The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Binksy and Stu look back at the Australia v Pakistan Test series, as well as the Black Caps white ball squad to face Pakistan with one eye on the T20 World Cup later in the year. David Warner's long farewell to Test cricket came to a conclusion with at least some parts of the fairytale playing out as scripted at the SCG, but what now? Baldy's fired up about the...

In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu get together for an unscheduled review of the South Africa v India Test series, which featured five days of fascinating cricket despite the short finishes and the 1-1 scoreline. Ball dominated bat throughout the two Tests, and pitches have stolen the limelight after the series ended with India winning the shortest Test of all time, but we also saw hundred...

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all enjoyed some rest at the end of 2023 and are now looking ahead to what 2024 might bring. From a cricketing point of view, the calendar looks very full with plenty of intriguing series and tournaments to look forward to. In this episode of the show, we discuss the series, players and tournaments we're most excited about in 2024, including: The Black Caps' home...

Happy Holidays! It is the festive season - a time to reflect on the year gone by, so we did exactly that in this review of the 2023 calendar year. We discussed our highlights, such as: Australia's world title success for both the men's and women's sides The men's ODI World Cup as a whole The double Ashes Controversies involving Angelo Mathews, Alex Carey and the Long Room Along with some individua...

The IPL doesn't start until the end of March, but the news cycle has already begun with huge trades and big paydays for some at the 2024 mini auction. In this episode of the show, we take a look at the auction night activity of all 10 teams, including: Record-breaking fees for Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Sunrisers loading up on overseas players, adding Hasaranga and Travis Head to Cummins and...

In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu look back at the week that was, including the Black Caps' Test victory against Bangladesh, the build up to the Australia v Pakistan series, England Cricket news and other bits and pieces that caught our attention. We start by discussing Glenn Phillips and his heroics at Mirpur, which saw New Zealand pick up their first points of this World Test Ch...

In this episode of the show, Raj, Stu and Binksy discuss Bangladesh's win in the first Test against the Black Caps, the India v Australia T20 series, the first West Indies v England ODI, Mitchell Johnson's war of words, a rough week for the White Ferns, Rahul Dravid's extension and even a little bit of Ford Trophy news as we look back at the week that was. The first half of the show is focused on...

The World Cup is over but the cricket rolls on and we're back to review the week that was and look forward to what's to come. In this episode of the show, we discuss the India v Australia T20 series, in which we've seen Steve Smith at the top of the order, Rinku Singh making a big impact from a small number of deliveries and the talent of Yashasvi Jaiswal on full display. The IPL is fast becoming...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is over, with Australia securing their sixth title, beating a fantastic Indian side in the final. In this episode of the show, we bounce around a range of topics to review the tournament as a whole, including: Was this Australia's most unexpected white-ball title? How will this win change Pat Cummins' legacy? What does the future hold in white-ball cricket for...

After 45 pool games and two semi-finals, the Big Dance is finally here: Australia, India, Ahmedabad, 130,000 people in the crowd and more than a billion watching from afar. In this episode of the show, Baldy, Raj and Stu look review the final, discussing the key players and moments. We talk the toss, the powerplays, Pat Cummins as a bowler and a captain, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Travis Head's ca...

After 45 pool games and two semi-finals, the Big Dance is finally here: Australia, India, Ahmedabad, 130,000 people in the crowd and more than a billion watching from afar. In this episode of the show, Baldy, Binksy and Stu look ahead to the final, discussing the key players and match ups, each side's path through the tournament and predict how the game will be won. Rohit Sharma v Mitchell Starc a...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa. After a tournament filled with huge scores and sixes raining down from the sky, we were transported back to 1999 for a low-scoring thriller which saw Australia move into the fi...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the first semi-final, between India and the Black Caps. The hours before the game were filled with social media controversy about the pitch, but out in the middle it was a run-fest as India piled on nearly 400 at the Wankhede. From Ro...

After 39 days of pool play, the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 has reached the business end of the tournament, which means there was time for all of us to get together in-person to look ahead to the semi-finals. It was great fun to be back in the same room together, with plenty of laughs alongside reflections about the tournament as a whole and where these two big games will be won. How do you b...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the final match of the pool play, between India and the Netherlands. A flat wicket and a dominant Indian batting performance saw the final match of the pool play become a run-fest as first Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, then Virat Koh...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the Day 38 double header games between Australia v Bangladesh & England v Pakistan. In the early game, Bangladesh were sent in at Pune and reached 306-8, with contributions from young players Shanto, Tanzid and Hridoy, but in the end...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the Day 37 match between Afghanistan and South Africa. Both teams have now completed their group stage, and it's probably fair to say that both nations have exceeded their expectations thus far. South Africa were pretty clinical in th...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the Day 36 match between the Black Caps and Sri Lanka. With the threat of rain in the forecast, Stu was delighted when Kane Williamson won the toss and sent Sri Lanka in to bat. From there, things went pretty much to script for the Bl...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the Day 35 match between England and the Netherlands. To say the English campaign hasn't gone to plan is a bit of an understatement. And batting first at 192-6, many fans might have felt another disappointing result was on the way. En...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the Day 34 match between Australia and Afghanistan. Glenn Maxwell is remarkable! 201* out of a total of 293, taking Australia from 91-7 to an incredible win. Baldy and Stu break down the key moments, giving praise to Ibrahim Zadran an...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the Day 33 match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Charith Asalanka scored 100 for Sri Lanka as they posted 279 batting first, but that proved not enough as impressive contributions from Najmul Shanto and Shakib al Hasan saw Banglades...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the top of the table clash between India and South Africa. Two top sides, at Eden Gardens among a sea of blue shirts - this game had all the ingredients for an epic encounter. It didn't quite pan out that way, but for all the Indian f...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the Day 31 double-header, featuring the Black Caps v Pakistan and England v Australia. The boys are a bit flat this morning after a remarkable game of cricket in Bengaluru, which saw New Zealand score 401-6 off their 50 overs but lose...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the Day 30 match between Afghanistan and the Netherlands, which saw Afghanistan win their third consecutive game to keep their semi-final dreams alive. Baldy and Stu discuss the lack of close games throughout the tournament, unforced...

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is here, and the Top Order Podcast has you covered with regular game reviews and recaps. In this episode of the show, we discuss the Day 29 match between India and Sri Lanka. India have been in top form so far in this tournament, cementing themselves as title favourites. Could Sri Lanka do anything to halt the home side’s momentum? Or would we see a repeat of t...