The Grade Cricketer

A two-man band this week, as Pez and Higgos take up the post-Christmas mantle. We ponder a ponderous Boxing Day Test, before chatting with coaching whisperer to the stars, Trent Woodhill, who explains why everything you thought about cricket is probably wrong. We also catch up with The Times' Will Macpherson to talk about which careers should end and why, and take your questions in an abbreviated AskTGC  EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this show: Another victory for alpha cricket. It's 3-0, Steve Smith gets the Bradman treatment, Marsh scores a ton in front of Dad, and England lose face. We discuss this and more with writer virtuoso Gideon Haigh, before talking with special guest Simon Katich - who covers Brendon Julian, winning in India, wearing State kit at grade level, impressions of Shane Watson and more.EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We head West, where aesthetics may have killed Handscomb, we pay tribute to speed as is custom, we talk Duckett, Magic Bullet Theory and ponder whether the home team circuit too little, there’s Beta dismissals and the Windies, Adam Collins joins with facts and knowledge, #AskTGC continues and – in the greatest and least deserved coup in podcast history – we steal 19 minutes of Michael Atherton’s time. It was well worth it.EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's 2-0: are we happy now? We talk Smith, Marsh, Anderson, sledging, fear, entitlement and hindsight post-Adelaide, before Pez and Dave catch up with former England Test stalwart Mark Butcher. #AskTGC closes things up, where we grapple with slight variations on the standard themes of alphas, champs, salads, and Toadie from Neighbours.  EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia 1 – 0 England: we wrap the Gabba, forensically examine the Australian Alpha Playbook, get the UK view from The Times’ Will Macpherson, take your questions on #AskTGC, and chat extensively with Chris Rogers on his own triple C: cricket, commentary and the circuit.  EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ending careers, salad-based selections, the women triumph, Nine's commentary, #AskTGC. Fox Sports' Tom Morris joins to explain both his blue tick and Australia's impending win, and in a major coup for TGC, The Betoota Advocate's Clancy Overell dials in with his take from The Diamantina Shire.  EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Things are starting to get real. On this show: Women’s Ashes, Renshaw’s net, and Christmas time for ex-players. BBC Commentator Izzy Westbury joins and destroys us, and we talk with special guest – Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland, who covers the future of Test cricket, Stokes, and getting sledged on the weekend with – in his words – “MOU Banter”. #AskTGC headlines proceedings, and by that I mean it comes last.  EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wanted to reek of runs?  Credit: Toby Shain  EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bumper show: Shield round 2, Lehmann's Dad issues, Cricket 'computer games', we release a new TGC fragrance, Adam Collins joins us to talk Women's Ashes and Stokes, BBC TMS commentator Dan Norcross is the first guest our Overseas Pro series from a pub in London, and a very special #AskTGC where extensive and earnest time is given to talking shower politics and the anti-art movement.   EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where's the runs, Renshaw needs vascular arms, Mankad for life, Warne wants love, Geeves talks crisis, and we're joined by The Times' very own Will Macpherson, who runs the rule over Stokes, England and circuiting in Townsville. Thanks to Adrian Leung for music, Toby Shain for voice and ads, and Julia Dowe for graphics.   EXTRA HOUR of AskTGC EVERY WEEK: https://patreon.com/gradecricketerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.