The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 25 to 21 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). We've got a former prime minister, a knight, a game-changer, genuine pace and a star from way back when as we welcome entrants from England, Pakistan, South Africa, Australia and the West Indies. Do yo...

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 30 to 26 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). All five of this episode's inductees are members of the 10,000 run club, we've got grumpy leaders, unique stances and a few Top Order personal heroes as we welcome entrants from Australia, India, Pakis...

The Black Caps v England series is over and who could have predicted the past month of action? In this episode, Binksy, Baldy and Stu look back at the key moments and players. We discuss: Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes and the England turnaround NZ's selection decisions The Ajaz Patel dilemma Whether the Black Caps should have a glass half-full or half-empty view of the series Runs from Jonny Bairst...

Just the two of us this week after a couple of late scratchings, but Michael and Stu talk through the events of another fascinating Test match at Trent Bridge. Records tumbled, catches went down, there were runs galore and the game was perfectly poised until Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes took hold of the match with a five-over barrage of boundaries that the Black Caps couldn't recover from. We dis...

It's an unexpected bumper episode this week, with plenty of talking points from an action-packed Test match at Lord's between England and the Black Caps. We talkEd through the back-and-forth nature of the game, Joe Root's match-winning hundred, outstanding bowling displays, not-so-outstanding batting displays, whether spin will play a part in this series, Brendon McCullum's fingerprints, changes f...

The Top Order Podcast crew is a man down this week, with Raj out of action, but the remaining trio look back at a somewhat puzzling week for New Zealand cricket, plus an IPL final triumph for the Gujarat Titans. We start the show in India, discussing IPL 2022 as a whole and highlighting the impact of two of the tournament's biggest stars - Hardik Pandya and Jos Buttler. It's been a strange week ba...

This week on the show we focus mainly on New Zealand and England, as the excitement builds for the first Test at Lord's starting on 2 June. We talk about what we might have learned from the warm-up fixture against Sussex, which saw two days rained out and a solid hit out for most of the available squad. Is Michael Bracewell in serious contention to play a part in the upcoming series? And who will...

A busy week for the Top Order crew has meant this episode is a little delayed (recorded evening of Monday 16 May), but on the show we discuss: The sad news about Andrew Symonds Brendon McCullum's appointment as the England men's Test coach Kiwis winning the Fairbreak Invitational Black Caps' central contracts and what that might mean for upcoming tours and the T20 and ODI World Cups. And some news...

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 35 to 31 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). There's a thirst for runs, a dislike for batters and a bit of confusion as we welcome entrants from Australia, England and Sri Lanka. And for those of you looking for the YouTube link we reference in t...

This week on the show we discuss the Black Caps' Test squad for the upcoming UK tour, which landed with very little fanfare and a lot of familiar names. At first glance, the expected lineup for the first Test starting on 2 June picks itself, but should Matt Henry be in the conversation? Can they find room for Ajaz Patel? And will Trent Boult and Daryl Mitchell still be at the IPL? (Since we record...

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 40 to 36 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). Some very esteemed guests feature in this edition, including our first Lord and some of the more impressive Test batting averages you're likely to find as we welcome entrants from Australia, England, t...

This week on the show we look back at form reversals at the IPL, with the Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad and RCB on the slide, and CSK and Mumbai picking up wins. We discuss MS Dhoni picking the captaincy again at CSK, Devon Conway's triumphant return and the highlight the consistency shown by the two new franchises, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans. In the next part of the show we l...

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 45 to 41 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). With four current players to discuss, including three of the so-called Big Four and a spin scientist, time goes out the window as we debate which of these present stars has had the biggest impact on th...

This week on the show we take stock of IPL 2022 as the games tick past the halfway mark of the competition. We talk about the biggest surprises so far, try to figure out what's gone wrong for Mumbai and CSK, plus discuss the no-ball drama featuring Rishabh Pant and what that means for his long-term leadership outlook. There's also Dale Steyn's hair; Lippy singing a song; praise for Jos Buttler, KL...

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 50 to 46 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). As we move into the top 50 on our list, this group includes one of the all-time leading wicket-takers, a controversial figure (especially in New Zealand), two greats of West Indian batting and then one...

In this episode of the Men's Test Cricket Hall of Fame, we continue our countdown by discussing players 55 to 51 (scroll to the bottom of the description if you can't wait to find out who they are). As we near the halfway point of our top 100, every player's list of achievements gets more and more impressive. There's wickets and runs galore in this group, as we visit South Africa, Pakistan, Englan...

The international cricket calendar is thinning out, but there's still plenty to talk about this week. The IPL leaderboard is starting to take shape - with powerhouse franchises CSK and Mumbai Indians languishing at the bottom of the ladder. Ravi Ashwin is in the news again for deciding he'd had enough of batting for the night, but his Rajasthan Royals are looking like an impressive outfit - despit...

We start the show this week raving about Australia's World Cup win - one of the most dominant all-tournament displays that we've ever seen. Both Alyssa Healy and Rachel Haynes broke the record for most runs in a World Cup, and the professionalism of the entire Australian squad shone through in a tournament that has been a great advertisement for the game. As we start travelling the world, we speak...

After a pair of back-to-back draws, both the Pakistan v Australia and West Indies v England series burst into life in the deciders. We look back at the two series as a whole to discuss the key performers and talking points. Is Nathan Lyon the GOAT again? Have Pakistan found their opening partnership for the next 10 years? How did Pat Cummins find success when every other bowler struggled? Is Kyle...

The IPL is about to dominate the world cricket calendar in April and May, but before it does we take a look at the many series and tournaments going on across the globe. We start in New Zealand with the Black Caps taking on the Netherlands, and discuss impressive performances from Will Young and Michael Rippon in the first ODI. At the IPL, it looks like it might be a tough season for Kane Williams...

Three episodes in three days! This time recording remotely, so if you listen carefully you'll hear the added bonus of a cricket in Stu's garage. So much cricket going on right now and in this episode we cover the brilliant fightback from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Pakistan in the second Test against Australia, plus a few talking points from the series as a whole while the third match plays ou...

*Note this is Part 2 of our IPL 2022 Preview - we recommend you listen to Part 1 first, but up to you if you're only keen to hear info about your team! It's that time of the year once again - this time with 10 teams and 2 months of IPL action set to dominate our screens. After a tournament explainer from Baldy, we put the timer on the clock for each side - starting with the defending champion Chen...

It's that time of the year once again - this time with 10 teams and 2 months of IPL action set to dominate our screens. After a tournament explainer from Baldy, we put the timer on the clock for each side - starting with the defending champion Chennai Super Kings all the way through to the Kane Williamson-led Sunrisers Hyderabad. Will Devon Conway win the orange cap? Can the Mumbai Indians overcom...

Have the Black Caps and the IPL disrespected Ross Taylor and the Netherlands? Did England disrespect the West Indies? And did Baldy disrespect Nathan Lyon? We cover all this and much more as we look back at another busy week on the cricket calendar. There's reward for Michael Bracewell and Dane Cleaver in the Black Caps squad, but no George Worker despite his stellar season for the Aces. We've got...

It's been a very sad week in the cricket world, with the passing of both Rod Marsh and Shane Warne, but on the field it's been very busy. We start the show by discussing the last-over drama and excitement of the Women's World Cup so far. Deandra Dottin said 'give me the ball', Nat Sciver almost carried England to a record chase and the White Ferns overcame the weather and Bangladesh to pick up the...