to start the summer? Is Shoaib Bashir the answer? Is there a way in for Jacob Bethell after Ollie Pope's huge hundred? And how many references can we make to songs by Sam Cook? India named their Test squad to face England, and it is filled with stars but has a very new era feel to it thanks to the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Karun Nair's made a strong case for inclusion against the Lions, Sai Sudharsan's New Zealand-based fan club is growing and Shubman Gill has been named captain. To round out the show, there's brief mention of the World Test Championship Final build up (full preview coming next week) and the Black Caps' coaching search, which looks set to be finalised very soon. We'll be back in your feed next week to review the IPL final, preview the WTC 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 1:10 IPL knockouts - Mumbai survive, GT out! 9:00 RCB into the final after demolishing Punjab 13:45 MI v PBKS - who will face RCB in the final? 20:40 England v Zimbabwe - did England tick all the boxes? 28:20 The Shoaib Bashir conundrum 43:50 India A v England Lions - Karun Nair staking a claim & England's depth 49:30 India's potential Test XI 51:25 Shubman Gill named India's Test captain as they start a new era 57:10 World Test Championship Final and NZ coaching update Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • This Week in Cricket #176: Virat & Rohit Retire, IPL Resumption & Test Match Cricket is Here (almost)!
    May 18 2025
    In this episode of the show, Binksy, Jamie, Baldy and Stu discuss an eventful week, which saw the return of the IPL but not all its players, the Test cricket retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, squad news galore and some potential candidates emerge for the Black Caps coaching role. We start by talking about the IPL's resumption and the players such as Jos Buttler and Mitchell Starc who have decided not to return or will need to depart for the playoff stages as the international calendar fills up again. Does previous form go out the window? And how will teams manage the disruption? Next we discuss the Test Cricket retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Was it the right time? What legacy have they left? How will they be remembered? Who will replace them? And does their departure put Test cricket in danger? We round out the show by bouncing around a couple of upcoming Test matches - England's first match of the summer, against Zimbabwe, and the World Test Championship Final between Australia and South Africa - as well as the latest reports emerging about the Black Caps' coaching search. We'll be back in your feed next week with more cricket news as the IPL playoff picture takes shape and England take on Zimbabwe. 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 1:20 IPL resumption - player ins & outs & disruption 17:10 Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli retire from Tests 20:45 Did they step away at the right time? 26:55 Legacy/How will they be remembered? 33:50 Who replaces them in the Test XI? 37:05 Is this a danger for Test cricket? 40:05 England v Zimbabwe 53:20 Australia & South Africa squads for WTC Final 1:02:45 Black Caps coaching search Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • IPL Week 6 in Review: Suryavanshi's cover drive, MI v GT final incoming & England & India Test chat
    May 5 2025
    In this episode of the show, Binksy, Jamie and Stu look back at week 6 of IPL 2025, which saw the top 7 sides break away, Vaibhav Suryavanshi score a 35-ball century, Mumbai demolish Rajasthan, KKR win a final-ball thriller, Punjab secure a crucial two points against LSG, England name their first Test squad of the summer, and plenty more! We start this week by talking about Sunday's double-header, which saw KKR seal a nervy 1-run victory against RR to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, and Punjab Kings take a big step towards the semi-finals with an impressive victory against LSG. We spend a long time discussing Vaibhav Suryavanshi's cover drive, as well as the skill and quality of Arshdeep Singh as the battle for the Top 4 heats up. From there, we move to Stu's claim that this tournament is tracking towards a Mumbai Indians v Gujarat Titans final. Ryan Rickelton joined Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav in the runs this week, while Trent Boult continues to take wickets alongside Jasprit Bumrah. For GT, it's the top 3 of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler who continue to shine alongside their balanced bowling attack led by Prasidh Krishna. We discuss how IPL form could lead to Test opportunities, and whether the upcoming match between these two sides could be a preview of the big dance. One side who haven't been flying high in 2025 is Sunrisers Hyderabad, and despite their tiniest of tiny chances of sneaking into the playoffs, we decide it is time to bite the bullet and discuss what went wrong this season. The short answer is everything, but without Baldy there to defend him somehow the conversation turns to whether Pat Cummins is a marquee player in T20 cricket and how SRH could look to improve their bowling attack in 2026. We round out the show by talking some Test cricket, thanks to England naming their first squad of the summer to take on Zimbabwe in a one-off fixture. The boys evaluate the squad, noting Ben Stokes on the comeback trail, an injury to Jordan Cox, a potential debut for Sam Cook, Shoaib Bashir's inclusion and what bearing any of it could have for an exciting summer to come. We'll be back in your feed again soon with more IPL coverage. If you're enjoying our content 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 1:35 KKR v RR - thrilling finish keeps KKR's chances alive 5:50 Vaibhav Suryavanshi's cover drive 12:30 Punjab v LSG - Arshdeep Singh's swing helps Punjab to crucial win 22:50 Are Mumbai and GT the best two teams in the tournament? 39:00 What's happened to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2025? 50:00 England's Test squad to face Zimbabwe 54:25 Why has it taken Sam Cook so long to get a chance? 1:00:15 Shoaib Bashir's role Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 15 mins