It’s Not Just Cricket

Is the Champions Trophy actually a better tournament to watch from start to finish than the World Cups?! Anyway, it's about to start and the boys run through how each team is shaping up and who they think will make the semis and go on to lift the trophy. Stand by for Azeem's strong opinions on Jos Buttler's future and why he thinks the Aussies have no chance! Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Judging by how far off the pace England have been in India, Brendon McCullum may have an even harder job on his hands to turn the white ball teams around! Some big questions need to be asked though, like who thought trying to blast India out with four right arm fast bowlers was a good idea in India?! The Hundred sale is nearing it's completion and the amount spent has been eye watering. Have the A...

In the modern era of cricket, agents are right at the forefront of a sport that has changed beyond recognition in the last 20 years. Simon Auteri - who's company TGI Sport represents some of the most well known cricketers in the world like Jofra Archer, Rashid Khan and Harry Brook - lifts the lid on the inner workings of franchise cricket and contract negotiations. He tells Matt how some leagues f...

The final bids are about to go in for the eight teams in The Hundred and Azeem reveals the IPL franchises that he believes will be buying into certain teams. He and Matt discuss what this could mean for the competition going forward - will we see Indian players in The Hundred as a result? Also on the agenda - why England have to find a second spinner ASAP and why Pakistan can't just forget about p...

Nigeria beat New Zealand in the Women's Under 19s World Cup - is that the biggest shock ever in the history of cricket?! England's white ball Bazball era starts with a hammering by India, the boys reflect on that and defend Alex Hartley, who apparently has been ostracised by some members of the England Women's set up after her criticism of the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

Jimmy Anderson has decided to play on this summer for Lancashire - what happens if he takes loads of wickets though? Might England be tempted to bring him back?! England's women have fallen behind early in the Ashes, if the series is lost again does there need to be a serious inquest into why there is a such a big gap between the 2 sides? And the PSL draft has taken place - a few England players h...

Award winning broadcaster Nikesh Rughani joins Azeem and Matt to talk about his journey from the BBC Asian Network to Test Match Special. Despite being a very recognisable voice of cricket radio coverage Nikesh speaks candidly about how some people will never accept that there are more diverse voices in sports broadcasting these days. He also opens up about being stuck between two very different c...

It's the final episode of 2024 and loads to get our teeth into this week! Australia dominate India on the final day at the MCG but Azeem (aka The Grinch) has a word of warning for rising star Sam Konstas. Rohit Sharma has had a terrible 2024 in Test cricket so will he be tempted to retire at the end of the series?! The MCG breaks the Australian record for attendance at a Test match so the boys tak...

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals! Cricket addicts have plenty of ways to get their fix over the festive period and the boys start by previewing the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India. Brendon McCullum has picked his first England white ball squads but how will he bring BazBall to the shorter formats? Meanwhile England's women have just demolished South Africa for a very impressive Test w...

After Isa Guha apologised for comments she made on air on Jasprit Bumrah, Matt and Azeem discuss her heartfelt apology and whether she even had to make it. Also on the agenda - England's topsy turvy Test year and how Prithvi Shaw needs support not constant criticism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Azeem is now an F1 convert after his trip to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but cricket remains in pole position for this episode. England's brilliance in New Zealand has led to a selection headache for the next series and the boys debate who should be dropped out of Crawley, Pope, Bethell and Smith. Darren Lehmann's comments on Joe Root split opinion and there is a long discussion on the supposed threa...

Not many cricketers are as engaging and introspective as Robbie Uthappa. The T20 World Cup winner with India opens up about his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. There is of course a plenty of cricket chat too - Robbie has a very interesting take on what it's like for a player watching the IPL Auction and why he would never drop Ravichandran Ashwin. Learn more about your ad choices....

Azeem's in London so the boys meet in person for the first time in weeks! Matt feels a bit underdressed. On the menu this week - dissecting everything about another astonishing IPL Auction - the most expensive buys ever, why teams don't pack their squads with big name overseas anymore and how a 13 year old made history! For dessert, it's a look ahead to England's daunting Test series in New Zealan...

There's a huge Test series on the horizon between Australia and India. The boys look at the selection issues India face before the 1st Test and debate over an article that claims the India/Australia rivalry is now bigger than the Ashes. Then they get into the IPL Auction - why is there confusion surrounding Jofra Archer and Mark Wood's involvement and which England players could go for big money d...

Around 30% of recreational cricketers in England are British South Asians but only 5% of professional cricketers. Why is that and what can be done about it? Step forward Tom Brown, who co-founded SACA - the South Asian Cricket Academy - to help change those numbers and get more South Asians coming through to the professional game. Tom and Matt discuss how unconscious bias has played a big part in...

India lose a home Test series for the first time in 12 years but was it just a blip or a sign that an ageing side is now past it's peak? Meanwhile as we get set for an IPL Mega Auction, many big name players aren't retained by their franchises - but is this often down to the player himself? And the word on the street is that the Auction will take place in Riyadh - is this the first move as Saudi A...

Azeem strongly believes that Ben Stokes is taking on too much responsibility with England's Test team and needs some of the burden eased. The boys discuss England's long standing spinner problem and look at what Jafer Chohan could offer in the West Indies. Oh and stand by by for Azeem's rant on Gary Kirsten resigning as Pakistan white ball coach! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...

Ex Indian Test cricketer turned commentator Abhinav Mukund lifts the lid on Indian cricket in this bonus episode. In an open and wide ranging chat he talks Matt through the differences in personality between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni and why some Indian stars move to the UK for a more normal life. He also reveals why he thinks Kohli and Rohit Sharma will play in the 2027 World Cup, what it's like f...

Azeem is at his pugnacious best in this episode. He weighs in on why he has no problem with Pakistan trying to prepare pitches to suit their bowlers and how India may have been thinking too much about Australia when they got hammered by New Zealand. He also questions how much longer Jos Buttler might play International cricket for and whether England's women need a change at the top - but should i...

Aatif joins Matt & Azeem from Pakistan to talk about the Test series and what it's like for broadcasters touring the country. The boys debate who is England's number one spinner, who Stokes should replace for the 2nd Test and why Multan sounds a pretty good place to turn 40, but only if you have a sweet tooth! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Georgie are in India commentating on a Legends tournament but take a break to chat all things Women's World Cup. Georgie is a font of knowledge on the women's game, she gives us a detailed run down of how she thinks it will all play out, leading to a potential blockbuster of a Final. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pakistani writer and podcaster Behram Qazi joins the boys to preview England's Test matches in Pakistan and doesn't hold back on what he sees as major problems in Pakistan cricket right now. We hear about why the Test team's home form has collapsed, Shan Masood's captaincy and how the usual chaos behind the scenes is not helping. If you are an England fan and need a confidence boost before the ser...

England's ODI team shows fight against Australia but also lots of naivety - are we no longer a top side in the format? Big developments off the pitch this week as Delhi Capitals' co owner looks set to buy Hampshire - Azeem dissects what that means for county cricket and how Yorkshire could soon follow suit. And the IPL Auction has some new rules, one of which could guarantee we see Dhoni for at le...

Matt's in India working on a Legends tournament and spills the beans on why Legends cricket has suddenly become massively popular. He and Azeem debate whether Ravi Ashwin should be considered amongst the best all rounders to ever play the game and then get in to the Essex situation. Is it completely absurd that the county can get a points deduction for a player having too wide a bat but not for ad...

Jofra Archer has been wrapped in cotton wool since returning from his many injury setbacks so what does the future hold for him? Will he play Test cricket again or might he just see out his days as a gun white ball bowler? T20 Blast Finals Day was fun but is it a format that still works? And India's Test team are very good at home but not quite as formidable as they used to be - so are they playin...