The Grade Cricketer

We start this week's episode with a Crows Feet review of Stuart Broad's comments amid the chaos of Lord's, while promoting his new book. He's good, isn't he? The World Cup remains India's to lose, but are Australia showing signs of resurgence to the point where they could jag this thing? Warner's being a coat, the Bin Lid has whacked a couple of tennis balls, blokes are on the golf course and Punter is using words like deplorable! Looking good from here.  Adam Gilchrist is on the show to discuss his World Cup experiences, his memories of getting turned over by Bangladesh in 2005, beating South Africa in 2007, facing India in 2003 and what highlight packages of his we can expect over the summer.  There's also Greg Chappell's GoFundMe, Steve Smith's property portfolio, Sheffield Shield drama and a WBBL update. That's before we get into #AskTGC where a concerned father wonders why his son chose cricket over basketball. Save yourself, young man!  If you want to support The Grade Cricketer, please join us on Patreon at https://www.Patreon.com/gradecricketer  for all the audio of our World Cup review shows. We are covering every game involving Australia, England, India and Pakistan. You'll also get #AskTGC Fridays every week and access to the entire back catalogue of Patreon work that has been going for 3 years now.   Use the code GETAFEW at https://www.pontingwines.com.au for 20% your order. We thank Ponting Wines for their support and for getting around #AskTGC Finally, if we want a copy of Shane Watson's book 'Winning The Inner Battle', go to https://shanewatson.au/ EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Zampa joins us from his hotel in Dharamshala ahead of the crucial Australia v New Zealand World Cup clash. We talk about singing the national anthem, painkillers, how they're coming out, coffee, golf and celebrating releasing the world record for most runs ever conceded in an ODI. EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are midway through the World Cup and it's fair to say that no one knows anything, none of it matters because India is a nearly unbackable favourite and the ICC are meeting at the end of the tournament anyway to decide the future of the format. Hope my team is good by the end of next week. Unfortunately Adam Zampa is not on the show, but Matt Roller from ESPNCricInfo is and he joins us from Bangalore in India to tell us how much air one can chew, if any of the teams near India are good and what the feeling is around the World Cup generally, from a fan's perspective.  Finally, Kim Garth and Tess Flintoff from the Melbourne Stars join us in the studio to discuss being rolled for 29, pumping around Europe before a call-up to the Australian squad, cricket in Ireland, Alyssa Healy's hand, Grace Harris hitting sixes with a broken bat and stupid questions men ask. If you want to support The Grade Cricketer, please join us on Patreon at https://www.Patreon.com/gradecricketer  for all the audio of our World Cup review shows. We are covering every game involving Australia, England, India and Pakistan. You'll also get #AskTGC Fridays every week and access to the entire back catalogue of Patreon work that has been going for 3 years now.   Link to the article about the Afghan Women's Cricketers here:  https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hindustantimes.com%2Fcricket%2Fthe-afghan-girl-who-led-her-cricket-teams-escape-101683130916340.html Use the code GETAFEW at pontingwines.com.au for 20% your order. We thank Ponting Wines for their support and for getting around #AskTGCEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back, baby! Yep, definitely. Australia’s off the mark, noses are harder, someone said “lift!” and now the Cup is surely ours. Sure, India appear completely unbeatable, but that’s their problem: no one wants to lead the Melbourne Cup at the first furlong (or some shit)! Shane Watson joins to add credibility to all of the above. Elsewhere, Bancroft and Renshaw record hundreds, Caleb Jewell is of interest, and Michael Neser is Australia’s best bat. The Women handle the Windies and the covers, and we acknowledge the 1973 team, with Sharon Tredrea et al. We then speak with cricket writing titan Gideon Haigh about the future of the game, and his next move after departing The Australian. Following Gideon, AskTGC appropriately drips with prose. That’s right, it’s Pat Cummins erotic fiction. Thanks.EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The thing that happened last is the thing that happens forever, so we write Australia off for World Cup '24, until the next show, next week. India are pretty good. So is South Africa and New Zealand. So, one game in, unfortunately only one spot remains. Before then, we meander through Shield and domestic matters, such as a heckler with a dildo and megaphone at the Shield and PlayHQ privacy options. Elsewhere, three anonymous Lord's blokes get absolutely dealt with, but one will be back for next Ashes to do bulk damage. Australia's Women once again maintain safety - helps when H Matthews isn't knocking about, and looks like cricket at the Olympics is ON. Either that or Lacrosse - let's see what lobs in Mumbai. Jake Fraser-McGurk joins to talk world records and sliding into ABdV's areas, and Bharat Sundaresan gives us the actual lowdown from Lucknow. #AskTGC concerns father-in-law dynamics and selfishness, and then indulgently slides into your hosts own failures in this domain. Cheers.EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the World Cup starting on Thursday, Australian domestic cricket once again commencing and, most importantly, Round 1 of "Premier" cricket getting underway, it's time for us to reflect on wasted Saturdays. Who will win the World Cup? Is it India's to lose? What hope does Australia have? Can England defend the crown?  Should ODI's just be confined to World Cups? Incoming MCC President Mark Nicholas thinks so.  Meanwhile Hayley Matthews plays one of the all-time great innings in Australia, scoring 132 off 64 in West Indies' world record run chase at North Sydney Oval. Is the gap closing? Do we like it? No.  Dan Brettig is on the show to preview what we suspect is going to be a 'low' summer in Australia, rather, one that doesn't involve India or England, and what I might mean for blooding new trappings for the eyes.  Spencer Johnson joins us from his home in South Australia to tell us about his journey from West Torrens to representing his country, via the Big Bash, The Hundred and MLC. We’re back with Ponting Wines this summer. Use the code GETAFEW to get 20% off all select purchases at http://www.pontingwines.com.auEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back! Because when there’s international-cricket-with-actual-jeopardy, we can only kneel to hoover up these last remaining crumbs. Along the way we’ve also got Stokes selling salad stories and quoting Spiderman, lid-lifting about Bairstow and Piers gear, hard-hitting journalism about Modi’s India/Bharat and the BJP, and why the World Cup will be perversely good. New Zealand all-rounder and debutant Father Jimmy Neesham joins us to talk about light horses and environments, while CricInfo’s Alex Malcolm lays bare Australia’s issues ahead of next week’s tournament. AskTGC comes in from Loose McNasty, pertaining to impossible social dynamics caused by one’s identity as “The Cricketer”. Excuse the indulgence, but me think it mazing.  We’re back with Ponting Wines this summer. Use the code GETAFEW to get 20% off all select purchases at http://www.pontingwines.com.auEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ashes: spirit, morality, tribalism, culture, Broady. He’s good, isn’t he? (Knows what he’s doing.) We take your visceral minutes. dribble about all (some) things Ashes, briefly talk about other cricket, and finish with a failure-inspired #AskTGC. Heartfelt thanks to everyone’s who’s supported TGC during this series. A deeply special one for us, though we’ll never admit that, as men. Anyway, 2-2: let’s all fuck off.   Budgy is backing us big time this English summer, get around them at budgysmuggler.com. Use the code 'goodareas' for free shipping (valid in both the UK and AUS). Budgy Smuggler are searching for the final 4 contestants to compete in the final of World’s Most Ordinary Rig in Australia this November 🔥 How to enter: 1️⃣ Post a picture of yourself or a mate in Smugglers at peak ordinariness. 2️⃣ Hashtag #WorldsMostOrdinaryRig and @budgysmuggler | @budgysmuggleruk | @budgysmugglerfrance 🇦🇺Final 10 win a trip to Sydney, Australia with a mate. 🏆 World’s Most Ordinary Rig Winner wins $10k AUD cash money, a 12 month Budgy Smuggler modelling contract and the title of ‘World’s Most Ordinary Rig’   Get Shane Watson’s book, “Winning The Inner Battle”, at shanewatson.au You get discounts, early access and an exclusive podcast every week when you sign up at patreon.com/gradecricketerEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retain [verb]: continue to have (something); keep possession of. While England stroke their chins soberly, pondering morality and the impact of clouds on children, Australia’s grubby little convict mitts clutch the urn, with g-strings and court jester hats close by. Elsewhere, India dusts West Indies, Harmanpreet gets mist, Pakistan beats Sri Lanka, and Headingley helps a man settle his divorce. Budgy is backing us big time this English summer, get around them at budgysmuggler.com. Use the code 'goodareas' for free shipping (valid in both the UK and AUS). Get Shane Watson’s book, “Winning The Inner Battle”, at shanewatson.au Limited edition merch available: gradecricketer.com You get discounts, early access and an exclusive podcast every week when you sign up at patreon.com/gradecricketerEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major League Cricket is here and so is Zampa's reference to the 20th of April. Is it good? Are we watching? What does The Star Spangled Banner mean to powerplays? Australia have successfully retained the Women's Ashes, but this is of course not enough, despite it being good for the game. The best series ever though; Alyssa Healy thinks not. India absolutely smash the West Indies in the 1st Test. How will splitting up the islands benefit anyone? Do the West Indies just need to WANT IT more? Alex Malcolm from ESPNCricInfo joins us in the studio to preview the 4th Men's Ashes Test at Old Trafford. It's some really nuffy cricket chat but also we complain about why bad things happen to the team that we like and how nothing is fair. #AskTGC comes in from Scotland and also Edmonton, Canada. What is the truth of cricket? Will our world's completely capitulate?   Budgy is backing us big time this English summer, get around them at budgysmuggler.com. Use the code 'goodareas' for free shipping (valid in both the UK and AUS). Get Shane Watson’s book, “Winning The Inner Battle”, at shanewatson.au Limited edition merch available: gradecricketer.com You get discounts, early access and an exclusive podcast every week when you sign up at patreon.com/gradecricketerEXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.