The Grade Cricketer

Summer is here. We’ve decimated Pakistan at the Gabbatoir; our number 3 batsman hit a nerdy, well-compiled Daddy Hundred; and Davey Warner did the Toyota leap thingy. As a nation, we're rightfully approaching Bicentennial/Expo ’88 levels of safety.   However, India continues to send warning signs from abroad as their frightening attack rips through Bangladesh in a Pink Ball test. Across the Tasman...

It’s the eve of the First Test and the summer of Marnus is about to start, so why does this all feel like a Partridge shrug? Pakistan is a decentralised digital currency, or some shit. There’s a conversation around mental health to be had, so we have a crack at it. Meanwhile, James Pattinson allegedly said something vile in a Shield game… what was it? Bob Murphy comes in to discuss woke blokes and...

This week we discuss forgettable T20 cricket, the benefits of memory erasure, and the best dessert wine with which to digest Steve Smith. There’s also England vs New Zealand — yes, it’s happened again, but this time it’s a box office flop sequel — and the concerning devolution of umpires from kindly grandfathers to hardcore porn stars. Adam Zampa goes from representing his country in front of the...

Does international T20 cricket actually need context, or should we just shut up and let the content wash over us like a meaningless Netflix series? Muhammad Irfan is 216 cm tall – how big can bowlers get from here? Shakib Al Hasan is banned from cricket for not reporting a crude match-fixing approach via Whatsapp, but Chinese telco Huawei hasn’t pulled his sponsorship deal. Pete Handscomb joins th...

A jam packed show! Warner, Finch and Maxwell obliterate Sri Lanka in Adelaide and didn't it feel good. We'll talk England and New Zealand, WBBL, selections on Seek, LinkedIn stalking of bowled victims and #AskTGC for dating advice. Ed Cowan and Russel Arnold join the show for more wild stories about shower culture, sledging international players and realising you're on 156*. None of this possible...

The podcast returns for the southern summer of 2019/2020. What storylines will this season bring? Will Australia resume its (rightful) dominance of the men's game amid a plethora of lifeless wickets and broken pre-season dreams and will Steve Smith be dismissed once before the clock's change back? Dan Christian joins the show to discuss next year's T20 World Cup and what he was thinking while watc...

The World Cup and The Ashes: it made us feel; it made us emote. We bid farewell to both with our favourite memories, before talking to the true star of the summer, Pavel Florin. #AskTGC covers identity, TGC bingo, newcomers and dreams.   Rapturous praise to Budgy Smuggler for permitting our words about the brand. EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketer See omnystudio.co...

Why does everything have to be a tie? England level the series at The Oval thanks to Joe Denly's new-dad-sugar-hit runs and Stuart Broad bowling kryptonite. Australia retain the Ashes, but lets focus on the negatives and how they can bounce back at The Gabba in November. Dean Jones is on the phone from India to discuss being King of The World, batting with a Harrow sized stick in 1st grade and why...

How the Ashes was retained (won); Smith and greatness; reaction and salt; Paine, Warner, Broad, the quicks, everyone. Chris Rogers joins, while AskTGC covers batting awards, corporate life, swings, and hypothetical trysts with AB De Villiers.   Big ol' thanks to our friends at Budgy Smuggler 👍 EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketer See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

We catch up on how we're supposed to feel post-Headingley and look forward to Old Trafford for the 4th Ashes Test. Khawaja is out, Starc is in and Mitch Marsh is supposed to be a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner. Steve Waugh tells us what it's like being on the balcony during a Test and making a nation feel safe - as well as answering 'that' question about watching his son play; and Doug Bolling...

That hurt. Please join us as we mine the depths of our despair for therapy and entertainment, chat with The Daily Mirror’s Dean Wilson about ‘Stokesy’, catch up with Tim Bresnan about Mother Cricket, the Joel Wilson Institute and giving Steve Smith gloves, before AskTGC covers timepieces, Trump, shadow batting and Marnus.   We appreciate the support of Budgy Smuggler. Ben Stokes wears them. So do...

We preview the 3rd Ashes Test at Headingley, who's going to bowl and how England are now Australia thanks to climate change. Marnus Labushagne joins the show to tell us what it's like facing Jofra Archer in the dark and to who he thinks his club side should pick on the weekend in their upcoming pre-season game. #AskTGC involves being catfished to strip and watching The Bachelor over the Ashes.   E...

It’s Pez and Dave reviewing Lord's as Jofra elicits feelings; Smith’s knocked out; ScoMo pipes up; and Marnus both saves and is saved. Trent Copeland then talks Warner, 'claiming it' and SOK stories; and AskTGC is a litany of general male insecurity.   Huge shout to Budgy Smuggler: our partners and friends in merchandise and Marnus-worship. EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/grad...

Recorded from Hyde Park and the Australian team hotel on Lord’s Test Eve, we talk full cupboards, XIs, and Boulangeries, before chatting with Peter Siddle about transformations and Jofra. AskTGC looks at Dads on Instagram and urinal tactics, before we get swooped by a flock of Swans.   Huge shout to our great mates at Budgy Smuggler for supporting our UK endeavours, and this Ashes podcast series....

We're live in the UK; Australia makes history; the Hollies Stand experience; Marcus North; and AskTGC covers changing teams, friendship dynamics, and various social capital issues.   Huge thanks to Budgy Smuggler for their support of our UK tour. EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketer See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Low scores, batting collapses, Ireland's 38, intra-club trials and likely XI's. Cameron Bancroft joins the show to talk about shower politics in the Australia team, yoga and wearing a brown singlet for a TV interview. #AskTGC involves Italian girlfriends, Porsche drivers and running out a 14 year old. EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketer See omnystudio.com/listener f...

The question of the World Cup asterisk; Australia’s retention of the Women’s Ashes and their (outstanding) decision to bat on; Cricket Australia inflating its average; Warne’s Ashes XII; Alex Carey; #AskTGC covers partner persuasion, counselling, monarchists, and grade cricketers-turned-administrators.   Today's show is brought to you by M.J. Bale EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.c...

England win the World Cup on a countback in quote possibly the most ridiculous game you've ever seen (not involving Australia). We talk about super overs, DRS, deflected floors, boundary catches, relationships, rule changes, Lord's and Bairstow's salad. #AskTGC comes in from Sydney, India, Canada and New Zealand. Novak Djokovic wins his 5th Wimbledon slam. Not sure what happened at Silverstone tod...

Australia are out of the World Cup after getting absolutely hammered by England in their seminary's final. We discuss how to pick a wrong'un on TV, new faces and blood on jerseys. Martin "Two-Toe" Guptill throws New Zealand into back-to-back World Cup Finals, but was Dohni playing for red ink? Izzy Westbury joins the show from the UK, presumably just to laugh at us. #AskTGC gets into escaping the...

The rain-delayed India v NZ semi is another great showcase for our sport, Australia decides on a dangerous, all-club stretching circle, Ellyse Perry talks about that 7-fa and Scott Morrison’s FaceTime technique, while #AskTGC covers net bowling, Adam Parore, Tinder, job interviews and Kindles.   Today's show brought to you by M.J.Bale EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecrick...

Faf aka Alpha Du Plessis is Dad, England v Australia semi, TMS’s Dan Norcross joins to talk Women’s Ashes and Ponting’s scar, Chris Lynn talks about delaying his first grade debut to play with mates, and AskTGC covers Kipling D Williams, how to quit, New York Pride Month, funny people, and normal girlfriends.   This week's show is brought to you by MJ Bale. EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https:/...

Bairstow’s the big rare alpha salad dog, Anderson’s calf, drop-in wickets and the AFL death star, Adam Collins talks Women’s Ashes, then #AskTGC delves into ironic cricket, handling a young alpha, handling a wife alpha, and the questionable importance of pins.   This week's show is brought to you by MJ Bale. EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketer See omnystudio.com/lis...

England comfortably beat India at Edgbaston to keep their World Cup hopes alive. The 31 run victory meaning that victory against New Zealand will guarantee a semi final place, so we celebrate Kiwi culture. We also talk about the importance of MS Dohni's red ink in the run chase and how legacy building is what Obama did. Sort of. George Bailey is on the phone from Tasmania to ask what the score is...

Pakistan beat Afghanistan in a thriller, as Gulbadin double pythons his way into cricket shithousery. Australia win again, beating their friends across the ditch at Lord's. Australia may never lose again but what does it all mean? Will Macpherson joins from the same pub in Kennington to talk England, Bairstow, TV deals and Edgbaston as we look forward to the biggest game of the World Cup so far, E...

Pakistan, Aladdin and shades of 1992, Atherton calls for England courage, the rise of Australian sporting exceptionalism, an interview with Kurtis Patterson, then #AskTGC covers whether or not Johnny Bairstow is James Harden, keeping lower graders in their lane, and an older brother with poor literacy skills. EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketer See omnystudio.com/li...