The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In this episode of the show we speak with prolific author and journalist Ken Piesse about his life around the game and all the fascinating players he's had the opportunity to meet and work with along the way. Ken shares stories about cups of tea with Keith Miller, reminiscing with Bill Ponsford, writing a book with Max Walker and Neil Harvey's footwork, as well as Sir Don Bradman as we fire questi...

Holiday season events and work/life admin are making it tricky for us to get a full team together, but in this episode of the show Binksy, Baldy and Lippy take a look back at an entertaining week in the world of cricket. We start the show by discussing how England and Pakistan produced a Test match filled with drama and excitement on one of the most boring pitches of all time. There's a lot of pra...

This week on the show it's just Stu and Binksy as we look back at the white-ball series between New Zealand and India. There was plenty of rain, but some excellent performances from the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Tom Latham and Kane Williamson. We talk about crowds, Eden Park and make the case for not tinkering with ODI cricket, before moving swiftly past Australia's first innings runfest in Perth...

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 10 to 8 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). Now that we're at the business end of the list, we couldn't resist throwing a few extra minutes on the clock to discuss these legends of the game. Baldy reveals the algorithm's best fast bowler of all t...

This week on the show we look back at the T20 World Cup final at the MCG, which saw England add another white-ball trophy to their cabinet. Binksy takes us through the game-day experience, then we break down the key moments of the match, featuring Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi. In the second half of the episode, we bring India and New Zealand into the conv...

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Raj and Stu look back at an action-packed finish to the group stages of the T20 World Cup. The Dutch knocked South Africa out of the tournament, Pakistan snuck in the back door and now Stu is having nightmares about Inzamam-ul-Haq. Binksy's off to the World Cup final, so in the second half of the show we look ahead to discuss how the semi-finals will be won or...

We couldn't get the whole team together, but Michael and Stu couldn't resist the urge to jump on a call and rave about a magical innings from Glenn Phillips and another dominant performance from the Black Caps. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Usain Bolt, Michael Clarke, Virat Kohli - the conversation bounced around a bit, before we discussed upsets, excitement and semi-final permutations for a T20 World...

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup has been on fire this past week, with the amazing finishes from the group stages carrying across to the Super 12 phase. Finn Allen and Devon Conway set up a big win for the Black Caps, before Virat Kohli stole the show and broke Pakistan hearts in a game filled with magical moments and plenty of talking points. We discuss no balls, dead balls, good old-fashioned hidings...

In this episode of the show, we speak with Luke Wright, who has joined the Auckland Cricket coaching staff for 2022-23. Luke takes us through the move to Auckland and what he's noticed about the squad so far, before entertaining us with a walk down memory lane to look back at moments from his impressive career. We talk about young talent in the Auckland side, such as Adi Ashok, Simon Keene and Rya...

In the second episode of our 2022 journey around the New Zealand domestic provinces, we speak to Jeet Raval, fresh off leading the Northern Brave to a Super Smash title in 2021/22. Jeet and Stu discuss the ND preseason, look back at Jeet's time with the Black Caps and examine the NZ domestic scene as a platform for developing players for international level. And with the Plunket Shield set to begi...

In the first episode of our 2022 journey around the New Zealand domestic provinces, we speak to Dean Foxcroft, who returns to Otago after Covid left him stranded overseas for 28 months. Dean talks about the challenges of the past couple of years, gives us an update about what he's been up to during that time and details why he was so determined to return and push for higher honours here in Aotearo...

Explainers, questions, answers and predictions - it's World Cup time! In this episode of the show we look ahead to the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup, which starts on 16 October. We set the scene, then deep dive into the key questions facing the teams we each find most interesting, before rounding out the show with players to watch and our predictions for the semi-finals, final and tournament winner...

Recorded 28 September 2022 (before the Jasprit Bumrah injury news), in this episode of the show we stop at a number of destinations around the world as we look back at a week jam-packed with white-ball cricket. Australia may have found a solution to Aaron Finch's form slump - but will they find a spot for Cameron Green in their final T20 World Cup squad? Harry Brook is another young star on the ri...

In this episode of the show we start by discussing an English summer highlighted by the revival of the men's Test side under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. We talk tactics, bowling attacks, preparation and much more as we reflect on the turnaround of England's red-ball side. The remainder of the show has a strong New Zealand focus as we try to understand why the Black Caps simply can't seem to b...

In this episode of the show, we speak to bat maker and repairer Josh (JP) Gavan about all things bats. Josh's passion for cricket and bat-making shines during the chat as we discuss his introduction to the industry as a 16 year old, current trends, pernickety customers, working with players like Ellyse Perry and Chris Gayle, what to look for when you're buying a bat, and much more. Josh encouraged...

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 15 to 11 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). We've got four of the most rhythmical bowlers you could ever hope to see, plus a batter who won more Test matches than anyone in the history of the game. There's two Australians, a West Indian, an Engl...

On this episode of the show, we discuss the second England v South Africa Test, the confusing events of the BBL draft and the upcoming tours to India and Australia for NZ A and the Black Caps. England bounced back in a big way after their first Test loss of the home summer, demolishing South Africa in just three days. We talk about Dean Elgar's decision to bat first and play two spinners, the up-a...

On this episode of the show, we discuss the first Test between England and South Africa and the two Black Caps v West Indies white-ball series. Topics include: Are England bad again? Are South Africa favourites to make the World Test Championship final? Is it cruel to keep picking Zak Crawley? Future Tours Programme Changes for the 2nd Test? In the second half of the show, the focus shifts to the...

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 20 to 16 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). We've got three seamers with the epic combination of skill and pace, plus two batters who rarely played the flashiest innings on show but so often played the most important one. Do you agree with our a...

In this episode of the Top Order Podcast, the panel discuss the medal matches at the Commonwealth Games,. Lippy soaks up the bronze glow of the White Ferns' efforts, before Baldy navigates the choppy water to highlight Australia's gold, further enhancing their status as one of the all-time great teams in any sport. As we move to the men's game, we talk about what we've learned from the Black Caps'...

On this episode of the Top Order Podcast, the UK takes centre stage as we review the week that was. Baldy makes up for Binksy's absence with extra levels of enthusiasm, including an unscheduled chat about the England v South Africa series - mainly to delight in everything Jonny Bairstow. The panel then moves over to Scotland to discuss the recent performances of the Black Caps, which included a fi...

The Top Order crew are together in the same room again to look back at the week that was. We start by discussing the Black Caps v Ireland T20 series, which featured strong performances by a middle order featuring Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham and Michael Bracewell. But where do they all fit in to plans for the upcoming T20 and ODI World Cups? Ben Stokes has retired from ODI cricket...

In this episode, White Ferns captain Sophie Devine joins the show a few days out from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Sophie talks about the excitement in the squad for the Games experience, what new coach Ben Sawyer has brought to the group and her goals and expectations for the tournament. We also discuss NZC's new pay parity deal and how that will impact women's cricket in New Zealan...

This week on the show, Stu is joined by former NZ U19 captain Marc Ellison to discuss the Black Caps v Ireland ODI series and the general Irish cricket landscape. We look back at brilliant performances from Michael Bracewell and Harry Tector, missed opportunities for Ireland, the challenges the squad faces when competing with the more established international sides and the role Finn Allen could p...

This week on the show we're joined by Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University, Jamie Barker, to discuss England's remarkable fourth-innings chase against India and the dramatic change in attitude that has been on display since Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took charge. It's always fascinating to hear Jamie's views on a wide range of topics that have r...