98 Not Out - The Cricket Podcast

Recent weeks have seen a succession of departures at Essex Cricket both on and off the field. In this episode, Richard Clarke joins to discuss a "revolving door" at the County Ground and ask how worried should Essex fans be? Remember to subscribe to Richard's free county cricket newsletter here: https://countycricket.substack.com

Surrey and England legend MARK BUTCHER takes a break from the commentary box to talk about his new album " Always Somewhere ". This is his third album and it follows " Songs From The Sun House " and " Now Playing ", which both met with critical acclaim. This one features more personal writing and Mark talks us through a few of the standout tracks and talks about recording and playing live, all whi...

Essex-based photographer JON WAGSTAFF chats about taking the perfect photograph and how each sport presents its own particular challenges. www.jonwagstaffphotogrpahy.co.uk

After a lengthy absence, Sussex CCC - the oldest of the English county sides - has been promoted back to the County Championship's top flight. To celebrate a great year for the club, I am joined by Chairman JON FILBY to reflect on events on and off the pitch and he offers some upbeat thoughts on the future of county cricket. For the first time in ten years, Essex has awarded a Testimonial Year...

Brentwood pulled off the greatest day in their history by beating Northern CC by 9 wickets to lift the National Club Cup on Sunday at New Road, Worcester. Ian Livingston from the Premier League Cricket Club podcast who was commentating on the match and tells us all about a famous victory. Also a report on Essex, who have been hit with a £100,000 fine (£50,000 suspended) over historical racism whic...

The ECB has fired the starting gun on the sale of franchises in The Hundred and trouble is brewing. Essex has voiced opposition to the process but can it be stopped or amended? Essex has also been deducted 12 Championship points for "Batgate". where Feroze Khushi was deemed using an "illegal" bat during the County Championship game against Nottinghamshire early in the season Is...

Chelmsford Cricket Club has secured the title of 2024 Champions of the Essex Premier League with a game to spare. 1st Team captain JACK STERLAND talks about their stunning season and how the celebrations are going. PAUL NEWMAN , newly retired from his role as Chief Cricket Writer at The Daily Mail assesses the achievements of Joe Root, who has gone past Sir Alastair Cook's record of 33 Test ce...

With the Test series between England and Sri Lanka underway, I'm joined by Mark Machado from "The Mural End" podcast to talk all things Sri Lankan cricket. We remember some of the great moments of the last forty years but are also worried about the current trajectory of Test cricket and the threat it poses to Sri Lanka. A really enjoyable chat!

Touring side Central Country Cricket Club has arrived in the UK from Barbados to embark on a tour that includes games against club sides in Essex. I am joined by club President Andrew Willoughby and his wife Cheryl, along with club captain Dwayne Alleyne, tour manager Jason Wilson and from Essex Cricket Graham Pryke, who has helped with sorting out the fixtures. Follow the team's progress on I...

ITV's Mark Pougatch joins me to discuss the importance of all major sport - especially cricket - being made available on free-to-air television and not hiding behind a paywall.

In this episode, we remember Graham Thorpe, whose death was announced this week - gone far too early at 55. There's also news of the squad announced by England for the Test series against Sri Lanka and a look at goings-on in the county circuit, especially the exploits of a certain Rocky Flintoff. Plus a look at Round 13 of the Essex Premier League.

More detail has been announced on the departure of CEO John Stephenson from Essex CCC. After the 2024 season has finished, he will leave his role at the club and head Down Under to become CEO at the Western Australia Cricket Association in Perth. A fantastic opportunity and after all the good things he has done during his tenure at Chelmsford, Richard Clarke and I discuss how much he will be misse...

The highlight of Cricket Week at Brentwood CC was the visit of the PCA England Masters to play the club in a fund-raising T20. Chris Cowdrey and Graham Napier were on hand to say a few words. As was Brentwood CC Chair Paul Webb ! It was also a big weekend at Woolpit CC, where Suffolk took on Essex to contest the Robin Hobbs Trophy. Suffolk Chairman Andrew Squire joins us for a chat.

It's "Cricket Week" at Brentwood CC, with lots going on, culminating in the visit of the PCA England Masters on Friday (19th July). During a match between Brentwood and a Smile Travel Group XI, I caught up with Essex and England legend John Lever as we watched the game along with Don Topley. In a chat dripping with nostalgia, we recall John's England debut in Delhi in 1976, takin...

Sunday, 30th. June was designated "County Cricket Day", a chance to celebrate and promote the domestic red ball game. Counties up and down the land offered various enticements to draw fans along to witness County Championship cricket first hand and maybe even have a chance to get on the outfield at lunch and tea breaks. Here, I am joined by Richard Clarke to discuss why this was such an...

As England exit the T20 World Cup at the hands of India in the semi final, Debbie knight joins me in the studio to discuss the tournament's scheduling and the dangers of catering to a tv audience. We also send our wishes to David "Sid" Lawrence as he battles MND and recall that awful time when he shattered his kneecap back in 1992 when playing for England in New Zealand and how much...

Cricket writer for " The Guardian " Ali Martin speaks to us live from St Lucia where England has just taken on West Indies in the Super 8s stage of the T20 World Cup.

One of the biggest-watched shows on BBC1 this spring has been " Race Across the World ", where teams compete to cross exotic parts of the globe without the use of aeroplanes. One of the biggest stars of this year's series was James Mukherjee , who took part alongside his sister Betty. Here he joins us to talk about the show and also about his earlier days as a promising young cricket...

Rahul Patil from www.sportsfreak.co.nz reports on the biggest game of the 2024 T20 World Cup so far, India vs Pakistan. Played in front of 34,000 frenzied fans, this was billed as the game to ignite American interest in the game and it did not disappoint.

The T20 World Cup is underway and England's start has been hampered by rain disrupting their opening match against Scotland. Don Topley is on the ground in Barbados, commentating for local station CBC and he gives us his thoughts on England and looks forward to what is now a huge game against Australia on Saturday. Stay away from the rum Toppers!

Here are the highlights of the live "98 Not Out" radio show broadcast on Phoenix FM on Thursday 30th May, where I took a look at the latest from the County Championship, England Women wrap up a strong series performance against Pakistan and England Men get ready for the T20 World Cup. Also all the latest from the Essex Premier League.

With the domestic red ball season about to take a break for the white ball format,  Richard Clarke joins me to debate whether we have just seen “peak” cricket with a set of thrilling matches played under warm and sunny skies up and down the country, with outstanding performances and lots on international players on show.

Ahead of a big County Championship game at Chelmsford against Warwickshire, Head Coach Anthony "Mags" McGrath speaks about his Test debut back in 2003 alongside another debutant Jimmy Anderson and he tells of his early encounters with the bowler who went on to be one of England's greats. We also discuss the opportunities that Jimmy's impending retirement could give to other bowle...

One of English cricket's most experienced names David Lloyd - aka "Bumble" - explains how he would fix the problems currently engulfing English domestic cricket and it's hard to disagree with his ideas! Maybe cricket's powers that be need to listen to more people like Bumble, as he has been there, seen it and done it!

Dan Feist, Deputy CEO of Essex Cricket talks about the great start to the season and how newbies Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox have fitted in to the team. After a difficult couple of years off the field, Dan updates on possible sanctions still hanging over the club and the lessons that the club has learned. On a brighter note, there is the fantastic news of Essex Cricket being awarded Tier 1 for women...