The Guerilla Cricket Podcast

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear!   England collapsed and lost the deciding Test to Pakistan in two and a half days. On the upside, your Episcopal Barman got a Sunday lie in he hadn’t been expecting, but that is really not a consolation for the meekness of the England collapse.   Pakistan looked across the border to India and said “forget our illustrious tradition of demon reverse swing. Wasim and Waqar - Who were they? Rawalpindi Express? Only the slow train for us now. Used wickets, rakes, big fans and most importantly a highly quality left arm and right arm spin duo is the way to go”. No English man had an answer to Noman. The sparkly eyes and twirly pantomime villain tache, not to mention camp celebrations of Sajid Khan bamboozled and battered shoddy English batting defences.   So much to unpick and our guest in the Bishop and Bear to help us do just that is young Billy Stevens. After your highly responsible Landlord had demanded to see proof of age of course. He may not have known that Billy Whizz was a famous Beano character, but with a Guinness in hand, the lad knows his cricket!   There’s more too. We celebrate the magnificent Kiwis in India with Santna Baby hurrying down the chimney three months early to leave a present of India’s first home series defeat since 2012. Guess who NZ play next in Tests. Yup, England!   Finally, as we switch from red ball to white, we chew over whether it will be a Caribbean Holiday or Death in Paradise of England’s experimental side.   Grab yourselves a rum punch and settle in to join us. We love having your company. By the way, if you want to help us keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There are loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The warmest of welcomes back to the Bishop and Bear.   We’re delighted to get back together with you in the very short window of time allowed between the 1st and 2nd Multan Tests. And after records tumbled in the first, we now have all sorts of pitch shenanigans to discuss as it looks as though the 2nd Test will now be on the same pitch! And quelle surprise, on an old track being sundried and fan blown as we speak, Pakistan are packing their team full of spinners (mainly left arm and leg).   Our guest to review the first Test and look ahead with a sharply critical eye is our very own Tooting Trumpet and Mersey Mouth, Gary Naylor. Don’t expect one word answers, but do expect some cracking insights.   For good measure, we also find time to ask whether Australia can be beaten in the Women’s World T20, nod in passing to India’s humungous thumping of Bangladesh and even chew briefly on the gristle of packed cricket schedules.   Grab yourselves a drink and settle in to join us. We love having your company. By the way, if you want to help us keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There are loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Hector and Henry’s World of Cricket!   It is great to have you join us, and with the cricketing summer a thing of the past, it is vital that we can get our cricket fix from somewhere.    Now of course, every England fixture, we are treated (either via our TV channels or even better, in the flesh), to the dulcet tones of the Barmy Army. Widely renowned as one of the most creative, loosest fan networks out there, the Barmy Army have sent shivers down many an Australians spine.   Have you ever wondered how such an operation works? Whilst the group's main purpose is to incite crowds to get behind our national heroes, there is also a large amount of charity work, travel planning, and essentially business-running going on behind the scenes. We thought that it would be interesting for the listeners to get the inside scoop as to how such a successful organization is run.     Who better to talk to than the die-hard fan, Rob Lewis, aka Randy Caddick. The man who stole our hearts way back in 2021, stood atop the fort of Galle to watch our team play in such desperate circumstances, belting Jerusalem out as Rooty made lightwork of tricky conditions.  In this episode, we talk to Rob about his time in the Barmy Army (since recruitment in 2021), his future plans to get stuck in during the Ashes next year, as well as all the rogue news that recently has appeared in the world of cricket. And of course, his views on the slightly underwhelming English summer...   We hope you enjoy this episode and please get involved in the donations section to keep us up and running!  Thanks again for listening!   H and H  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The warmest of welcomes back to the Bishop and Bear.   The English cricket summer is finally done, so late that Santa’s reindeer are already in pre-Christmas training. But if you think that means a short break for Guerilla Cricket, oh no, think again. England start a Test Series in Pakistan in just a few days’ time.    To look back with the Bear and I to the summer gone and forward to that Pakistan series, our guest is comedian, BBC voice of Pakistan cricket, winner of the Live Stand Up Comedy Award at the 8th annual UK Enterprise Awards 2024, but most importantly a Guerilla Cricket alumni – Aatif Nawaz.   Not only do we reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly from the summer (Lords ticket prices for a start), we also find out what it’s like to get a lift off Jimmy Anderson, what car he has and indeed how many of them. And if you have some questions about ECB policies and decisions, just wait until we light Aatif’s blue touchpaper about the PCB. Safe to say, we well and truly poked that particular sleeping bear. Not our Bear of course, Heaven forfend!   We all seemed to agree that none of us expected much from the late, late Australia white ball show, but actually really enjoyed it and we even find time to reflect on Cricket’s Manchester City, aka Surrey and their Oval Invincible alter egos winning again. And poor old Somerset not winning. Three times.   And if you want to know why David Gower’s invitation for Aatif to go swimming in Pakistan turned out to be an empty promise, then you will find that answer here too.   It’s a lot of fun, so grab yourselves a drink and settle in to join us. We love having your company. By the way, if you want to help us keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There are loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.       Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear, cricket’s finest virtual pub.   An absolute smorgasbord of discussion topics this week, so your ursine landlord and episcopal barman needed to find someone of weight and forthright opinion to help navigate through them. And we did find one too. Who else, of course, but our own Hendo.   Delicately sipping a coffee liqueur or two , Hendo gets fully stuck in with us to cover all of the following and more besides:   ·     The Sri Lanka series to date ·     A disappointing Sunday crowd for a great day of Test Cricket and what’s to be done? ·     The Lords Man of the Match Award ·     Breaking news about that award winner – Gus Atkinson ·     A look forward to the Oval Sri Lanka Test ·     The September return of the Kookaburra ·     Farhan Ahmed, WG Grace and Abraham Lincoln (and does the Bear know the connection between them?) ·     BMac as supreme ruler across formats and the impending Aussie white ball series ·     Bangladesh making history in Pakistan     Do grab yourselves a drink and settle in to join us for the chat. We love having your company.   By the way, if you want to help us keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There are loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the very first episode of Hector and Henry’s World of Cricket.   Your hosts, Hector and Henry, are avid badgers of the game, with very different cricketing careers. Henry is looking to go the distance, playing for the Derbyshire academy, and travelling out to Adelaide to play for the Darren Lehman academy, whilst Hector spent the summer gradually being dropped down the order from opener to number 8! Like with all fans, we are unified in our love of the game.   Together, Hector and Henry (that’s us – think Bishop and Bear, but much younger and better looking, probably), will interview a range of exciting guests, from current players, to content creators, to provide you with a short engaging discussions.   Episodes will be released every fortnight, and we are keen for this show to be refreshingly different – so please feel free to send in any suggestions/questions for us to ask our guests to guerillacricket@gmail.com   To kick off this series, we have a great guest, as we were lucky enough to speak to recent back to back Hundred champion – a vital part of the Oval Invincibles team, and potential future England superstar, Nathan Sowter.   We chat about his time in the Hundred, his views on the future of Test Match Cricket and County cricket, what it’s like bowling to Kieron Pollard, and much more!   Thank you so much for listening, we really hope you enjoy it and bear with us as it is our first try!   By the way, if you want to help Guerilla Cricket keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There are loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.       Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear!   It’s always great to see you and even more so when a Test series is just around the corner. This one is against Sri Lanka. Perhaps not the force of old, but not to be underestimated either.   Also not to be underestimated are the two guests on the barstools of bravado. It’s our Sri Lankan Olegasegram double act. Bennett and Son - the works never done, at least not until they have given us the lowdown on this year’s Sri Lankan tourists.   The son is Dylan who explains how the times are a-changing for Sri Lankan domestic cricket and the truth behind B – Love Kandy. A Sri Lankan Cricket franchise apparently, not a chocolate aphrodisiac .   We start with England though and debate not just how they will fare without Ben Stokes, but also whether his three appearances, four runs and no wickets for the Northern Superchargers was worth the few extra bums on seats in the Hundred as far as the ECB is concerned. Probably not, but we doubt they’ll admit that.   From there, it’s a thorough review of the old, new and returning Sri Lankan squad, who have just beaten India in a One Day series don’t forget! They will have a very familiar name as batting coach for this series. None other than our old favourite Ian Bell…Bell….Bell….Bell.   Finally, we circle back to the Hundred again. Mainly to assess Jimmy Anderson’s desire to play in it and other franchise tournaments. To us that seems a bit like asking Michelangelo to don his overalls and slap a lick of paint over cracks in the Bishop and Bear walls. But Jimmy has earned the right to do whatever he wants.   By the way, if you want to help us keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There are loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bon retour au L'évêque et l'ours. Or, if this is your first visit, a very warm welcome to the Bishop and Bear.   Sorry, but that’s as much French as we are going to get despite our landlord having just returned sun bronzed from the south of France.   It’s a bon retour aussi (sorry a bit more French slipped in there) to our special guest, St Annie of Exeter. The wonderful Annie Chave of course, who was very quick to get in the French spirit with several large glasses of our highly quaffable Côtes du Rhône.   Hopefully you find us in up-beat, but also reflective mood as we chew over things from the wonderful world of cricket. We start by paying our tribute on the tragic passing of Graham Thorpe, taken too young, but a man who we and indeed all England fans, remember with great fondness.   From there we look back to Jimmy’s final Test farewell, seeing it as reflective of an era’s end, not just a magnificent career. We celebrate some great cricket (and decent crowds) in the One Day Cup, consider the implications of the Hundred sale with Hampshire seemingly leading the way, consider the implications of England’s new selections for the Sri Lanka series and finally, for good measure, assess who might fill the shoes of the departing Mathew Mott.   By the way, if you want to help us keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There are loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Great to have you back with us in the Bishop and Bear.   It’s raining outside our pub window which can only mean one thing. There’s an England Test Match starting next week AT LORDS against the West Indies in Jimmy’s farewell. We will look forward to that and also briefly back at the World T20.   BUT first you may know that the first time the West Indies won a Test in England was at Lords in 1950. A thumping 326 run victory inspired not just by Ramadhin and Valentine, BUT also by a 2nd innings 168* from Clyde Walcott.   Our special guest today on the Barstool of Bravado is author Peter Mason, whose book “Clyde Walcott – Statesman of West Indies Cricket” is released in September. It’s an essential biography of a cricketing great exploring his achievements as a player, manager and political activist. Peter's book gives us a timely reminder of the huge impact that Clyde Walcott had both on and off the field. It is also a fascinating exploration of how theWest Indies came to dominate the game for so long at the end of the twentieth century. You can preorder the book at most good bookstores and there is a link below to point you in the right direction.   It’s the start of a West Indies series, so no surprise that our other guest is the ever-eloquent David Brook. Together with Peter, we look back to the World T20 and more importantly forward to the England Vs West Indies series and Jimmy Anderson’s Lords farewell.   You can pre order your copy of book “Clyde Walcott – Statesman of West Indies Cricket” at most good bookshops, including here.   By the way, if you want to help us keep our show on the road and great cricket coverage free across the internet, then do please consider supporting us through Patreon here. There’s loads of great benefits as well as our undying gratitude of course.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A huge welcome back to the Bishop and Bear.   “As strange as it sounds, what I want to be doing right now is playing cricket. Sweating and getting tired at training sessions, the ball hitting my legs and body. But I have a sniper’s rifle in my hands instead of a bat and a grenade instead of a ball”.   Those are the words of Ukraniain cricketer and now soldier defending his homeland from Russian invasion, Sasha Romanenko. His story, and others like him, is brilliantly told in the book “Getting Out – The Ukrainian Cricket Team’s Last Stand on the Front Lines of War”.   It’s author, Jonathan Campion is our guest in the Bishop and Bear today to discuss not just of how Ukraine’s cricketers helped the people around them to escape from Russia’s invasion (including first – hand accounts of the war), but also about the growth of cricket in the Ukraine to the cusp of ICC membership before Putin’s aggression.   Personal, harrowing yet heartwarming, your ursine landlord and episcopal barman strongly recommend it. You can find a link on where to buy it below.   Of course, we also take the opportunity to chat with Jonathan about the World T20, now at the Super 8 stage and we look at the two groups and ask “Can anyone stop another Australia vs India final”? Yes, is the answer, so listen in to see who we favour.   You can buy ‘Getting Out – the Ukranian Cricket Team’s Last Stand on the Front Lines of War’ at all reputable book stores, but here is one of them.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A huge welcome back to the Bishop and Bear.   Having just staggered across the finishing line of the IPL marathon, don’t think for a second we have time to put our feet up in the Old B and B. Oh no! The WT20 looms. All 20 teams, 4 groups, 2 countries, nine venues and specially grown and flown drop in pitches of it.   So much to talk about with our special guest Gargi Raut, presenter, broadcaster and writer with Revsportz in India. Gargi and your episcopal barman have worked together before, so it was high time she had an invite into cricket’s favourite virtual pub! Is a lively chat too.   We dissect the IPL and agree, to put it nicely, that this year was far from its finest showing. Certainly, the final wasn’t. We conclude that six, six, six truly is the number of the beast as most bowlers were reduced to mere cannon fodder. Jason Holder has had some interesting things to say about that and we tend to agree with him.    Should they stay or should they go? We also discuss whether English players should have been hauled home or whether staying in India would have been better World Cup prep. Michael Vaughan thinks they should have stayed. But hey, that’s Michael Vaughan.     With Gargi’s insight, we also dive into the cult of personality and the intrusions on player privacy that cricketing celebrity in India entails. It is, we all tend to think, bonkers.   Finally, or course, we look ahead to the World Cup and ask whether India can finally bring home an ICC Trophy again or whether a cheeky punt on Uganda at 1,500/1 might be worthwhile (probably not, but it’s up to you of course).     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear.   If you fancy a cracking night out, plenty to eat and drink, plus the chance to play some cricket and even face some of the world’s best bowlers, there is a bar you can go to. It’s called Sixes. If you are in the UK, you probably already know it. If you are in the USA, you soon will as they are have already opened in Dallas and will be opening more there too.   At Guerilla Cricket, the social side of cricket is central to what we do. It’s the philosophy of our guest today too. Andy Waugh is the co - founder of Sixes Social Cricket and shares with us the story of Sixes, and tells us about some of their backers and fans which include the likes of Yuvraj Singh, KL Rahul, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and others. How did a Scotsman who never played cricket, end up creating a chain of social cricket experience bars? You are in the right place to find out.   Andy seemed to feel straight at home in the Bishop and Bear and the conversation quickly turned to how social cricket and Sixes is a perfect opportunity to help people find their way to the game. Our thoughts also turn of course to the World T20 and the run fuelled IPL amongst other things.   It’s a lively chat, so do have a listen and let us know what you think. And, if you haven’t tried Sixes yet. Get down to one and give it a go. We are planning a Guerilla night in one very soon.   Do enjoy the chat and see you again soon in the Bishop and Bear.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear and today we have a real treat.   Many cricket supporters will have recently heard a resounding thud on their door mat (or more likely a tiny tap on the door followed by the rapidly retreating footsteps of an Amazon delivery driver) – because last week saw the launch of the 161st edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack!   Quite a year it’s been for cricket on and off the field and in its 1,552 pages The Wisden Cricketers Almanack captures and comments on much of it. Our own Gary Naylor has contributed 0.097% of those pages. How on earth, did they get him to be so brief?   We think it’s editor, Lawrence Booth, deserves a very large drink. And as luck would have it, he’s in our pub today.   If you thought the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack was just a coffee table thud book for cricket tragics (which ok, we know we are), you would be wrong. This year it puts forward some very forthright views on everything from the distribution of wealth in the game, equality and diversity and the spirit of cricket, as well as some great pieces by the likes of Mike Brearley (on the psychology of BazBall), a celebration of Stewart Broad and the impact of January 28th (Super Sunday). Plus of course, the Wisden cricketers of the year and so much more too.   It's a rich read indeed. And hopefully a great listen too as we chat to Lawrence.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman   PS you can buy the 161st Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack at all good bookstores as they say. But of course, this is one of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear.   Most guests in this pub would probably agree that they want cricket to grow and be healthy. They want it to be more diverse, inclusive and attractive to new younger fans. They also, want to watch national teams to play entertaining winning Test cricket and be successful in other formats too. For many of us, that is England. But by no means exclusively. Those of us that follow English counties want them to entertain us a play great cricket and, ideally, win things.   And yet, in a theme we constantly return to in the B and B, for English cricket, the lure of money and the proliferation of franchises sets traditionalists against modernists, romantics against pragmatists. Even your ursine Landlord and episcopal barman, feel a little, well dirty, frankly as we cover the IPL.   Our guest today on the Barstool of Bravado, is Ben Bloom, who spent last summer travelling the country speaking to more than 100 of the game’s most important figures for his book – Batting for Time: The Fight to Keep English Cricket Alive. The concern and discontent he uncovered from all quarters was palpable and left him concluding that English cricket is in crisis.   It gets brilliantly under the skin of English cricket, giving a fair voice to those who represent all sides of the argument, including many of those we know as friends, not least Annie of course.   It’s a great chat with Ben, so do have a listen. And we can thoroughly recommend the book, available, as they say, from all good booksellers, including here.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the warm embrace (and warm beer) of the Bishop and Bear.   The chat this week is very much focused on the IPL as this year’s marathon begins. Who are the runners and riders? Where is the smart money going? Who are the stars and who is missing for each team? What makes the new smart replays smarter than the average replays? Why do Sunrisers Hyderabad get battered everywhere? Is their website still a UX disaster? (Don’t bother looking - it is I can assure you). Who is Jake Fraser McGurk and what happened to the monkey that bit him?   To answer these and so many other questions, we have our own ‘Oracle of the Odds’ and IPL aficionado Andy Ward. Andy is going to be steering our weekly IPL coverage and he seems to be limbering up in fine form, albeit with a Guinness Zero.   We even make time to debate the morals of Australia’s Afghan withdrawal and ponder why no one is mad about the Roy.   Here is our very loose running order:   ·     IPL 2024 -      What’s new for 2024? o  Bouncers o  Smart replays -      Guerilla Tips – where is our money for this year?   ·     Australia pull out of Afghanistan Mens T20 – A fair stance or looking for an excuse?   ·     Why is no one mad about the Roy?   ·     A decent start for England’s Women vs NZ despite missing some WPL starts   ·     Our IPL Coverage – what to expect     Thanks, as ever for your company. Do let us know what you think and join us for our weekly show.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A warm welcome once more to the Bishop and Bear.   A fabulous if ultimately unsuccessful Test series for England is behind us, but there is plenty to reflect upon. The IPL stretches out before us. No less than 66 days of, well pretty much the same as last year, but it will be fun.   As we look back to that enthralling Test series in India, we have two guests propping up our bar to cogitate on that and much more besides. Anindya has been busy penning his thoughts on whether or not India saw the death of Bazball as a strategy. If you haven’t read “Death of a Strategy? The Curious Case of 'Bazball' in India” then we can heartily recommend it. You can find it here.   We also welcome the late Sagir Parkar. Not “late as in in the late Dentarthurdent”, but apparently detained on his way to the pub by a traffic accident. He picks up the pace of conversation like a pro though.   It’s a lively chat I can assure you we answer many questions as we go including:   ·     Was Baz ball battered? ·     England’s dilemmas o  One attitude – flexible approach? o  Making way for Brook? o  Duckett’ technique (and his dog)? o  Leach – should he stay or should he go? ·     Will the Jazz Whale stay in tune wherever he plays? ·     Jimmy 700 – For a fast bowler a record that will never be beaten? ·     New Zealand against Australia – Is it a mental thing? ·     Fire up the clown car – who wants tickets to the IPL circus?     Whether you agree with any of the answers is of course, entirely up to you, but do get in touch and let us know.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sæll og velkominn til Biskups og Björn   I’m not sure you can ever fully trust Google Translate, but that should be Icelandic for “Hello and welcome to the Bishop and Bear”. If you happen to speak fluent Icelandic and it accidentally says something else, I can only apologise. Blame the landlord not the barman.   There is a reason we have gone full Icelandic though. Our guest on the Barstool of Bravado this week is Kit Harris. Not only assistant editor of Wisden but also author the extraordinary “From Lords to the Fjords – The Saga of Icelandic Cricket”.   From Lord’s to the Fjords is the uproarious tale of cricket in Iceland: how the national press believed a stag party from Oxford were the official England team, how Sky Sports accidentally sent a crew to televise an Icelandic Cricket Cup final that didn’t exist, how the lead singer of Iron Maiden flew a passenger jet into a match under the midnight sun, how Henry Blofeld umpired in a blizzard on top of an ice cap, how the Iceland team was sold to the world’s public and became a viral Twitter sensation (incurring the wrath of Jofra Archer), how an Icelandic ‘mystery spinner’ signed for an Indian Premier League team, how the Iceland team fulfilled their dreams by playing their first international match – and how historical evidence proves that the Vikings were absolutely, definitely playing cricket in the tenth century.   It's a fantastic read so we’ve included a below where you can avail yourself of it.   Don’t worry there’s plenty of other cricket chat too as we cast an eye over events in India, discuss how to engineer more playing time for young spin bowlers, lament the frustrations that seem to surround Ollie Robinson and even look ahead to what’s coming up in The Wisden 2024 Almanac published in April. Here’s that link we promised for “From Lords to the Fjords”.       Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear – the internet’s favourite virtual cricket pub (probably).   Well, it was a right old battering for England in Rajkot. The young Jazz Whale played all the right notes in exactly the right order and there were way too many bum notes from England against Bumrah and co. The Yorkshire middle order of Root and Bairstow looks under pressure and out of sorts. Can they battle their way back into some form in Ranchi? Ben Stokes thinks the pitch there looks “interesting very interesting” to appropriate the words of the great Barry Davies.   Our guest this week is the ever-erudite Forthy, who joins your ursine landlord and episcopal barman to ask and attempt to answer some of the questions vexing England’s management. If indeed they ever do get vexed, which at least to external eyes they seem not too. We also celebrate the power of Indian run scoring and dig a bit behind Jay Shah’s comments that Indian players shouldn’t prioritise the IPL over domestic cricket.   Here is a rough idea of the topics we chat and drink our way through:   Bazball out Bazzed in Rajkot What do we expect in Ranchi? Strong Yorkshire Strong England – what’s in the heads of Root and Bairstow? “BCCI says don’t prioritise IPL over domestic cricket” – sorry what??!! Umpires Call – is it the blind the leading the blind? (Sorry Joel!) Settle in, enjoy your drink and do please get in touch and let us know what you think. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once again, a very warm welcome to the Bishop and Bear. We’re enjoying a little bit of breathing space between the 2nd and 3rd India Tests and the England team are enjoying themselves too with golf and family time in Abu Dhabi. Not Rehan Ahmed though. The lad thinks golf is for old men and he’ll be catching up with a Turkish TV series about the Ottoman Empire instead. Our guest this week is no stranger to the bar in the old Bishop and Bear. She has a stool and pint glass with her name on it. It’s the one and only St Annie, county cricket natterer and matterer supreme. And there is so much to talk about, starting with the dismissal, or rather non-dismissal, that has had our Guerilla WhatsApp group in a lather of excessively verbose opinion. So here are the things we meander our way through with plenty of detours en route. ·     Neil Brand – out or not out? ·     Visakhapatnam Test o  20’s and 30s don’t win you Tests (Alastair Cook) o  Blowing the Jazz Whale’s trumpet o  Brilliant Bumrah o  Jimmy Jimmy o  Can Shoaib, Tom and Rehan learn fast enough to haul England back in front? o  Is Joe Root trying too hard to Bazz? o  Runs in Rajkot o  Changes for Third Test? ·     South Africa C getting what CSA deserve in New Zealand? ·     U19 World Cup – India and Aus into the final ·     County Cricket Matters – What’s coming up?   Settle in, enjoy your drink and do please get in touch and let us know what you think.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your Kicks in the Bishop and Bear 66! With due deference to Bobby Troupe who wrote Route 66 (and not a lot of people know that), perhaps not even Joe Root who wears 66 on the back of his shirt of course.   What a week for Test Cricket, culminating in its own Super Sunday. Two incredible Tests, two extraordinary results. Three heroes in the form of Shamar Joseph, Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley. The latter, we think, bears an uncanny resemblance to the great Hedly Verity. Google some pictures and see what you think.   It really was riches indeed for Test cricket fans and on our Barstools of Bravado, your ursine landlord and episcopal barman are joined by two passionate and knowledgeable guests. Aryan Surana, our resident Guerilla news hound and the irrepressible David Brook, represent India and the West Indies, but take a refreshingly non-partisan view of events.   Fortified with rum and coffee, we dive not just into the two matches, but more importantly perhaps, the statement they have made in the context of challenges faced by Test Cricket generally. And we answer important questions like “How far is it from Old Trafford to Hyderabad? Just what was did the Windies put in Shamar’s magic toe spray? And exactly how should we pronounce Visakhapatnam”?   For good measure, we tackle KP’s tweet asking for people’s opinions on the balance of T20’s and Tests, so grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear, brought to you this week in association with Nord VPN - working for a safer and better internet. Top rated by Cybernews, Nord VPN stands as the unrivalled leader in digital protection, offering exceptional speeds, impenetrable encryption, a no-log policy, cutting-edge features and an unparalleled commitment to privacy.   Our two Barstool of Bravado guests this week are the lads from The Cricket Podcast (and Guerillas of course) Jack and Max. Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman certainly have to be on our toes with T20 knowledge. There may be a suspicion of some hurried googling in the Ursine department.   We unpick the extraordinary double super over events from Bengaluru this week, the expanding and contracting Big Bash, plus cast a critical eye on the quality of some of the global T20 franchises.   For good measure, there is a passing tribute to the great Muddy Waters and we also learn that the Bear’s portly neighbour wears bamboo underpants. Don’t ask how he knows that, just listen to find out!   Here’s the full chat list: ·     Two Super Overs – Too good to be true? ·     Three times same result for Pakistan in New Zealand – two to go ·     Big Bash – less bash since it got bigger and then smaller again? ·     SA 20 – DSG make the early running. No great surprise looking at squads? ·     IL T20 starts 24th – is global talent pool being spread too thin across global franchises? ·     Adelaide Test – 3 Days is one more than expected? ·     Drinking TNT – We were always ready for that ·     Oh go on then – India vs England. Will England win a Test? Remember, you can grab your EXCLUSIVE GUERILLA CRICKET NordVPN deal by clicking here https://nordvpn.com/gcradio to get a huge discount off your NordVPN Plan plus 4 additional months for free! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! When prompted, remember to use the special discount code GCradio. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Bishop and Bear this week is brought to you in association with Nord VPN - working for a safer and better internet. Top rated VPN by Cybernews, Nord VPN stands as the unrivalled leader in digital protection, offering exceptional speeds, impenetrable encryption, a no-log policy, cutting-edge features and an unparalleled commitment to privacy. To be honest we are a bit confused as to which number Bishop and Bear this is. Looking back, we seem to have missed 62 completely, had 64 as our Christmas Special and then released 63. So, this is either 62 (delayed), or 65. “But frankly”, as Barry Davis once said about the errant German Hockey team’s defence, “Who cares?” What does matter is that we have a cracking guest in the old B&B this week. It’s Kiwi cricket writer, broadcaster and author, Andrew McLean. Although from Wellington, Andrew lives in Bali now, so your episcopal barman had selection of Araks, Jamus, Bintangs and Young Coconuts ready to pour. Settle yourself down with your own drink of choice and listen here as Andrew and your episcopal and ursine hosts get stuck into a meaty agenda including: That Cape Town Pitch – no surprise about the ‘unsatisfactory’ rating Chris Broad was match ref. Might a different ref have had a different opinion? Does New Zealand really produce the best wickets in the world? SA20 – its’ on Sky over here in the UK – will it prove worth it for CSA or does it just put another nail into Test Cricket? New Zealand starting WT20 year with a home series against Pakistan – On balance pretty well matched? West Indies in Aus – can the Windies pull off a miracle? Smith to open now Davie W has gone? Who might shine for the Windies? Remember, thanks to all kinds of nifty, cutting-edge technology, NordVPN keeps your devices malware free and your browsing safe from strangers’ eyes. How safe? It would take the world’s most powerful computer billions of years to unencrypt your data — that safe! Grab your EXCLUSIVE GUERILLA CRICKET NordVPN deal by clicking here https://nordvpn.com/gcradio to get a huge discount off your NordVPN Plan plus 4 additional months for free! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! When prompted, remember to use the special discount code GCradio. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bishop and Bear this week is brought to you in association with Nord VPN - working for a safer and better internet. A Very Happy New Year! We have a great chat for you to start 2024. Let’s face it, you might have a bit of time, especially if you had been planning to watch days 3, 4 and 5 of the Cape Town Test!   Special guests seated on our Barstools of Bravado are Shelley - Destroyer of Worlds and India’s biggest fan and critic, Anindya. Not surprisingly, we focus on the extraordinary Test in Cape Town – a conversation that last’s almost longer than the Test itself. Records tumbled and Harry Butt finally has some company as the only player ever to be dismissed twice on his very first Day of Test cricket.   Armed with drink of choice our intrepid duo, along with your ursine landlord and episcopal barman get stuck into a New Year feast of:   -      Dismissals and Dumps in Cape town -      Are South Africa really committed to Test cricket? -      Farewells to Elgar and Warner – same vintage very different players -      Pakistan doing Pakistan things in Sydney -      India haven’t lost a Test series at home since 2012/13 and in that time have won 36 Tests and lost only 3 at home - Will England need all of their 3 days prep?   Thanks to all kinds of nifty, cutting-edge technology, NordVPN keeps your devices malware free and your browsing safe from strangers’ eyes. How safe? It would take the world’s most powerful computer billions of years to unencrypt your data — that safe! Grab your EXCLUSIVE GUERILLA CRICKET NordVPN deal by clicking here https://nordvpn.com/gcradio to get a huge discount off your NordVPN Plan plus 4 additional months for free! It’s completely risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! When prompted, remember to use the special discount code GCradio. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Bishop and Bear at Christmas. The perfect time to look back at the year in cricket. Being the friendly sort of boozer that we are, a whole bunch of guests have popped in to toast the season with you and of course your ursine landlord and episcopal barman.   As the drink flowed, everyone was more than happy to share their highs and lows of the year and we had our own Guerilla style awards too. Heroes, Villains, Clowns, Top teams and Magic Moments (both on and off the field) were proposed and cogitated over. And a very broad selection we ended up with too, from Australia to Uganda and Josh Hull (who – listen and find out) to Glenn Maxwell.    Along the way, we dive in and out of all of the following.   ·     New Zealand series draw and the defeat that was a win for cricket ·     Diamonds on the soles of Joffra’s shoes in Kimberley ·     Bangladesh – The forgotten series ·     IP Hell 2 months, 74 matches and a Duckworth Lewis Final ·     Ireland’s 4 day Test (but they prioritised World Cup qualification – which went well) ·     Australia World Test Champions – and India practice being runners up ·     Moral Ashes – Broadway Broad and Dozy Jonny B ·     Women’s Ashes Draw and World T20 – but not great Tests for England Women against Aus or India (despite Tammy’s double ton) ·     New Zealand’s Never-Ending Tour ·     Surrey Champions again – are they the Manchester City of English Cricket? ·     World Cup Disaaaaster Darling (and Moody Modi) ·     Much Wobbling in the Windies   Do have a listen and most importantly, let us know who your choices would be for Hero; Villain; Clown; Team of the Year; On field moment and Off field moment.   Our very best to you and yours for a fabulous holiday season and new year. We will be back to welcome you into the internets favourite virtual cricket pub in the new year.   Cheers from Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome once more into warm embrace of the Bishop and Bear. If its hot cricket conversation and convivial company you are after, you are in the right place.   India are in South Africa, although Durban seemed a bit more like Durham or Dundee yesterday and the first T20I was rained off. But that does not deter our two guests from delving into the prospects for the series in all formats.   Representing World Cup runners up India is a man who doesn’t need a barstool as he travels everywhere with his own armchair, it is of course Ajit. And in the Proteas corner, simply oozing charm and cricket expertise, none other than Tim Dale Lace. Together with your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman drinks are drunk and thoughts are thunk across all of the following:   ·     South Africa and India all formats o  Can South Africa build on the promise of the World Cup? o  Can India travel better than they usually do? Did they bless the rains down in Africa?   ·     West Indies vs England – what have we learned from the ODIs? o  The Buttler/Mott axis isn’t working for ODIs? o  Can the T20s offer more hope? o  You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock – just a minute - no hesitation, repetition or deviation   ·     India Vs England Women – great start for England in T20’s. But will the Test be a different ball game? o  England spinners looking good – particularly Sophie Ecclestone   ·     England Test selections for India o  Shoab Bashir – Who? o  No Jacks or Dawson o  Foakes returns – he must keep surely o  Stokes as batsmen only – what is the right balance   ·     Mitchell Johnson vs David Warner o  Handbags at dawn or does Mitchell have a point? Grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat. Don’t forget, you can help us keep cricket free and global by becoming a Patreon, with loads of benefits by way of our thanks. If you can, do join us here.   And don’t forget to message us and let us know what you think. Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bloodied, battered and bruised after the World Cup, to quote Watford’s Life President Elton John, “we’re still standing” and delighted to welcome you back to the old B&B for some relaxing drinking and chatting. And who better to do that with, than our own David (Babbling) Brook? David joining your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman can only mean one thing. There’s a West Indies series on the horizon.   So that’s where we start and look at two sides testing out new and younger talent in the white ball arena. For what’s its worth, none of us think it’s going to be that easy for England even though there seems to be some unrest bubbling in the West Indies camp.    Here's our full conversational menu for your delight and delectation:   ·     West indies Preview – What’s the story with Bravo? And now Shane Dowrich too. Who might shine for England? ·     World Cup Wrap – Did India dig their own hole? ·     Cricket Writers Awards – A Brook on Brook appraisal ·     Ben Stokes and the Battle of Wounded Knee ·     India and Australia – still slugging it out – Why? ·     Shanto Panto in Sylhet – Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes, it is!     Grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat. Don’t forget, you can help us keep cricket free and global by becoming a Patreon, with loads of benefits by way of our thanks. If you can, do join us here.   And don’t forget to message us and let us know what you think.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Percy Fender Memorabilia Auction: Online now here: https://auctions.bhandl.co.uk/lots?term=percy%20fender&categoryCode=SME Live Auction to be held Dec 5th at 10am. Address details below At Guerilla Cricket, we are huge fans of Percy George Herbert Fender. He has a starring role in our theme tune after all.  Often presented as a divisive, comical, Bertie Wooster, monocle wearing figure (he never did wear one, but his wife did), he was in fact the polar opposite. Sharp, witty, principled, forward thinking, a master tactician and someone who fought for inclusivity and fairness. Perhaps he did more to reinvent cricket than any other person of his age. A renaissance man (he wrote musicals and books), and, it now turns out, was an impeccable archivist of his own life. This year Percy’s son Peter sadly died, but from that has emerged a treasure trove of papers, memorabilia and photos that Percy had assembled and Peter had lovingly kept. Much of it goes to auction on December 5th but before it does, we’ve had access and sight into the contents and with it an insight into Percy Fender’s world, including a remarkable series of never heard before recordings that Percy made in the 1960’s for his son Peter and for posterity. They chart his life, his career, most of it with Surrey, his feelings, and perhaps, most telling of all, his role in Bodyline, the 1932 Test series in which cricket went to war.   Amongst some amazing memorabilia in the auction is an extraordinary letter the Percy typed towards the end of his life where he tells “the truth about Bodyline”.  The auction takes place at 10.00 am on December 5th at  BHL St. Edmund's Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU. It will also be live here and select “Sporting equipment and memorabilia. Listen here as Tony Bishop is joined by Dan Norcross, Jon Surtees from Surrey and most importantly, Percy’s two grandsons, Guy and Nick as we learn more about the remarkable Percy and unearth his truth about Bodyline.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Percy Fender Memorabilia Auction: Online now here: https://auctions.bhandl.co.uk/lots?term=percy%20fender&categoryCode=SME Live Auction to be held Dec 5th at 10am. Address details below At Guerilla Cricket, we are huge fans of Percy George Herbert Fender. He has a starring role in our theme tune after all.  Often presented as a divisive, comical, Bertie Wooster, monocle wearing figure (he never did wear one, but his wife did), he was in fact the polar opposite. Sharp, witty, principled, forward thinking, a master tactician and someone who fought for inclusivity and fairness. Perhaps he did more to reinvent cricket than any other person of his age. A renaissance man (he wrote musicals and books), and, it now turns out, was an impeccable archivist of his own life. This year Percy’s son Peter sadly died, but from that has emerged a treasure trove of papers, memorabilia and photos that Percy had assembled and Peter had lovingly kept. Much of it goes to auction on December 5th but before it does, we’ve had access and sight into the contents and with it an insight into Percy Fender’s world, including a remarkable series of never heard before recordings that Percy made in the 1960’s for his son Peter and for posterity. They chart his life, his career, most of it with Surrey, his feelings, and perhaps, most telling of all, his role in Bodyline, the 1932 Test series in which cricket went to war.   Amongst some amazing memorabilia in the auction is an extraordinary letter the Percy typed towards the end of his life where he tells “the truth about Bodyline”. The auction takes place at 10.00 am on December 5th at  BHL St. Edmund's Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU. It will also be live here and select “Sporting equipment and memorabilia. Listen here as Tony Bishop is joined by Dan Norcross, Jon Surtees from Surrey and most importantly, Percy’s two grandsons, Guy and Nick as we learn more about the remarkable Percy and unearth his truth about Bodyline.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Percy Fender Memorabilia Auction: Online now here: https://auctions.bhandl.co.uk/lots?term=percy%20fender&categoryCode=SME Live Auction to be held Dec 5th at 10am. Address details below At Guerilla Cricket, we are huge fans of Percy George Herbert Fender. He has a starring role in our theme tune after all.  Often presented as a divisive, comical, Bertie Wooster, monocle wearing figure (he never did wear one, but his wife did), he was in fact the polar opposite. Sharp, witty, principled, forward thinking, a master tactician and someone who fought for inclusivity and fairness. Perhaps he did more to reinvent cricket than any other person of his age. A renaissance man (he wrote musicals and books), and, it now turns out, was an impeccable archivist of his own life. This year Percy’s son Peter sadly died, but from that has emerged a treasure trove of papers, memorabilia and photos that Percy had assembled and Peter had lovingly kept. Much of it goes to auction on December 5th but before it does, we’ve had access and sight into the contents and with it an insight into Percy Fender’s world, including a remarkable series of never heard before recordings that Percy made in the 1960’s for his son Peter and for posterity. They chart his life, his career, most of it with Surrey, his feelings, and perhaps, most telling of all, his role in Bodyline, the 1932 Test series in which cricket went to war.   Amongst some amazing memorabilia in the auction is an extraordinary letter the Percy typed towards the end of his life where he tells “the truth about Bodyline”. The auction takes place at 10.00 am on December 5th at  BHL St. Edmund's Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU. It will also be live here and select “Sporting equipment and memorabilia. In part one here, Tony Bishop is joined by Dan Norcross, Jon Surtees from Surrey and most importantly, Percy’s two grandsons, Guy and Nick  as we explore Percy’s early life, his flying career taking pot shots and zeppelins, his captaincy of Surrey and learn about a record that he still holds to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 48, The Final at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first, in doing so they were able to control the Indian top order, which kept losing wickets at the inopportune moments. Australia lost some early wicket, but thanks to a fabulous century from Travis Head Australia cruised home Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from 2nd semi final at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first, Australia bowled like the champions they are and only Heinrich Klassen and a David Miller century allowed them to claw themselves to 212. Australia went off like a train with Travis Head scoring a 40 ball 60. After that it all got a little hairy before the skipper Pat Cummins got them over the line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from the 1st Semi Final at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. India won the toss and elected to bat first putting on an impressive 397/4, centuries again for Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. New Zealand chased gamely for the best part of 40 overs before the weight of the job finally got to them. India progress to the final. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 45 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Indi won the toss and elected to bat first, the first 4 batsmen each got 50, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul going on to make hundreds in piling on a total of 410. The Netherlands were game but inevitably subsided to 250 in an entertaining game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 44 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. England won the toss and elected to bat first, a good opening partnership and Stokes getting a quick 80 odd got ENG to 337/9. Pakistan failed to keep up with the rate and lost wickets regularly. Bar some late order hitting and a 10th wicket stand of over 50 made it reapectable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 42 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first. In order to get to the semis they needed to score something over 400 and bowl SA out in about 5 overs for virtually no runs. Not the exact figures but it was along those lines, you get the drift. As it turns out they got a middling 244 and SA chased it down in 47 overs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 41 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first, what a great decision. Bar Kusal Perera's swashbuckling 51 SL fell to 70-5 inside the power play and never really recovered. A solid opening stand by Ravindra and Conway set NZ to chase it down in quick time to almost certainly nail on that semi final spot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 40 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. England won the toss and elected to bat first. Big runs fro David Alan and a century from Ben Stokes ensured an imposing total of 339/9 always looked too much for Netherlands and so it proved to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 39 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat. After a steady start and a ton for Ibrahim Zadran, some cool hitting from Rashid Khan at the end gave Afghanistan a good score of 291/5. Australia at one point were 91/7, then Maxwell happened in what was possibly the greatest ODI innings ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 38 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl, it was give and take the whole way. Assalanka scored a fabulous hundred and Shakib appealed for the first ever timed out in international cricket, Angelo Mathews was the victim, he wasn't happy which added some spice to the game. It wasn't enough though as Bangladesh got themselves over the line with time and wickets to spare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 37 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. India won the toss and elected to bat, A fast start by Rohit was completed with yet another ODI century for Virat Kohli as India pile on 326/5. South Africa with Quinton e Kock with four centuries of his own this tournament are not known for their chasing ability. Would that change today? Listen to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 36 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. England won the toss and elected to bowl first, getting the dangerous Travis Head and David Warner early allowed England to contain Australia to 286. Having lost early wickets themselves a belligerent Stokes and Moeen partnership kept England in the game but you'll have to listen to see how it ended. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 34 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Ntherlands won the toss and elected to bat and after a good start threw it away as there were four run outs all of their own making falling to a score of 179. This left Afghanistan with a relatively easy chase to put pressure on the teams above them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 33 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first, a defensive move. Getting Rohit second ball was good but it was downhill from there as India piled on 357. Could Sri Lanka chase it down or crash and burn. Listen to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 32 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl having just failed to chase 380 against AUS at the same venue a few days ago. That was a day game though and South Africa love piling on first innings runs. They did so again leaving NZ to chase down 358 to win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 31 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first, they lost their customary 3 wickets in the power play at the top of the order. From there it went downhill only posting a total of 204. Pakistan chased it down with ease Fakhar Zaman the pick of the batsmen on his reintroduction to the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 30 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl, they held Sri Lanka to a managable 240 by chipping wickets away constantly Fazalhaq Farooqi picking up 4 wickets and player of the match in the process. Losing Gurbaz in the first over wasn't going to deny them as they chased down Sri Lanka's score with 5 overs to spare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 29 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. England won the toss and elected to bowl first keeping India down to 229 with only Rohit putting on a score. At halfway England were probably favourites. Cue Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah to rip through an increasingly hapless looking England Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear   Excellent timing to invite Anindya Dutta into the old rub a dub this week. Who better to help us remember one of India’s great spin wizards Bishan Bedi, who sadly left us this last week. Anindya knew him well and shares here some of those memories.   After that, what else could we possibly talk about? It’s the World Cup of course and England’s feeble, some would say non-existent efforts to defend it. Or attack its defence as Jos Buttler no doubt thoroughly regrets having said by now. We dig into some of the reasons we think lie behind England’s alarming demise including, age, central contracts, selection, captaincy and well, just about everything! We also look ahead to the clash with Virat Kohli and ten other blokes on Sunday in Lucknow.   How will England approach that? Will the almost certain failure to reach the semis just free them up a bit. Or for England fans will it be hard hats on for another shellacking, all over and done my lunch time on Sunday, in time to head to the pub at least.   Grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat. Don’t forget, you can help us keep cricket free and global by becoming a patreon, with loads of benefits by way of our thanks. If you can, do join us here.   And don’t forget to message us and let us know what you think.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 28 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Netherlands won the toss and elected to bat first following the world trodden path of trying to put score board pressure on a team low on confidence. The skipper, Scott Edwards lead the way with a slow but timely 68, dragging his team to a score that maybe defensible. How would Bangladesh fair? Not too well is the answer, four quick wickets in the top order bought it's own chaos, Bangladesh flailing to a lowly 142 all out losing by 87 runs. The Netherlands earning second win at this World Cup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 26 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat knowing that South Africa's only defeat in this tournament has come from a failed chase and given the opportunity to bat first they have piled up big runs. This one went down to the wire, so listen to find out how it went. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast and on this episode we have highlights from Game 25 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. England won the toss and elected to bat first having made the mistake of bowling first against the South African's on Saturday. This didn't go too well either some woeful batting saw England collapse to a woeful score. Sri Lanka cruised after losing a couple of early wickets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 1 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first against The Netherlands looking to pile on the runs, put pressure on the the Dutch and give their NRR a healthy boost. Australia scored the runs Glenn Maxwell scoring the fastest hundred ever at a world cup, 40 balls. Could The Netherlands come close? Listen to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 23 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. South Africa won the toss, now bearing in mind it's hot and humid in Mumbai at this time of year what do you think they did? That's right they chose to bat! Quinton de Kock got the biggest total by any batter and Heinrich Klassen went booloo again to amass the third highest total of the tournament. They hold the top two too. As expected Bangladesh wilted at the mountain of runs with the exception of old hand Mahmudullah who scored a sparkling ton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 1 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat on another hot and humid day in India, however Afghanistan playing four spinners were able to gum up the middle overs. Only an enterprising 40 by Iftikar off 20 odd balls got them to a competitive score. Afghanistan came at them with intent in the second half and recorded only their third ever World Cup win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 1 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. India won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the battle of the unbeaten sides. Nw Zealand battled to a competitive total. Would it be another Kholi show? Listen to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 20 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. England won the toss and decided to field, it all went downhill from there. Thirty three degrees and seventy percent humidity and you decide to field for 50 overs. Are you mad? The mayhem that ensued is captured for all time in these highlights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 18 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl against Australia, David Warner made them pay after being dropped early scoring a daddy hundred along with Mitch Marsh, the rest gave it away in the hunt for quick runs at the end of the innings. Pakistan gamely chased an imposing target of 367 until falling in a heap at the end once the top order were finally removed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 17 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Bangladesh won the toss dreaming of a big score to put pressure on India, Liton Das and Tanzid Hasan set up a good base that the rest of the team couldn't capitalise on. India set off with their usual confidence leaving it to his Kohliness Virat to take the team home in style Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 16 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field. After tying them down with early wickets a patient partnership between Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham got NZ to a challenging total. Listen to see how Afghanistan did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 1 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. South Africa won the toss and elected to field. After a text book 30 overs it all went wrong, Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards got them to a respectable score after the rain shortened the match to 43 overs. What happened next will warm the cockles of Dur=tch cricket fans for the ages. A mixture of poor shot selection and tight bowling saw South Africa subside much like England did two days ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 1 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat, once again they raced away to a fine start before a mid innings collapse found them falling short of a competitive score. Australia looking nervous at first, not having topped 200 yet in the tournament, managed to get home with plenty of balls to spare despite the early loss of David Warner and Steve Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 13 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Jos Buttler won the toss and decided to stick AFG in, after a blistering start ENG managed pull them back to a score that was manageable. However this was not to be as the superstar that is Rashid Khan along with Mujeeb ur Rahman spun ENG into a pickle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 12 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. India won the toss and elected to field, after a very solid start by Pakistan it all went Pete Tong losing 8 wickets for 26 runs. Rohit then smashed them to all parts as India recorded a routine victory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 1 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first against a Bangladesh side looking for a first victory. Cramp for Shakib, halting his scoring and a 50 for Mushfiqur got Bangladesh to middling score. New Zealand once again closed out the victory with little fuss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 10 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Pat Cummins chose correctly at the toss and AUS decided to field, SA posted a competitive total after Quinton de Kock posted South Africa's fourth ton of the tournament. Australia then proceeded to collapse for a second game in a row, leaving their tournament hanging by a thread Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 9 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Afghanistan won the toss and much to our bemusement chose to bat. They were pegged back to 272 by a good Indian attack. This always looked light on a batting friendly track. Rohit lead the charge as captain with 131, Kohli having got to his 50 slammed the winning runs, India winning with 90 balls to spare Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 7 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field, England off to flyer and with a big Ton from David Malan and some good runs fro Root and Bairstow England posted a testing total. Bangladesh tried but Reece Tolpey back in the side took 3 quick wickets at the top to set up an easy victory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 6 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. The Netherlands won the toss and decided to field. Whilst at times they ere in the game and Ackerman got a 50 in the reply they subsided to an easy Kiwi victory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 5 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Australia won the toss and elected to bat to put pressure on the home side India in this battle of the heavyweights. Despite some resistance from old hands David Warner and Steve Smith AUS were poor, setting just 200 to win. Despite some early scares home favourite Virat Kohli along with KL Rahul steadied the ship and saw the home side through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 4 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first against South Africa who went on to have three centurions in Quinton de Kock, Rassie Va de Dussen and Aiden Markram in amassing a record ODI score in Delhi. Sri Lanka were plucky in response with some notable scores from Kusal Perrera and the skipper Dasun Shanaka but were always destined to fall short. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the The Guerilla Cricket Podcast World and on this episode we have highlights from Game 2 at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Netherlands won the toss and elected to bowl first against a Pakistan side who were missing several players through injury including Naseem Shah. Pakistan got their victory but not after getting themselves in a spot of bother with the bat relying on Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel to dig them out of trouble. The Netherlands subsiding with some plucky but pointless late hitting by Logan van Beek Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear. We are fast gearing up to cover the World Cup which all kicks off on Thursday with, of course, England vs New Zealand. A definite sense of déjà vu there, but we don’t think it will feel that way when they trot out at Ahmedabad. Unless it rains of course, but fingers crossed on that front even in Monsoon season.   For one of our guests on the barstools of bravado, all World Cup chat is a bit like the quiz show guest getting the old “lets see what you could have won” treatment. It’s Ireland’s Dave Sihra whose lads not only missed out, but also had to watch the rain fall for much of the recent series against England’s hopefuls.   Our other guest is the former coach of Hong Kong, but very much Sri Lankan, Bennett Olegasegram, who runs the rule over his lads and we end up thinking they have a punchers chance. Do tell us if you agree or not.   Loads to chat about and we plunge into and around all the below:   ·     England and Ireland wrap up. Did we learn anything? ·     Who are the travelling reserves now? (There is only 1) ·     What next for Ireland? ·     Sri Lanka o  How will they recover from the battering in the Asia Cup final? o  All wickets fell to pace – what was going on in Colombo? o  Chances in World Cup? ·     Conditions and Challenges in India ·     World Cup Predictions – our favourites, dark horses and tips for an upset here or there     Grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat. Don’t forget, you can help us keep cricket free and global by becoming a patreon, with loads of benefits by way of our thanks. If you can, do join us here.   And don’t forget to message us and let us know what you think.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello again and welcome back to The Bishop and Bear. Or, if it’s your first time, thanks for popping in and great to have you with us.   Two lively guests ensure some very lively cricket chat, so grab your drink and join us. Returning for his usual Negroni is the ever-eloquent Dan Norcross. Alongside him, getting happily on the outside of large G and T is none other than former New Zealand captain, scorer of 4,542 internationals runs , musician, teacher, author, stage lighting designer and of course commentator, Jeremey Coney.   Together with your ursine landlord and episcopal barman, we tackle central contracts, World Cup selection conundrums for New Zealand and England, Asia Cup selective rest days and plenty more besides. That last one certainly got us all fired up.   Don’t forget, if you haven’t yet got yourself some Ponting wine, our special offer will stay open just a little longer. You can get that 15% discount right here using the special gcashes2023 code.   There are many benefits to being a Guerilla Cricket Patreon, including exclusive priority access to content like the Bishop and Bear, our Smaximum newsletter, high quality merchandise and lots more besides. Do please consider helping us keep our show on the road and to keep cricket free and accessible to all. You can do that right here     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello again. Great to have you back in The Bishop and Bear. Or, if it’s your first time, a very warm welcome.   Joining us today on the Barstool of Bravado, is our very own David ‘Babbling’ Brook. A man who has been setting alight Division 6 of the Oxford and Cherwell Cricket league with his deceptively effective outswingers, he swings into action here to help us chew over all manner of cricket related matters.   And speaking of chewing, the Bear gets a bit side tracked to sing the praises of his mouth watering pulled beef brisket. If you happen to fancy good bit of meat pulled and prepared Bear style, then this is his recipe.    From our menu today, we tuck in to a whole range of topics including:   ·     The first T20I Vs New Zealand – What have we learned? ·     And why are we playing so many T20’s ahead of a 50 over World Cup? ·     Will there be Brook on Brook action for the World Cup? ·     The Hundred – Winning fans but losing money? (Mrs B very upset they bumped Richard Osman’s House of Games for a month of it on BBC2) ·     Asia Cup – All eyes on Pallekele on Saturday and it seems to be the best 50 over prep of any of the World Cup teams? ·     How playing regularly improves your cricket – David’s guide to enhanced middle aged performance     Grab yourself a drink at the bar and settle in to enjoy the chat.   Don’t forget, if you haven’t yet got yourself some Ponting wine, our special offer will stay open just a little longer. You can get that 15% discount right here using the special gcashes2023 code.   Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear. There’s a white ball series against New Zealand coming up and who better to chat with about that, than our guest on the Barstool of Bravado today? A former New Zealand opening bowler with 73 Test wickets no less. Eight of those were against England and included Kevin Pietersen Michael Vaughan, Alistair Cook and Andrew Strauss amongst them. An old friend of the show, he's also written a children’s book called ‘Pirates Don’t Play Cricket’, though I’m not sure if it answers the vital question of whether you can be LBW with a wooden leg.   It's Iain O’Brien of course. And he’s the first person to order a Pina Colada in the Bishop and Bear too.   It wouldn’t be a Bishop and Bear chat if we didn’t meander off topic a bit, but this one does get very interesting in a whole number of areas we weren’t necessarily expecting. Here are some of the topics covered, though I wouldn’t rely on the running order much if I were you.   ·     New Zealand series – expectations? ·     8 games between England and NZ, then first game up in the World Cup. How much relevance can we place on a series in England? Does familiarity breed contempt? ·     A bowler down for England (John Turner) and we haven’t even started yet! Injuries and quick bowlers – just bad luck, or can bowlers do more to prevent damage? ·     Returning Boult and Rachin Ravindra in focus ·     World Cup predictions – India at home will be hard to beat surely? ·     Franchises around the world. How does Iain feel watching the changing cricket landscape?     Don’t forget, if you haven’t yet got yourself some Ponting wine, our special offer will stay open just a little longer. You can get that 15% discount right here using the special gcashes2023 code.   Cheers and thank you again!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello and welcome back to the Bishop and Bear. Now who do you think of when you think about a hard man? Vinny Jones, Norman Hunter? Mike Tyson? Nigel Walker?   Well, it’s none of those that we are discussing in the old B&B today. We want to focus on Cricket’s Hard Men – the Toughest Characters from the History of Cricket and our guest on the barstool of bravado is Richard Sydenham, sports journalist and author of a book which is all about that very subject – Cricket’s Hard Men.    So, what actually constitutes a hard man of cricket? The truth is there is no simple definition. Whether it's resilience to defy injury from players like Kepler Wessels, Mike Atherton and Allan Border; sheer physicality from cricketer turned cage fighter Adam Hollioake; the bloody-mindedness to snub tradition by Douglas Jardine and John Reid; a chest-thumping need from Arjuna Ranatunga to show pride for a flag that had a reputation of being soft in the cricket world; or the blind courage of Brian Close, each player has his own unique story.   Cricket’s Hard Men is a cricket book with a difference, not focused on runs, wickets and averages but on the characters who have excelled in the challenging environment of professional cricket, through the generations. Richard has picked 22 of them and mad a very good case for their inclusion. Here is the full 22:   Mohinder Armanath, Michael Atherton, Eddie Barlow, Allan Border, Brian Close, Brian Davidson, John Edrich, Andy Flower, Roy Fredericks, Adam Hollioake, Douglas Jardine, Javed Miandad, Anil Kumble, Bruce Laird, Dennis Lillee, Arjuna Runatunga, John Reid, Viv Richards, Graeme Smith, Steve Waugh, Kepler Wessels and Peter Willey.   But who is the ultimate Hard Man of Cricket? Listen here to find out who we think and let us know who would make your cut!   You can find the book here But of course, other retailers are available.     Cheers!   Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal Barman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Grumpy Old Gits are back to discuss the Aussie ne'er-do-well's. Is it cricket? I don't know ask Fred.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wine and cricket go together wonderfully. Who better to discuss both with than Ricky Ponting. Listen here as Ricky meets Nigel Henderson and Tony Bishop to discuss the Ashes, his career and Ponting Wines that have been carefully crafted to reflect his life and to ensure flavour, structure and complexity of the highest quality.  It’s a quality chat too, covering coaching jobs, how he's helping grassroots cricket in England and what he really thinks about the Kevin Pietersen commentary put-down that went viral.       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aryan Surana is joined by his experienced colleagues at Guerilla Cricket for talking about the magnum opus on the horizon - Ashes. We discuss whether Steve Smith representing Sussex is a boon or a bane. Can Ben Stokes' prescription of 'fast and flat' wickets be taken at face value? Is the faith reposed in high-ceiling Zac Crawley misplaced? Will the England captain roll his arm over? The lack thereof may spread the hosts thin as Jack Leach is out injured, Broad-Anderson ought to bowl in bursts, and asking too many overs of Joe Root thaws the potency of the attack against an arch-rival dominating the batting charts in the second iteration of the World Test Championship. Aryan Surana tweets at @iamaryansurana, Tony Bishop at @tonybishop1 and Jeremy Henderson at @messyjez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A bit of pop up podcast this one. But when the Bear and I had the chance to grab Mpho @MphoMoreki and Tim the Cricket Guy @Tim32_cricket it was just too good an opportunity to miss to chat over the South Africa vs England ODI series.    Even with England missing a few regulars, at the start of a World Cup year, this series undoubtedly meant something to both sides. England, woefully out of ODI form, needed to start gathering momentum. South Africa needed wins just to automatically qualify.   2 -1 it was in the end to South Africa, but that win for England in Kimberley, with tons for Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan, plus, of course those super six wickets for Jofra Archer will have meant England walked away feeling a lot happier than they might have.   You can listen here as we celebrate a well- supported series, some big positives for both sides and also dig into who may, or may not, be worried about their places.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Grumpy Old Men are back - Sausage rolls, crows and Pearly Kings. Whatever! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another cracker of a Who's That Weirdo as writers Emma John and Kit Harris go head to head in episode five. Emma, the award-winning author of the cricket memoir Following On, embarks on a subversive strategy to try to bring down Wisden Almanack assistant editor Kit, whose first book,  The Queen at Cricket, is just out. He responds with a first Weirdo boundary bonus as the battle goes down to the wire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cricket's most recognizable voice, David Lloyd, or Bumble as he is better known to lovers of the game, tests himself in the most fiendish podquiz in sport, Guerilla Cricket's Who's That Weirdo, lining up to try to identify the dead cricketers from the live cricketers and those who aren't cricketers at all (though sound as if they might be). In a hilarious show that again goes down to the wire the former England batsman, coach, manager, umpire, and commentator takes on chief County Cricket Matterer and Natterer Annie Chave, who  goes to enormous lengths to protect her unbeaten run of one. Have an earwig, you'll love it! @guerillahendo hosts with Richard Osman-like input from researcher extraordinare @tonybishop1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Zafar Gill was a Pakistan Test player who scored three ducks in his first two appearances and three fifties in his next two. Or a magician apparently capable of moving heavy trucks metres with just the power of his mind. The only way to find out, apart from rushing to Google right now, is to listen to the third edition of the most fiendish test of cricket knowledge in existence, where contestants battle to distinguish the live cricketers from the dead cricketers and those who aren't cricketers at all (but sound as if they could be). Today's hour-long helping of hilarious ignorance features the Melbourne stand-off between Guerilla's jingleur extraordinaire and expert swordsman, @Mog7734, and new commentary cognoscenti who could cut you a close shave with the rapier wit of his ad-speak, @ianforth3. It's a fight that goes right down the wire and contains the usual collection of extraordinary facts, frustrated expletives and a totally random attack of Antipodean mosquitos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the second edition of the quizcast that seeks to separate the live cricketers from the dead cricketers and those who aren't cricketers at all, it's the Somerset stand-off as County Cricket Matters and Taunton tsarena Annie Chave takes on Guerilla regular and Newton Abbot native Paul "Grubby" Howarth. Only here, in the most fiendish test of cricket knowledge to date, can you find out of Dick Sleath was a Scottish-born wicketkeeper whose five innings for Victoria in the 1890s netted him an average of 34.33 or a sheep shearer and mining contractor who later became a politician for two parties in the Australian parliament. In the break, our forthright social justice warrior and swing bowler Chris Woke brings you the latest on the ever-ambitious ICC's plans for an Out of This World Cup.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Grumpy Guerillas emerge from the shadows to complain about weather complainers. Plus airport confusion and parking fine misery. And just a soupçon of cricket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live cricketer? Dead cricketer? Or not a cricketer at all? All will be revealed in Who's That Weirdo? the new part podcast/part quiz from the Guerilla Cricket team that brings you 100 days of live cricket commentary a year, a website featuring news, views, features and more merchandise than you can shake a bust of an angry Ian Chappell at. Call it a quizcast. And in addition to discovering, in the most fiendish test of cricket knowledge to date, whether Wajahatullah Wasti was a bowler who took no wickets in his three Tests for Pakistan in the 1950s or was a politician in the country's National Assembly who moonlighted as a Sufi poet, you will also hear the wise words of the nicest man in cricket, Chris Woke, during the interval, as the Warwickshire and England swing bowler and social justice warrior takes time out from his busy injury schedule to raise the pressing issues of the day and embarks on his one-man mission to save cricket: Forced Inclusion  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Los Grumpalos hablan mierda - como siempre, or for those who cant't be arsed with google translate - The Grumpalos talk shit - as always. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Founded in 1864 and resident at Lords since 1877, we are going to focus here on Middlesex. 11 times County Champions, the club has a proud history of developing many of the game’s greatest known cricketers, including the likes of Denis Compton, Mike Gatting, John Emburey and Andrew Strauss to name but a few and this tradition continues to the modern day, with a very exciting group of young talent coming through like Robbie White, Ethan Bamber and Luke Holman. The CEO of Middlesex is Andrew Cornish. Listen here as Andrew tells @tonybishop1 about the steps the club is taking to broaden the member base, inspire participation in the game, increase inclusivity and diversity of team and fans and lay foundations for the long-term success of Middlesex and the game as a whole. And, as Middlesex fans will be happy to hear, win silverware along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who is the oldest of our First-Class Counties? Surrey? Middlesex? Lancashire? Yorkshire? It’s none of those. Founded in 1839, it is Sussex. Three times county County Champions, their illustrious history boasts the likes of CB Fry, David Shepherd, Ted Dexter, Tony Greig, Ranjitsinghi, Maurice Tate and John Snow. Now, they are promoting some young and exciting talent like Tom Haines, Tom Clarke and Archie Lenham and blending that with the likes of Stephen Finn and new arrivals Cheteshwar Pujara and Mohammad Riswan. The CEO of Sussex is a familiar sporting name. Rob Andrew. Listen here, as Rob tells @tonybishop1 about Sussex’s plans to inspire cricket across the county, to promote and support young talent and to support the Sussex cricket community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leicestershire CEO @SeanMJarvis is a man on a mission to grow not just the size, but also the range and diversity of the County’s membership and fan base. Leicestershire are a proud county. 3 times county champions, 3 times T20 champions and 3 times Benson and Hedges Cup Winners.   Yet when England get battered in a Test Series, there are those who point an accusing figure towards our first - class County game. Some would even question the status of Counties at all.  So, it’s a tough brief, especially when you are not based at a ‘Test Match’ Ground.   Here, Sean tells @tonybishop1 about Leicestershire’s partnership with the Cricket Supporters Association, #CountyTogether and a broad ranging action plan to and to attract new fans to the County.   A tough brief it may be, but it’s one Sean is tackling with commitment, determination and no little humour. If you are a @leicsccc follower or just a lover of the game, Sean’s passion and enthusiasm are inspiring. Listen here and let us know what you think.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Botham, Richards, Garner, Trescothik, Caddick, Gimlett, White, Bess, Leach, Rogers, Close, Gayle, Azam. Just a few names that have graced the County Ground in Taunton and home of Somerset.  They have a beautiful ground in the South West of England and a reputation since 1875 for playing a dashing and exciting brand of cricket. Certainly, well before anyone would have used the phrase ‘brand of cricket’. Their fan base is passionate, loyal and care deeply for their beloved county. Listen here as Gordon Hollins, Somerset CEO, tells @tonybishop1 how they have navigated through the pandemic and have a long-term plan for success and growth, starting with filling that one large gap in their trophy cabinet at the earliest possible opportunity. Taunton may not a ‘Test Match Ground’ but it does stage international cricket. It also represents a broad area of this country’s cricket community and Gordon is looking to expand that further ensuring the future health of the club and its community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Grumpy Gits look forward to England’s tour of the West Indies, lament the passing of a couple of legends of the game, and marvel at how it’s possible to lose a boxful of human heads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are huge challenges in our national game at the moment. Test results have been poor and the very structure of our UK domestic game is under scrutiny from the grass roots upwards.  In this environment of question and concern, our counties need to be making the game as accessible, attractive and effective as they can. The Cricket Supporters Association exists to represent the interest of fans to the governors of our game and recently they have been working with the Lancashire Action Group @lancscccaction, a passionate and vocal group of Red Rose fans who want to ensure that the voice of Lancashire fans is heard and represented by their County. Their Co-founder is Ian Lomax@mctownie1 and here he discusses with @tonybishop1 the group’s objectives, their CSA partnership and the deep concerns regarding their own county. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Grumpy gets cry about The Ashes, get Weepy over late-night-let-downs and shed a tear for Cryer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside the Tour - The Ashes 1986/87 is the definitive story of an extraordinary tour, featuring many of those who were part of it, including tales of rum, wine, fancy dress and Elton John.  Gladstone Small may not have played in the first three tests, but he certainly made an impact at the MCG, taking seven Australian wickets to help win the Ashes for England and the Man of the Match Award for himself. Here in conversation with @tonybishop1, the ever-engaging Gladstone recalls that match and how Ashes history was changed forever by the unlikely intervention of Sir Elton. Inside the Tour - The Ashes 1986/87 is available on all major podcast platforms. For more information and to subscribe to the series visit auddy.co/ITT and follow @InsideTourPod on Twitter. And to support Guerilla Cricket in bringing you un geo blocked coverage of international cricket please go here: https://www.patreon.com/Guerillacricket   @GladstoneSmall @InsideTourPod @alastaireykyn             Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside the Tour - The Ashes 1986/87 is the definitive story of an extraordinary tour, featuring many of those who were part of it, including tales of rum, wine, fancy dress and Elton John.  There were certainly some larger-than-life personalities on both sides including Sir Ian Botham, Alan Lamb and David Gower to name but three for England.  Chris Broad may not have been in that bon viveur category, but he let his bat do the talking and became Man of the Series. Along the way, he became only the third Englishman after Jack Hobbs and Wally Hammond to three score hundreds in consecutive Ashes matches. Here Chris recalls with Tony Bishop the cricket and the distractions for the team that proved, despite a famous claim to the contrary, that they actually could bat, bowl and field. Inside the Tour - The Ashes 1986/87 is available on all major podcast platforms. For more information and to subscribe to the series visit auddy.co/ITT and follow @InsideTourPod on Twitter. And to support Guerilla Cricket in bringing you un geo blocked coverage of international cricket please go here: https://www.patreon.com/Guerillacricket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Never mind the cricket.  Who will win the Jingle Ashes? Who has the funniest, rudest, longest, shortest, daftest, most hummable earworm of a Guerilla Jingle? Two teams of Guerillas, one from Australia and one from England, got together for the ultimate pre - series Jingle off. Along the way they also found time to opine on the real cricket coming up. Our selectors supplemented current players for each country with some ringers, chosen more for their jingletasticness than their cricket (although terrific cricketers too it must be said). The Guerillas Australia: Cricket Bat Cat, Messy Jezz, SOK England: St. Annie of Exeter, Jack Hope, The Bear With love and thanks to our amazing jinglers – Mog, Jeff Perkins, James Sherwood, Men With Ven, Senor Peel, Pryke in Munich, plus many others. To find out who won the Jingle Ashes and who our Guerillas think might prevail in the real Ashes, listen here. To support Guerilla Cricket in bringing you un geo blocked coverage of international cricket please go here: https://www.patreon.com/Guerillacricket And don’t forget, Guerilla Cricket will be covering every single ball of the series. If your fancy something a bit different, with music and chatting with cricket fans around the world, then join us https://www.guerillacricket.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices