Épisodes

  • The Ashes 2nd Test Review: Starc & Root become legends, but it's still Bazball without brains
    Dec 10 2025
    In this episode of the show, it's a full house as we look back at the second Ashes Test between Australia and England, which saw the hosts take a 2-0 lead after a comprehensive win at the Gabba. As per tradition, we start with the victors: first to praise Australia and then to attempt to understand why they've been so dominant so far - and where England have let themselves down. There's talk of key moments, of selection, of game management and much more as we bounce around a number of different talking points. As the episode continues, the conversation turns to individuals: Mitchell Starc's starring role in the series and his overall status in the Test game; Is Jake Weatherald looking like the long-term solution for Australia at the top of the order?; Joe Root's first hundred on Aussie soil; Alex Carey's performance with the gloves; criticism of Jofra Archer and whether England are actually learning from their mistakes. To round out the show, we look ahead to the options facing both sides for the third Test in Adelaide as injury ins and outs seem set to play a major role: Mark Wood and Josh Hazelwood out for the series, but Pat Cummins is on track to return. We'll be back in your feed at the end of the week with more from the cricketing world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro: Ashes 2nd Test Review 1:45 Australia's dominant victory: more impressive than the first test? 3:15 Did we underestimate Australia before the series started? 7:00 Why are England not performing up to expectations? 19:40 Key performers: Mitchell Starc stars again 23:40 Nathan Lyon's exclusion & stats-based decision-making 27:20 Are England making tactical errors? 34:35 How much is the Bazball mindset contributing to these results? 37:35 Alex Carey's performance with the gloves 42:45 Joe Root's first hundred in Australia 44:40 Is Jake Weatherald a long-term solution at the top for Australia? 49:30 Selection questions for the third Test: Australia 53:20 Selection questions for the third Test: England 57:15 Quick predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 6 min
  • Black Caps v West Indies First Test Review: Hope, Greaves & Roach bat for days & NZ's injury crisis
    Dec 7 2025
    In this episode of the show, Baldy, Stu and Raj look back at the first Test between New Zealand and the West Indies, and give a brief shout out to Virat Kohli and a live reaction to the goings on in the second Ashes Test. With England and Australia still on the field at our regular Sunday recording time (check back in a day or two for our wrap of that match), we dedicated the majority of this episode to unpacking the West Indies' impressive rearguard action against the Black Caps at Hagley Oval. We start with a round-up of emotions after what proved to be a draining final couple of days in the first Test of the New Zealand summer. The Black Caps looked set for victory with the West Indies at 72-4 chasing 500+, but injuries to Matt Henry, Nathan Smith & Tom Blundell and an outstanding fighting effort from Shai Hope, Justin Greaves & Kemar Roach took the game into the final overs and secured a draw for the visitors. As we bounce around a number of talking points, there's also praise for Jacob Duffy, Tom Latham & Rachin Ravindra, we discuss the pitch and umpiring decisions, and debate whether the Black Caps still had enough chances to win or whether the West Indies should have put the accelerator down in the final session in an attempt to chase down the target. In amongst all of that, we speculate on the New Zealand lineup for the second Test and the prospect of potential Test debuts for Mitch Hay and Michael Rae or an SOS call-up to Kyle Jamieson. To round out the show, we there's a shout-out to Virat Kohli for his stacks of runs in the ODI series against South Africa, plus Baldy's live reaction to the news that Australia were on the verge of victory against England under lights in Brisbane. We'll be back in your feed in a day or two to review that second Ashes Test, then again next week with more from here in New Zealand and around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro: Black Caps v West Indies 1:00 West Indies fight back to secure a draw 3:05 Black Caps injury crisis 4:20 Shai Hope, Justin Greaves & Kemar Roach dig in 9:25 Thoughts on the Hagley Oval pitch 13:00 Jacob Duffy's lion-hearted effort 16:10 What will NZ's bowling attack look like at the Basin Reserve? 23:15 Are New Zealand still favourites for the second Test? 24:10 Missed opportunities and DRS decisions 27:30 Rachin Ravindra & Tom Latham's big partnership 31:20 Should the West Indies have gone harder for the win? 34:20 India v South Africa ODIs - Virat Kohli is still good at batting 37:45 Baldy's live Ashes reaction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 min
  • This Week in Cricket 195: Black Caps v West Indies Test preview, India's home discomforts & can England bounce back?
    Nov 30 2025
    In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy and Stu look back at South Africa's 2-0 sweep of India, and look ahead to the upcoming series between the Black Caps and the West Indies, as well as the second Ashes Test. We start the show by discussing South Africa's dominant victory against India in the second and final Test of that series, which saw lower-order runs from Senuran Muthusamy and Marco Jansen backed up by impressive performances from Jansen and Simon Harmer with the ball. There's plenty of praise for the visitors, but why were they able to be so successful? Are they better than we thought? Was Shubman Gill's injury that impactful? And how much pressure does another home sweep pile on Gautam Gambhir? Next we head back to New Zealand, where we look forward to the Test series against the West Indies, which starts at Hagley Oval on Tuesday. It's a matchup that favours the Black Caps on paper, but how much have injuries impacted the strength of this Kiwi side? We talk through possible lineups, what's at stake for the likes of Devon Conway and Tom Latham with a big 12-18 months ahead, and the role Mitchell Santner could fill at number 7 in the batting order. To round out the show, we chat about the Ashes, with team selection in focus. Mark Wood is out for England, Pat Cummins isn't yet back for Australia and the Travis Head or Usman Khawaja to open the batting question still remains. Plus: could Nathan Lyon miss out, and should we even have pink-ball Tests at all in the Ashes? We'll be back in your feed next week to review the Tests and anything else that catches our eyes from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:10 India v SA Test series review: South Africa's statement win 10:50 Jansen, Stubbs, Muthusamy all step up 13:45 Simon Harmer's performance & do Indian batters have a weakness against spin? 22:25 How much pressure is on Gautam Gambhir? 30:30 Black Caps v West Indies Test series 32:15 Injuries and absences for NZ 34:35 Black Caps bowling attack 37:50 What's at stake for New Zealand as a team and individually? 48:00 Will this be Kane Williamson's last Test series at home? 52:00 The Ashes 2nd Test preview: will Travis Head open for Australia? 1:00:00 England selection questions and build up 1:03:30 Do we need a pink-ball Test in the Ashes? 1:07:10 Could Cummins still play? Would Nathan Lyon miss out? 1:12:45 Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 22 min
  • The Ashes First Test Review: Brilliant bowling, brainless batting & what have we just watched?
    Nov 23 2025
    In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy, Jamie and Stu look back at the first Test between Australia and England, which was action-packed but was finished within two days. There was plenty of drama in the lead-up to The Ashes, but that was nothing compared with the rollercoaster we saw on the field. Mitchell Starc started with a bang, England's pace battery hit back and it seemed like things were about to settle down by lunch on the second day with England one wicket down and leading by 99. But instead the action resumed, with the visitors crumbling and Travis Head's hundred powering Australia to victory within two sessions. We react to the emotion of the two days, then discuss the lineups and the pitch before highlighting key performers like Starc, Head, Ollie Pope, Jofra Archer and Marnus Labuschagne. We ask where it all went wrong for England, debate whether Travis Head's success could bring an unexpected end to Usman Khawaja's Test career, talk through potential changes for the second Test and plenty more as we try to process a game which moved through the gears at a rapid pace. We'll be back in your feed soon with more news and notes from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:45 Initial reactions to a wild two-day Test 8:35 Toss and lineups 14:00 Pitch conditions - too spicy or poor batting? 17:00 Key performers - Mitchell Starc's 10-wicket haul 21:30 Did England miss a leader in their bowling attack? 29:00 England's superb bowling on day 1 32:20 Travis Head's outrageous hundred 43:20 Was Jamie Smith out? 47:00 Is Usman Khawaja's future in doubt? 56:45 Do England's tactics need a rethink? 1:11:05 TNT coverage in the UK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 20 min
  • India v South Africa First Test Review: Harmer stars at Eden Gardens as the visitors go 1-0 ahead
    Nov 19 2025
    In this episode of the show, Baldy and Stu look back at the first Test between India and South Africa, which saw the hosts take a 1-0 series lead at Eden Gardens. A quickfire Test but plenty of talking points as seam dominated day 1 and then spin took centre stage on days 2 and 3. Jasprit Bumrah's remarkable skills were on display yet again, Simon Harmer continued his good form and Ravindra Jadeja tore through South Africa's batting lineup in the third innings as the game sped to a conclusion. It all looked to be on track for an Indian win - until it wasn't. We talk about the quality bowling on show, what made batting so tough, the impact of the injuries to Shubman Gill and Kagiso Rabada, and whether India can bounce back at Guwahati. Plus plenty more! We'll be back in your feed later in the week with more news and notes from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:00 South Africa pull off a stunning victory 5:25 Simon Harmer's impressive performance 9:30 Were India's spinners outbowled? 13:15 Was that style of pitch the optimum surface for India? 20:25 Shubman Gill's injury & the pressure on India 31:00 Can South Africa make it 2-0 or will India bounce back? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 min
  • The Ashes Preview 2025-26: The hype is over, it's cricket time
    Nov 16 2025
    In this episode of the show, Binksy, Baldy, Jamie, Raj and Stu look ahead to the 2025-26 Ashes series between Australia and England. As usual, the Ashes hype machine has been in overdrive in recent months, but the cricket is finally (almost) here and the Top Order team are fizzing. We talk squads and potential line ups, key players and matchups, grounds and conditions, storylines to watch for and make our predictions for the series. How much will the Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood injuries hurt Australia? How excited are the English to unleash Jofra Archer and Mark Wood on an under-pressure Australian top order? Will Joe Root and Steve Smith imprint their class on the series? Will Nathan Lyon have an impact? Is it Scott Boland's time to shine? Can Harry Brook Bazball Australia to dust? Or will Marnus Labuschagne bounce back in a big way? And can Ben Stokes' boys etch their name into history on Aussie soil? Or will Steve Smith, Pat Cummins & co. inspire another victory for green-and-gold? There's all that and plenty more as we preview a series that's set to provide entertainment galore over the coming weeks. We'll be back in your feed regularly throughout this series to review/preview games and catch up on what's happening elsewhere in the world, including India v South Africa and Black Caps v West Indies. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 2:00 Potential lineups for first Test - questions for Australia? 14:55 How will England manage their seamers through the series? 23:55 Has Australia won the preparation battle? 36:25 How will Australia's top order respond to pressure? 48:50 Key matchups: Nathan Lyon v England's middle order 54:20 Jofra Archer, Travis Head, Harry Brook, Joe Root 58:10 Mitchell Starc, Ben Duckett, captaincy 1:02:20 What can we expect from the pitches? 1:09:20 Predictions: Who will win The Ashes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 27 min
  • This Week in Cricket #194: Black Caps hold on, Ashes news & India v South Africa preview
    Nov 9 2025
    In this episode of the show, Baldy, Raj and Stu look back at the cricketing week that was, which saw NZ in T20 action against the West Indies, India win the Women's World Cup and Australia name their squad for the first Ashes Test. We also look ahead to an intriguing Test series between India and South Africa. We start the show by congratulating India on their Women's World Cup win, before moving back to New Zealand where the Black Caps are 2-1 up in their T20 series against the West Indies. There's praise for Matthew Forde, Ish Sodhi and Mark Chapman, plus questions about NZ's death bowling and what the T20 World Cup squad might look like if - and it's looking like a bigger 'if' with each passing day - injured players like Glenn Phillips, Finn Allen, Will O'Rourke and Lockie Ferguson do return. Next we head to India, where Rishabh Pant returns for the home side as they prepare to take on South Africa in what shapes to be the toughest challenge to date for the current World Test Champions. Can Pant and Dhruv Jurel play in the same XI? Is Keshav Maharaj the best spinner in the world? And will India simply be too strong on home soil? We round out the show with the latest Ashes news, which mainly involves asking Baldy his thoughts on the Australian squad for the first Test. Jake Weatherald's inclusion has generated most of the headlines, but will he actually play? And if so, what might that mean for Marnus Labuschagne, Beau Webster, Cameron Green - and even Sam Konstas? We'll be back in your feed next week with a full preview of The Ashes, plus some more news and notes from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 0:45 India win the Women's World Cup 3:10 Black Caps v West Indies: Matthew Forde impresses 6:00 Do NZ have a death-bowling problem? 8:00 Ish Sodhi bowling well 11:20 Is NZ's T20 World Cup squad any clearer? 23:15 India v South Africa Tests: Rishabh Pant returns 26:40 Will India be too strong? 37:35 The Ashes: Australia name their squad 39:10 Will Jake Weatherald make his Test debut? 51:45 What next for Sam Konstas? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    59 min
  • This Week in Cricket #193: Black Caps sweep England, World Cup upsets & Ashes questions
    Nov 2 2025
    In this episode of the show, Baldy, Binksy and Stu look back at the past two weeks, which saw NZ sweep England in an ODI series, Rohit & Virat roll back the years, Women's World Cup upsets & South Africa win a Test away in Pakistan. We start the show in New Zealand, where the Black Caps beat England 3-0 in the ODI series after a rain-affected false start to the international summer. There were plenty of positives for New Zealand - Daryl Mitchell, most of the bowlers and Mitchell Santner's bat, to name a few - as they chased down the visitors' modest totals on three separate occasions. We talk about Zak Foulkes's composure, Kane Williamson's retirement from T20 internationals and ask if there's anything to worry about from an England point of view. Next we head to Australia, where the home side has been playing white-ball cricket against India, but inevitably the conversation turns towards The Ashes. Has Marnus done enough? Would they actually leave out Beau Webster? And is Josh Hazlewood the first name on the Australian teamsheet? There's also praise for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's unbeaten partnership in the 3rd ODI, which could well be the last time the two of them stride to the middle on Australian soil. Then it's off to the Women's World Cup, where we saw India end Australia's incredible run and South Africa reverse their opening-match loss to England on their way to the final. Batting was in the spotlight once again in our discussion of this tournament, with the hundred from Jemimah Rodrigues taking top billing. To round out the show, there's a brief shout-out to the South African men's side for defeating Pakistan in the second Test of their series, thanks in no small way to Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer as the latter brought up his 1000th first-class wicket during the match. We'll be back in your feed next week to discuss more cricket from around the world. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website. You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations with Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world. And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at thetoporderpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. 0:00 Intro 1:40 Black Caps v England: slow start to the NZ summer 5:05 Plenty of positives for NZ - Daryl Mitchell 7:10 Anything to worry about for England? 12:20 Black Caps bowlers - Foulkes, Duffy, Tickner 20:25 Kane Williamson retires from T20s 24:00 Australia v India white-ball series/Ashes build up 44:25 Women's World Cup: Jemi Rodrigues ends Australia's run 56:20 South Africa v Pakistan Second Test Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 7 min